After graduating college, I thought a great indicator of my newfound adulthood would be the purchase of my first set of dishes. I scoured shelves of options in search of a design that I felt captured my personality and, painstakingly, selected the winner. I strode triumphantly home, delighted by my success. When my mother asked to see what I had purchased, I proudly unpacked one complete place setting.
Yep. A single – set – of – plateware.
My mom gently suggested that I might want the option of hosting at my new apartment and that a single place setting might leave me 3 or 5 or 11 settings shy of my needs. Red-faced, I realized that in my pursuit for the perfect pattern, there were a few details I had overlooked.
They’re easy details to fall through the cracks, but mastering the numbers is an important step in ensuring that your event runs smoothly. Estimating glassware needs and other accessories, especially for your bar, can be a challenge.
JPO recommends ordering one glass per guest / hour. Don’t fret, no one is going to be pounding down the Cosmos, but they may be consuming nonalcoholic beverages in between the cocktails. You want to avoid the sight of reusing glasses during the duration of your event – because if suave is what you’re going for, scampering around collecting guests’ glasses as soon as they set them down is not it.
Ice is important, too. We suggest ordering approximately 50 lbs of ice for 50 guests and then adding 1 lb of ice per guest above that. If you’re hosting an event outdoors, remember that ice generally melts more quickly than you can use it. You may want to think about using several insulated bins for longer-lasting preservation.
Purchase a lot of cocktail napkins. When you think you have purchased enough, purchase more. (I know a really clever way of folding them into swans so if you’re stuck with lots of extras, we can talk.)
Bottom line: don’t overlook the details. And for the record, I now own four complete place settings, sufficient for hosting my mom, my sister, and my brother. I’ll just have to hold off inviting the Kardashians for the time being.
As always, Enjoy the Process!
Jenny Piersol, Editor JPO Concepts
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