Organizing the perfect party

"Summertime, And the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin', And the cotton is high. Oh, Your daddy's rich, And your mamma's good lookin', So hush little baby, Don't you cry." -George Gershwin

Summer is coming to a close just as fast as it started. So why not take advantage of that clean pool, green grass, and summer sun? It's time to throw a party, friends; an organized summer soiree.

Depending on your taste, style, and decor choice, food and themes will vary. That's why O.C.D. (Organize & Create Discipline) is here to help. I've brought in an expert event planner to help you make the most out of your organization extravaganza. Heather Schertz of Lady Liberty Event Planning (www.ladylibertycatering.com) has some tips and tricks to take your party to the next level, while having fun and staying organized of course.

DECIDE WHAT TO CELEBRATE
Even though "summer" is a great reason to have a party, your guests will be excited if there's a theme to go along with the soiree. Is this party for you? Is it for your best friend's birthday that happens to become a summer pool party? Is it an 80's theme bathing suit party with music to match? The more specific you are with your ideas the more fun it will be for your guests. Proper preparation will also allow you to enjoy your party instead of having to host every moment.

"Instead of hiring a DJ, save some money by creating a perfect iPod playlist," says Schertz. "Use a little of your saved cash to purchase fun decorations and put the rest away for your next party."

GIVE YOUR GUESTS TIME
Just like your calendar, all of your friend's calendars fill up pretty fast. Make sure your party is penciled into their schedules by sending out your invitations at least three weeks beforehand. This will give your guests the proper amount of time to RSVP and find the perfect accessories to match your chosen theme. Follow up with invitees to get a firm head count of the people attending so you know how much of EVERYTHING you're going to need. This will also give you plenty of time to buy the right amount of food, drinks, and party essentials necessary to make your celebration complete.

"I always tell clients to follow up with invitees to make sure that no invites fall through the cracks," Schertz says. "Skip feeling horrible when your friend feels left out because the invite went to their spam mailbox. Take a moment and follow up with your invitees that haven't RSVP'd a week before."

PREPARATION
Being prepared for the party will allow you to enjoy yourself once the guests have arrived. Design your menu with items that can be made before guests arrive (dips, mini-sandwiches, pies, etc). Anything that needs to be warm should also be prepared before guests arrive and then popped into the oven to heat. Designate a time for when hot food will be served and let the cold food continue until the end. Also, have more food than you anticipate guests so no one is left hungry. It's always better to have leftovers than not enough food. Keep the drinks flowing and make sure there is plenty of bottled water. There is nothing wrong with asking guests to bring a bottle of their favorite beverage. This helps to ensure no one will complain about what alcohol is being served. Remember to pick up a few extra bags of ice because no one wants to drink anything warm on a hot summer day! And don't forget to make sure that your sprinklers are off. Another tip: invite the neighbors! Just in case the party goes into the late hours of the night, this will ensure little to no complaints.

"I recommend to clients that they send their neighbors a small basket of treats with a warm note inviting them to the party. This especially goes over well with the neighbors that require "special attention," says Schertz.

Next week, we'll talk about STAYING ORGANIZED DURING THE PARTY, CLEAN UP, and AFTER PARTY thoughts.

And like always, I want to hear from YOU! Tell me what organizational questions cross your mind. Email Organize & Create Discipline at ocd@ocdexperience.com and maybe your organizational challenge will be discussed next week.

Justin Klosky is a professional organizer who runs Organize & Create Discipline ( www.ocdexperience.com ). You can check his website for more tips and videos on how to organize your life.