How To Throw A Housewarming Party After The Move
The best way to welcome your family and friends and offer them a tour of your new home is to host a housewarming party. Although a housewarming celebration is meant to be enjoyable, the stress of moving can make planning and organising one extremely difficult. Hosting a housewarming party is the ideal way to get your friends together, meet your new neighbours, and start new friendships. You might be feeling worn out from all the laborious work and debating whether to host a housewarming party or not. Moving into a new home is a wonderful milestone in one’s life, and just like any other significant event, we should definitely celebrate it.
A housewarming party will allow you to have fun in the midst of all the moving chaos and can help you uplift your mood. If you lack the energy to manage the work of preparing and hosting a housewarming celebration, you can always rely on professionals. If your budget allows, you can always hire professional event planners for your housewarming party. However, if you want to handle it yourself, we’ve put up a list to make sure your housewarming party is a success without any hassle.
1. Get Settled First
Once your professional movers have relocated your belongings safely to your new home, it’s time to celebrate. You may be eager to host a housewarming party right away because you can’t wait to show off your new home to your family and friends. However, it will be a wise idea to settle down first and give yourself one or two weeks to unpack. Before throwing a housewarming celebration, you might need to complete a few projects, like repainting and fixing up a few areas of your new house. Remember that you don’t need to rush to throw a housewarming party. It is completely acceptable to wait, even if it takes one, two, or even more months, depending on the circumstances. Spending some time settling down can help you relax and give you more time to plan a fantastic housewarming party.
2. Sending Invitations
The next step is to decide on a date and compile a guest list. When making the invite list, make sure to keep the number of guests limited so that you can manage them. It will also be a good idea to think about the style of home party you want, the party’s scheduling, etc. in advance. Making these preparations in advance will help you reduce stress later. When compiling your guest list, along with your family and friends, consider inviting your neighbours and coworkers so that you get to know them. You have various options for inviting guests to the housewarming party. You can either text or email them. Send the invitations out at least one or two weeks in advance. If you’ve just recently gotten to know your neighbours, you can simply text them or knock on their doors to let them know in advance. Make sure to include any important information in the invitation, such as the location of your home, parking instructions, whether an open house-style party is being held, etc. These details will assist your visitor in making an informed visit plan.
3. Keep It Simple
When throwing a housewarming party after a move, it is essential to keep things simple and stress-free. Focus on minimalistic decorations like fairy lights, fresh flowers, and a welcome sign to create a warm and inviting atmosphere without overwhelming the space. If you want to get more creative, you can buy housewarming party decorations online. Additionally, serve easy-to-eat finger foods and a simple drink selection, and consider a signature cocktail to add a personal touch. Plan activities to avoid silence and encourage interaction among guests. As a gesture of appreciation, offer small and thoughtful party favours to guests. By embracing simplicity, both the host and guests can enjoy a relaxed and memorable housewarming celebration.
4. Arrange The Party Area: Inside or Outside?
The party area is an important thing to consider when deciding on a housewarming party. You need to decide whether you want to host it indoors or outdoors based on the number of guests you are inviting. If your new home has a beautiful backyard or a spacious garden, an outdoor party can be a great choice, especially if the weather is favourable. However, if your new home’s interior is well-designed and you want to showcase it, an indoor gathering could be the way to go. Consider the number of guests you plan to invite and the available space when making this decision.
5. Finger Foods and Drinks
Everyone enjoys a good, hearty meal, but preparing it might not be such a simple task yet, as you just moved in. Instead, try considering finger foods and snacks. The possibilities for finger foods and snacks range from spicy to a nutritious sweet delight and everything in between, and they are delicious enough to satisfy your guest’s appetites. Finger foods are an excellent choice, as they are easy to eat while mingling and exploring the new home. Consider serving a variety of appetisers, snacks, and small bites. You can also set up a drinks station with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. To add a personal touch, you might even create a signature cocktail for the event, based on your preferences or the local flavours.
6. Create a Playlist
Music is the essence of a party and helps set the mood for any party, so put together a playlist that suits the ambience you want to create. There are a variety of streaming platforms for music, including Spotify, and you can also customise one that you consider suitable for the party mood. You can include a mix of upbeat and relaxing tunes, catering to different moments of the party. Don’t forget to consider your guests’ preferences as well, and make sure the volume is appropriate to encourage conversation and interactions. Additionally, music will also help you remove awkward silences from the crowd, especially for the early arriving guests who won’t have much to say.
7. Plan a Few Games To Escalate The Fun
If you are inviting people who are strangers to one another, games can be a great way to break the silence. To keep the party lively and ensure that everyone has a good time, plan activities that encourage engagement and conversation. While you may have interesting stories about your new home to share, it’s also a good idea to think of icebreaker games or activities that can involve all the guests. You can consider the below-mentioned game ideas to help break the silence and get the conversation started.
- Charades
Put a twist on the classic charades game by centring it around moving-related moments and activities. Write down various scenarios related to moving, such as “packing boxes,” “unpacking furniture,” or “finding the perfect home.” Participants must act out these situations without speaking, and their teammates have to guess what they are portraying. It’s a fun and lighthearted way to break the ice and share humorous experiences related to moving.
- Two Truths and A Lie – Home Edition
Give this popular icebreaker game a home-themed twist. Each guest takes turns sharing three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one that is false, related to their experiences with home and moving. The other guests must determine which claim is false by guessing. This game encourages storytelling and helps guests learn more about each other’s moving adventures, providing a great conversation starter.
- Housewarming Scavenger Hunt
Organise a scavenger hunt around your new home, both indoors and outdoors if possible. Create a list of items or places for guests to find, such as the cosiest spot in the living room, the backyard barbecue area, or the secret hiding spot in the garden. Guests can form teams or go solo to complete the hunt. This activity not only keeps everyone engaged but also gives them an opportunity to explore and familiarise themselves with your new home while having fun.
8. A Home Tour
Since it’s a housewarming party, one of the main attractions should be your new home itself. Your family and friends may want to see your new home, so make sure you plan the tour throughout the party. Take the time to give your guests guided tours of the house. To ensure that everyone can easily fit into each room, try to keep the number of visitors per tour to a minimum. Point out unique features, share anecdotes about the moving process, and make your guests feel welcome in each room. You can also allow your guests to take a self-guided tour of your new home. This will allow your guests to explore your space and initiate interaction or conversation about your new home.
9. Distribute Party Favours
For housewarming parties, people typically bring little gifts like wine bottles, plants, etc. However, it is not required, and instead, you should be the one handing out the party favours. To show your gratitude and say thank you for coming, you can prepare a small gift. As a gesture of appreciation for attending your housewarming party, consider giving out party favours to your guests. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant; simple and thoughtful gifts, such as personalised keychains or small potted plants, can leave a lasting impression and remind your guests of the great time they had at your new home. Don’t feel stressed about choosing the gift, as anything will be appreciated if it is given wholeheartedly.
Conclusion
The end of lease is complete, and you have relocated safely. The next thing you can plan is to host a housewarming party to meet your new neighbours and loved ones and build cherished memories. Remember, the most important aspect of a housewarming party is creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your guests. Don’t stress too much about elaborate decorations or a perfect setup. The focus should be on spending time with friends and loved ones and celebrating your new beginning in your new home. By considering key points such as sending out timely invitations, choosing a fitting theme, and creating a welcoming ambiance through thoughtful decoration, you can ensure a successful event. Most importantly, enjoy the process and take this opportunity to showcase the place you now call home.