Tips for Throwing an Apartment Warming

Back in June, Toby and I threw an apartment warming in honor of us moving to our new place after getting married ( you can check out that post here). Since then, I have received compliments on the food, decor, coziness, and overall party in general. Apartment (and house) warming parties are not only fun, but I just love the way it truly "warms" your house up and lets friends and family know that your place is open for gatherings and food. I see us throwing a warming, whether it be apartment or house, just about every time we move!

On to the tips!

• Go Pinterest shopping. The first thing I did when we decided we were going to have people over was head straight to Pinterest. (If you found this via Pinterest, it looks like you're already headed in the right direction!) There, I was able to get inspired, find tips, salivate over recipes, and eventually develop my strategy. Trust me, there is a lot of information out there from themed parties to invitation tips to checklists. For more inspiration, check out my Pinterest board.

• Think small. This is a personal preference and you totally don't have to do this, but I personally like making bite-sized, finger food. I have seen other warmings where the host(ess) made big batches of macaroni and cheese, nacho dip, potato salad, etc. That is totally fine and dandy if you go that route. But for me, it was easier to make everything stretch by making everything tiny so people did not overindulge and leave with half of the food I put my blood, sweat, and tears (not literally!) in. So with that in mind, I made mini burgers, pizza cups, mini taco shells, and mini BLTs. My sister also made the fabulous suggestion to get mini ice cream cups, assemble a toppings line, and let everyone make their own sundaes!

• Watch your guest count. Speaking of small, consider the size of your apartment. Most apartment don't allow for much space and most times guest will crowd in the living room and dining room. I made the mistake of inviting 50 (!!) people and thank goodness that many people didn't show up!

• Consider allergies. Having grown up with a sister and father that are basically deathly allergic to all nuts, I made sure to ask all potential guest if they had any food allergies. I found out that some were lactose intolerant, some were vegetarian, and some did not eat pork. That means I made some mini burgers with cheese and some without, some with bacon and some without, and some burgers were beef and some were ground turkey. I also had to make some pizza cups with pepperoni and some without, and also some with vegan cheese. For the mini taco shells, some were with meat, some were with veggie meat, and some were with vegan cheese. As for the BLTs, there was just no way getting around the bacon.

• Prepare throughout the week prior. You definitely don't want to overwhelm yourself or get stressed out, so try to cook what you can during the week and divide the rooms you will be showing into days and clean a room or two a day. That way you wont be on edge when your guest arrive. Also, be sure to stock up on scented candles, air freshener, and scented rug cleaner so guests walk into a good smelling home. Oh, and don't forget the essentials like extra toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins!

• Create a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. Play some good music, light some candles, set up the area where you would be serving food nicely. I know you've just moved in, but if you can get some, throw pillows and extra chairs situated in a way that promotes conversation is a nice touch. Relax and just be in the moment and enjoy your friends and family. And don't forget to thank them as well!

• Finally, don't forget to pray. Pray that you would have a successful warming and that those who are meant to be there will be there. Pray that God will not let anyone make it who will cause drama or disrupt the peace of your home. Ask God that all of your guests feel peace and His Holy Spirit and love throughout your home, You want them to feel served, loved, and valued. Anyone else imagine what it would be like if Jesus threw a house warming party? 

Well, I hope that was helpful! Let me know any tips you have so you can help your other sisters out!