Guides.

The best pool party I ever attended had 22 people, one inflatable flamingo, and a playlist someone put together in 15 minutes. The host spent maybe two hours planning. Everyone left saying it was the highlight of their summer. The pool does most of the work. Your job is to make sure the food doesn’t […]

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. The weather is (usually) cooperating, everyone’s mood is good, and there’s a built-in three-day window to actually host a gathering without anyone stressing about work the next morning. If you’ve been thinking about throwing a BBQ this Memorial Day, here’s how to make it actually great […]

Every kid wants their birthday party to feel special. The problem is, “special” means something completely different for a 4-year-old than it does for a 10-year-old. What works for toddlers (bright colors, simple activities, short parties) would completely bore a preteen. What tweens love (independence, their friends, less adult involvement) would overwhelm a kindergartener. This […]

Here’s the thing about adult parties: they’re mostly just people standing around talking to the people they already know. Which is fine. But it’s not great. The parties that people remember — the ones guests talk about for weeks — usually have something that mixed the room. Something that got two strangers laughing together or […]

Retirement is one of the biggest milestones a person can hit. Someone you love just spent 20, 30, maybe 40 years building a career. Now they’re stepping into an entirely new chapter. That deserves a real celebration. Not a sad office farewell with cheap sheet cake and a $20 gift card. A real celebration. One […]

Planning a bachelorette party sounds fun — until you realize you’re juggling twelve different schedules, six different budget comfort levels, and a bride who says “I don’t want anything over the top” but also “I want it to be really special.” Sound familiar? This guide will get you from overwhelmed to organized. Whether you’re planning […]

A baby shower celebrates one of life’s biggest moments, and great baby shower planning creates memories that last long after the baby arrives. Whether you’re hosting for a best friend, sister, or coworker, this guide walks you through every detail. From setting the date to sending thank-you notes, here’s everything you need to plan a […]

You planned the party. You’ve got the date locked in. Now you’re staring at a blank page thinking: what do we actually do? That’s where this guide comes in. Whether you’re working with $200 or $2,000, throwing a backyard bash for 20 or a big open house for 80, there are graduation party ideas here […]

You hosted the party. The food was great, people stayed late, and you woke up the next morning feeling pretty good about it. Now what? A thank you note after a party to guests is one of the highest-leverage things a host can do. It takes about 15 minutes. It makes people feel genuinely seen. […]

Mother’s Day only comes once a year. And every year, millions of families end up scrambling to book a brunch reservation at a crowded restaurant, sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers, waiting 45 minutes for eggs. That’s not a celebration. That’s a logistical nightmare dressed up with flowers. Here’s the thing: the best Mother’s Day party isn’t […]

The dinner party is back. After years of everyone defaulting to restaurants, more people are rediscovering what it feels like to sit around someone’s actual table, eat food someone actually cooked, and have a real conversation that lasts more than ninety minutes. I’m a big believer in this. Dinner party ideas don’t have to be […]

Engagement party planning doesn’t have to be stressful. Done right, it’s one of the most joyful gatherings you’ll ever host — a chance to celebrate two people before the wedding machine kicks into full gear. When my friends Priya and James got engaged last spring, the first question their families had wasn’t “when’s the wedding?” […]