The best luncheon parties provide a memorable and fun experience for guests.
A creative and well-planned luncheon party can provide many fun, exciting and memorable experiences for your guests. More than just lunch and not quite a formal dinner, a luncheon party typically serves as occasion to bring friends together and provide light fare along with the opportunity for social interaction. Most luncheon parties create a relaxed, casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Food choices include salads, sandwiches and light appetizers or hors d'oeuvres. Tap into your creative side to come up with some of your own memorable luncheon party ideas.
Special Theme
The inaugural luncheon for President Obama in January 2009 used a famous painting to connect the inauguration with Lincoln's birth 200 years earlier. A luncheon party may reflect any sort of special theme such as a momentous event, a special cause, an anniversary, a celebration or accomplishment. Design the luncheon around a special cherished memento, artwork, event, photograph or some other item that serves as a central point of reference. As an added touch to tie into the overall special theme, include related images on invitations, place cards and menus.
Buffet Style
Planning and preparations for a luncheon party may present a challenge for most folks with busy schedules. Rather than using formal place settings and hassling with seating arrangements, let your guests serve themselves. Serve easy-to-eat foods that require minimal cutting or handling. For example, cut chicken breasts into smaller, easy-to-manage, bite-size pieces. Cut sandwiches into small triangles, stick toothpicks into foods that tend to roll such as cherry tomatoes or meatballs, and serve smaller frozen items more easily prepared and handled by your guests.
Movie or TV Motif
Plan a luncheon around a favorite old movie or memorable television program. For example, a "Gilligan's Island" luncheon might include some tropical drinks served in coconut shells, a lei for every guest, some beach-type items such as grass umbrellas for tables, and rewriting the words to the show's theme song to fit your particular occasion. The motion picture "Some Like it Hot" also provides the makings for a great 1920s gangster-style luncheon. Have guests use a speakeasy password to enter the luncheon, offer chocolate guns or playing cards, set up a roulette wheel as a serving-table centerpiece, and play 1920s music in the background. Include recognizable images from the movie or TV show on invitations, decorations, gift bags and other items.
Game Theme
Many people enjoy playing games when around friends. Games can be played before, during or after food is served to provide entertainment. Memory games provide for easy answers to interesting questions and do not require all guests to participate. Be creative when selecting questions. For example, ask guests what they did on New Year's Eve 10 years ago. Creative questions can provide fun, entertaining answers and promote socializing at your next luncheon.
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