Issue Date: April 1, 2007

Spring Entertaining

9 party-perfect tips for smart spring get-togethers

Ready to shake off the winter blahs? Then throw the best bash of the season with advice from top party experts.

By Kelly DiNardo

Throw open the windows, shake off any remaining winter sluggishness, and celebrate the new season with a party. We asked some top experts for their best party-planning tips to help you step into spring with, well, a spring in your step.

1. Be spontaneous.
"Spring just pops up all of a sudden," says David Tutera, who has planned extravaganzas for Elton John and the Rolling Stones and hosts a show on Discovery Home Channel. "You get hints of it, and then it arrives in full bloom." In the spirit of the season, Tutera suggests being more spontaneous by embracing entertaining on short notice (except for big milestone affairs). "People are ready to step out of the box for the spring because they're done with the winter blues."

2. Consider the weather.

Fire pits add glow and warmth to spring evenings.

The spontaneity of spring is one of its blessings -- unless you're talking about the weather. In that case, the quick-changing, sometimes tempestuous weather can be a challenge. "Plan gatherings that can work inside or out," says Lisa Holderness, food and entertaining editor with "Country Home." "Consider the wind, rain and the fact that it still gets dark kind of early." Outdoor fire pits or heaters can keep guests warm. Candles can be iffy if it's breezy, so think about using twinkle lights and lanterns.

As the season progresses and the weather warms up, consider how to handle bugs at outdoor parties. "Keep your garden clean, and don't let water collect because that's where insects breed," says Ethne Clarke, garden editor with "Traditional Home" magazine, who suggests decorating with citronella candles and keeping bottles of unscented repellent on hand for guests.

3. Pick a color scheme.
If you're hosting a themed event, such as a Cinco de Mayo party, the color palette may be obvious -- the red, green and white of the Mexican flag and the rich colors plucked from south-of-the-border fabrics, for example. But for other spring events, let the season be your color guide, and use your selected colors for the invitations, décor and even the drinks.

"Every season has its own color scheme," "Traditional Home's" Clarke says. "In the spring, it tends to be very soft -- pale yellows, powdery blues, soft pinks. Save the vibrant colors for summer get-togethers. As the season warms up, the colors warm up. I would pull back on the rich, saturated colors and go for the light, 'breath of spring' colors."

4. Keep décor simple.

A host of golden daffodils inspires spring thoughts.

"People are excited about seeing flowers and the change of season," says party planner Tutera, who says not to worry about creating elaborate arrangements. "You don't have to be fussy." Instead, use potted plants from the nursery. Or, buy bunches of a single flower, like daffodils, sweet peas or lilacs, and put them in vases. Adding fabric or crystal-encrusted butterflies or dragonflies, available at craft stores, is an easy extra touch.

When setting the table, mix it up, says Charles MacPherson, vice chairman of The International Guild of Professional Butlers. Combine a rustic plate with formal cut crystal. "With different combinations, your table will never look the same," he says.

5. Feature seasonal food.
Embrace the essence of spring with a menu full of spring's bounty. "In the South, we wait for food to come into season," says James Villas, author of "The Glory of Southern Cooking." "All of the entertaining revolves around what's available. In the spring, we see the first Vidalia onions, asparagus, strawberries, soft shell crabs, oysters, shrimp, shad roe and okra."

6. Say "cheers" to spring.
"Don't feel like you have to have a full open bar," Tutera says. "It's too expensive and too much work." The party planner suggests a great martini or specialty cocktail, red and white wine, and sparkling and still water. You might extend your color scheme to that specialty cocktail -- a lavender or cucumber-green martini, for example. To simplify things, prepare the drink in advance, put it in pitchers and let people pour for themselves.

"You're going to enjoy wines with spring foods like asparagus and salads, so you'll want lighter, fresher, crisper wines," says Suzanne McGrath of Arlington, Va., wine store The Curious Grape. "Asparagus, in particular, can be tricky because it has an enzyme in it that makes wine taste metallic."

For white wines, McGrath suggests serving Txakoli, which has a little spritz to it and is from the Basque area of Spain, and Torrontes, an inexpensive floral-smelling wine from Argentina. For red, she says pinot noir remains hot, and rosé wines, especially those from Spain, are quite good, not to mention they're a blushing, rosy-pink color.

7. Keep the party moving.
"House parties can become excruciatingly boring," says Tutera, who suggests that you move guests along every 30 minutes or so. You might have cocktails in the garden or on your deck, then move inside for dinner and back outside or to the living room for dessert.

Participatory eating -- giving people something to do -- is another way to keep the party humming along, says "Country Home's" Holderness. Set up a bruschetta bar with grilled bread and different toppings, such as traditional tomato and basil or contemporary goat cheese and beets. Have a guest roast popcorn over a fire pit, then pass the snack around. Allow friends to create their own pizzas from a selection of toppings. Set up an ice cream dessert bar for kids and adults.

8. Be a guest at your own party.
"Mingle with your guests," says Tutera, who notes that the host should be the first and last person a guest sees. "Even if you are a gourmet chef, you don't have to be one for the party." In fact, USA WEEKEND's CookSmart columnist Pam Anderson presents a great do-ahead menu below and on the next page, with a main course and a dessert that can be made well in advance. Or, order food from your favorite restaurant or takeout place, and re-plate it at home.

9. Leave them with sweet memories.

Nosegays of white and chartreuse flowers are a sweet send-off gift.

"Gift favors are always fun to do," says MacPherson, who likes "surprise take-aways for guests." Think about sending guests home with a chilled bottle of water, or a large cookie or fresh piece of fruit in pretty cellophane or a paper bag. Or, present each guest with small table decorations, like nosegays.

Kelly DiNardo recently wrote USA WEEKEND'sannual update on babies. Her biography of burlesque dancer Lili St. Cyr will be published this September.

Cover photograph by Rita Maas, JupiterImages