GOOD TIMES
Don’t forget to dance:
7 Tips
for a stress-free party
“I just try to love and serve everyone, and bring everyone water, and lend an ear.” –Anne Lamott
Stacie Charbonneau Hess
I love being a host. Maybe it’s the control freak in me, but I enjoy decorating a space, inviting people over, and sharing a glass of wine. My guests almost always linger, which tells me they are comfortable, well-fed, and I have served them enough water. Being a good host is about anticipating a guest’s needs, preparing ahead of time, and then relaxing and enjoying the company of friends and family. Ideally, the details are worked out ahead of time so that you, as the host, can enjoy yourself along with your guests.
This summer, my cousins and I are planning a party to commemorate three momentous occasions: a 40th anniversary, a 50th birthday, and a 13th birthday. We expect somewhere between 118 and 140 people – not as formal as a wedding but obviously not a typical backyard party. We’ve been doing a bit of research these past few weeks so I’m sharing with you some local resources in case you’re ready to plan that long-awaited postCovid bash, too.
1
Get a portapotty My mom
texted me one day: “You should get a portapotty. That’s a lot of flushing” – to which I balked. But then I thought about it. Moms are smart. A relative of ours is in a wheelchair – it is difficult for her to get in our tiny guest bathroom. In the end, I
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S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
rented an accessible portapotty for $275. The portapotty will serve as a second bathroom to alleviate extra water usage. It will also allow people to stay outside and spend more time with friends and less time looking for the bathroom. I used Clean Portable Restrooms in Bridgewater, at cleanportablerestrooms.com.
2
Get a special cake The occa-
sions I mentioned above definitely warrant some special recognition. I called “Twisted Treats and Savories” in Dartmouth. My friend Sonya used to run an eco-conscious catering business way before it was in vogue. Now she makes breathtakingly gorgeous and fun cakes that are not only incredible sculptures/ works of art, but they are made from organic ingredients in eco-friendly
S ep tember /O c tober 2021
packaging. Twisted Treats and Savories can be reached at (508) 294-7087, and can also be found on Facebook.
3
H ave something fun for
4
Consider a tent to define
your guests to do An outdoor party in August demanded some sort of water-play, cool-down feature. I was torn between a dunk tank, a water slide, or a Slip ‘n Slide, and the rental company had all three! In the end, I went with the Slip ‘n Slide. Delivery, set up, and take down is less than $350 from Busy Bees Jumpers rental in Whitman – they are renting me some tables and chairs, too. You can see more at busybeejumpers.com. the space (and shield you from weather). Though it doesn’t typically rain on August afternoons, I wanted the
