Fashion

Pro Party Tips: Roick Rules

An event planner weighs in on how to be an haute hostess.

By Viia Beaumanis

Photography by Diego Alvarez

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Not every lady is lucky enough to have Jeffry Roick fashion her house party—so what advice would he offer a hostess aiming for great effect without an event planner’s budget?

• Think about flow. Create as clear a path as possible—particularly for small spaces. Consider how guests will move from room to room.
• Make your furniture do double-duty. Remove dining room chairs and use your dining table as a buffet, and your bookcase as a bar, or open up a couple of drawers, line them with linen and fill with crudités.
• If you’re serving dinner with no seating, set out small plates and see that passed trays offer bite-sized, fork-only portions.
• Every party runs out of ice—have it delivered. It’s inexpensive.
• Be prepared. Buy more food and liquor than you think you’ll need. You can always return unopened liquor.
• Rent china. You don’t have to wash it. Just put it on the crate, and they’ll pick it up.
• Hire staff to prep, serve and clean up. One bartender for every 50 to 60 guests, one waiter for every 20 to 30. This allows you to be a guest at your own party.
• If you have staff, offsite the kitchen to the basement or garage, and revamp the kitchen into a bar. People always hang out in there.
• If you want people to dance, play disco. It gets everyone going—always.
• Empty your hall closet to make space for guests’ coats.
• Put away valuables, and lock bedroom doors—some surprise visitors may show up.

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