by Randi Juric, My Big Day

Being a good hostess doesn’t take a lot of skill. Being a good hostess is all about the timing and the come one come all attitude. All you need to remember is smiles, full drinks, full plates, great atmosphere. Here are a few structure points to being the best hostess you can be. As a hostess you are the greeter, server, entertainer, problem solver, and cleanup crew unless of course you hire someone for any of these jobs. Even if you hire someone a super hostess still eyeballs the help to make sure it’s getting done right. A great hostess can super charge the room just by their smile and presentation as you greet a guest. Be infectious and make the crowd happy and go lucky with a smile! We call that a Super Hospi Hostess, hospi stands for hospitality.

1.       Set a clear start and end:
When you send out an invite be sure you list time, place, start and end dates. This will allow people to plan for the event accordingly. This will also ensure your party loving friends don’t overstay their welcome. Be sure to add an RSVP due date for a better had count for your event.

2.       Confirmations:
Be prepared to make confirmation calls to those who haven’t RSVP yet. Always be sure to ask if you think you may need to make special accommodations for some one.

3.       Comfort:
When guests start to arrive be sure to make the rules clear “take your shoes off and head on in” or “There is/is not a smoking area out back”. Be sure you keep the environment comfortable for all guests and you too! Welcome them in and shoe them the layout. Everyone loves snacks and drinks, it’s the best part of the party!! Remember as your walking around mingling and welcoming new guests it’s OK to eyeball everyone’s plates and drinks. Be sure to ask in passing if they need a refill on any food or drink or if you can take their plate. Remember to SMILE SMILE SMILE!

4.       Mingle, Mingle, Mingle:
It is very important to mingle and mix things up. Walk around and talk with your guests, catch up and maybe get people who may not know each other to start a conversation. Keep your background music in mind should you decide to play some.

Always put together a playlist that fits your crowd and don’t play it too loud. We want the music to entertain but not blast away!

5.       Clean up:
Clean as you go! It makes things so much easier as you go to pick up and clean as your walking around mingling. Offer to take some ones trash for them. A hostess never leaves their guest with their hands full.

6.       The wind down and long good bye:
Read your crowd! Timing is everything on the wind down. About an hour to thirty minutes before your scheduled end time take the time to look around and see if your guests seem to be winding down or going strong. If they are winding down you can turn your music down in the background more and start cleaning up a little more heavily as you mingle and say your goodbyes to those leaving. You can also thank people for coming as you’re cleaning up in their area before you move on, this will give the guest the impression the party is coming to an end politely. On the other hand if your guests seem to still be going strong and you don’t have to be out by a specific time start asking for refills again or if you can get them anything else. You can also turn the music up just a smidge. Mingle and ask your guests if they have met so and so yet and see if you can make some new connections.

7.       The morning after:
Give some of your guests’ calls over the next week and thank them for coming again and see if they have any feedback for you good or bad, just listen to what they have to say there is always room for improvement. This helps you refine your hosting skills and see what works and doesn’t so well. This also gives you an opportunity to give more invites if you have other events you want to have some guests to join. Your guests will love the follow up and the time you took to say thank you again. It leaves a great impression that you cared to call them and ask if they had a good time.

These hostess tips have  been brought to you by My Big Day Events!
Serving the Front Range, Mountains and S. Wyoming.
Parties - Planning - Weddings & More!

4/18/14   Easter Bunny for the 8th annual Easter Eggstravaganza! - WINDSOR
Come join the Easter Bunny for the 8th annual Easter Eggstravaganza! There will be open gym activities for you and your child to enjoy together along with a gigantic Easter Egg hunt all around the Community Recreation Center, so bring your Easter Basket to fill up! (Easter egg hunt will be held outside if weather permits)
Ages 3 - 5 years (or at parents discretion)   Date: April 18      Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM    
Location: Windsor Community Recreation Center  Address: 250 N. 11th St.  Windsor, CO 80550   
Contact: 970-674-3500     Cost: $3 - pre-registration (until April 17)  $5 - day-of registration

4/19/14  Jaycees Annual Easter Egg Hunt - FORT COLLINS
Easter egg hunts for children, Easter egg hunts for infant, Easter egg hunts for toddlers, The Easter bunny will make an appearance, Visits and photos with the Easter Rabbit, FREE admission, Bring a basket to collect the eggs!,
207 Peterson Street Library Park, Fort Collins, CO 80524. Phone: 612-978-3570. Email: laura.godsman@gmail.com. Event date and time: Saturday April 19, 2014 at 10:00am. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover. Volunteers are always appreciated! If you would like to volunteer please R.S.V.P to Laura at the email address above and be prepared to arrive at the park at 7:30 a.m. on the 19th. This Easter Egg Hunt is bound to be a huge success and bundles of fun! Hope to see you and your families there! Don't forget to bring your baskets and cameras to capture life long memories!. 0-12 years of age.

4/19/14  Longmont Easter Egg Hunt  - LONGMONT
Roosevelt Park: The event is FREE and the hunt is open to all children ages 8 and under. We will have a bounce house/slide, face painting, balloon artistry, a puppet show, and more! This year we have more eggs, more prizes, and more fun planned for all participants. Please join us from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM for all events. The egg hunts have staggered starts by age group and will begin at 10:45. Please grab your Easter baskets and join us for a fun day in the park.Hosted by White Fields Community Church.

4/19/14  Easter Eggstravaganza Hunt, Carnival & Larimer County Food Drive  - FORT COLLINS
at 11 a.m. April 19 at Foothills Assembly of God, 305 W. Swallow Road, Midtown Fort Collins. Free food, refreshments, raffle prizes and games. Information: www.foothillsassembly.com.

4/19/14  Gulley Greenhouse & Garden Center - FORT COLLINS
6029 S. Shields St., Fort Collins, invites the public to its annual Easter Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19. The bunny bonanza will feature a number of free holiday activities, bunnines for petting, and free face painting. The Terrarium Fairy Garden class will be offered at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.  Information: www.facebook.com/GulleyGreenhouse.

4/19/14  Wellington Community Easter Egg Hunt- WELLINGTON
April 19th at 1:00pm located at Harvest Farm at 4240 East County Road 66 in Wellington. They will have Face Painting, Games, Prizes, Refreshments, and a Meet and Greet with the Easter Bunny. Ages 0-11 are welcome to participate, they will start with ages 0-3 and when they are done they will move to the next age group.

4/19/14  Redeemer Lutheran Church - FORT COLLINS
Easter Egg Hunt- April 19th at 10:30 and going through 12pm.
Redeemer Lutheran Church in Greeley Easter Egg Hunt - April 19th at 2pm and going through 3:30pm. They will have the Christian Entertainer Gene Cordova to provide ventriloquism, illusions, comedy and balloon animals before the easter egg hunt. The Easter Egg Hunt is available for 5th graders and under.

4/19/14  Jax Eggstravaganza!  - FORT COLLINS & LOVELAND
On April 19th the North College Jax Location will be hosting the Easter Egg Hunt starting at 10am for the 3 and under age group, 11am for the 4-6 year olds, and 12pm for the 7-12 year olds. If you go to the Ranch and Home Location in Loveland they will be doing pictures with the Easter Bunny from 11am-1pm.

4/19/14  Annual Grace Place/Community Colorado Easter Egg Hunt - BERTHOUD
(Come rain, snow, wind or shine): FREE  Saturday, April 19  11:00 am  Berthoud High School
Huge Easter Egg Hunt for kids zero - 5th grade - Hunt divided by age, including a toddler spot - Free hotdogs, changes to win great prizes, games, Inflatables, crafts, face painting, live band & more
Special Prizes for the first 500 families through the gates - Sponsored by Grace Place and local businesses  www.GracePlace.org

4/19/14  Easter Eggstravaganza  - MILLIKEN
Description: What will you find? A free Easter Egg Hunt; to include prizes and pictures with the Easter Bunny. This is a community event that takes place in the springtime, and allows children (up to 11 years of age) and parents to run the fields of Sappington Park to search for Easter eggs. Enjoy the adventure of finding as many eggs as you are able and visit with the Easter Bunny. The Egg hunt will begin promptly at 10:00 am. Location: Sappington Park in Milliken, Colorado

4/19/14 Fox Run and Fox Creek Easter Egg Hunts - LONGMONT
Be sure to bring baskets for your children!
Fox Creek Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 10:00 a.m.
At the "Gulch" - the east end of Aspenwood Lane (east of Cedarwood)
Fox Run Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 11:30 a.m.
At the Park on Fox Run Blvd.
4/19/14  WIlder-Nests Retreats Easter Egg Hunt - LOVELAND
The Wilder-Nests Retreats Easter egg hunt will be 11 a.m. Saturday at 9144 N. Glade Road, Loveland, weather permitting. This is for children age 10 and under. Call 481-2563 for details.

4/19/14  Community Easter Egg Hunt - LOVELAND
Waypoint Church will host a community Easter egg hunt from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lucile Erwin Middle School, 4700 Lucerne Ave. Families will be treated to bounce houses, snow cones, popcorn, prizes, and more than 6,000 eggs. Festivities will be broken up by age group: toddlers age 3 and under; preschool age 4-5; kindergarten to second grade; and third to fifth grade. For details, email Nate Tyler, Pastor of Family Ministries, at nate@waypointonline.org.

4/20/14  2014 Easter Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt - ESTES PARK
Join The Stanley for Easter with an Easter Brunch 11 AM - 4 PM for $52 per person, Ages 5-12 are $26 per child and childeren under 5 eat free. The Easter Egg hunt starts at 1 PM sharp for your little ones!
Call 970-577-4001 for reservations.

4/20/14  Easter Sunrise Service & Easter Egg Hunt - LOVELAND
New Freedom Outreach Center, 175 S. Madison Ave., is having an Easter sunrise service beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday, followed by baptisms. An Easter egg hunt for children will be at the park close to the church. An Easter morning breakfast will be served to everyone that comes. For details, call 669-1480.

Their tagline is, "Scooterhinge, A Nostalgic Rental Hall."  But this venue in Mead, Colorado is more than nostalgic. It's eclectic, it's strange... it's downright a museum of the odd and unusual!

The My Big Day team went on a site visit of Scooterhinge to get an idea of what future signature events might makes sense in this space. We also receive requests for affordable event spaces where clients have the option to bring their own caterer and alcohol.  This place offers all of that and more! So we wanted to get a feel of what this venue is all about before we make referrals to our clients.

Located between Loveland and Longmont, Mead is a town of less than 4,000 people.  The owner of Scooterhinge is a collector of sorts. He purchased this building and started bringing in his collectibles (old motorcycles, classic cars, vintage dolls, nostalgic toys, the list goes on.)