Lessons learned from hosting a party

After hosting a party this Saturday, I used Sunday to hibernate with my favorite little napper and reflect on a few tweaks to fine-tune my hosting skills. Ever the listmaker, I started to jot down some of the finer points and thought I would share them here - if for no other reason that perhaps I will review prior to our next shindig.

1. Start with an empty dishwasher.
   Take the bottleneck out of cleanup by having the dishwasher ready to load. Why this is so hard to accomplish is beyond me.
2. Do your hair and makeup early.
   Be showered and ready to go 1 hour before the party starts in case you have early birds. Even if you don't, that last hour usually gets sucked up by last minute prep and greeting guests in your pajamas loses its charm as you get older.
3. Prepare as much in advance.
   Alleviate day-of pressure by setting the table, rearranging furniture and prepping food the night before. I think this is what every Real Simple article on hosting parties states and yet I am listing it as my own personal epiphany.
4. Enlist someone else to take pictures.
   It is really hard to host from behind the lens and the pictures don't really turn out the great anyway.
5. Spread out the spread.
   Setting up drinks in a different location from the food naturally spreads out the crowd and helps people socialize - or so I'm told. Ina Garten, who doles out fantastic party tips during her cooking shows, suggests a mini-progressive meal in different locations throughout the house. Drinks and appetizers on the front porch, dinner in the dining room and dessert in the front room allows the host to set up the next course behind-the-scenes.
6. Semi-home made is your friend.
   I am all for everything down to the last detail being done by hand with fresh ingredients, BUT if you aren't a skilled cook then chances are a little semi-homemade is going to go a long way (and will taste just as delicious). I am learning to pick a few items to make from scratch and everything else can be done with the miracle of modern shortcuts.
7. Delegate.
   Assuming you have casual gatherings, put guests to work if they offer (and seem to mean it). Have a team make that punch that you envisioned concocting at the last minute or help ice the 100+ mini cupcakes you thought would magically ice themselves. If you aren't comfortable putting people to work then stick a drink in their hand and send them on their way - drinks (specifically alcoholic ones) go along way to pacify guests until everything is ready to go.
8. Start the party off right.
   When guests arrive have activities or drinks ready to go until everyone arrives.
9. Get a co-host or an assistant.
   Hosting is serious work and a legion of minions is ideal. Short of that, get a helper to do the grunt work - collecting coats and bags or grabbing towels for a spill - so you can be the hostess with the mostest. Side note: you will owe them big time.