Plan your wine and cheese party to be fun and creative for your guests.
1. Send out some sort of invitation - Sending out an invite sets the tone for your little party. Evite.com makes it easy to send out free party invites via e-mail to your friends. If you want to glam up, type in “wine and cheese party invitations” in your web browser or on google.com, you will be surprised how many different styles and types of invites you can order via the web to later mail through snail mail. When designing your wine and cheese party invite, include a fun wine quote or wine facts in the invite; it will go over big with your guests. Pick colors that you can use throughout your party. If you aren’t creative, go Red/Purple and Green. It’s easy to find red and purple grapes on everything even cocktail napkins can be found at ANY wine store. If you really want to make an impression, send a cheese knife or wine opener with your invites. If you went this route you would have to get small packaging to make it work. We suggest a small white or wicker box with the invite and your little gift inside… giving that an XO.
2. Purchase individual wine glasses for your guests – if you can’t spend the money on nice glass, head to your local Target, Wal-Mart, or even a dollar store (yes we said the Dollar store, you would be surprised what you can find on a budget). These wine glasses serve as double duty not only serving your guests their vino, but they can also act as a party favor, allow your guests to take them home. A creative concept is: splurge and have your wine glasses etched with your party name, the party date, or even your guest’s individual name.
3. If you can’t afford to purchase all the wines, and want a creative assortment, have your guests each bring a wine bottle – pick a theme to help direct your party so the wines brought aren’t all over the map, for example: pick a region, a country, or different dates from the same producer. Have wine label markers (found at any wine store) or simple paint pens laid out on your “wine bottle table” and your guests can each label their wine bottle with their name when they arrive. This is a fun conversation starter and your guests ultimately try a variety of different wines that evening because they want what their friends or their new love interest brought.
4. Don’t go cheap on the labels – use every last bone in your body to be creative, either make your own labels with a toothpick or fun color party stick and hot glue gun paper on the stick to make what looks like a flag label, or if you are running short on time, go pick up some place cards and use them to label such things as your cheese varietals. Another fun idea is to not only use the labels for labeling your wine and cheese menu items, but place some of the place cards around your house with fun Wine & Cheese facts… again another conversation starter, look at that. TIP: Make sure your cheese is opened and set out 1 hour before your guests arrive to be sure it’s served at room temp!
5. Décor doesn’t have to be expensive, buy a 12 pack of votive candles at your local craft store or Wal-Mart to set the mood. Pick up a couple table cloths, fun wine cocktail napkins and small plates that match your theme and you are set. We also suggests if going with a “grapes on a vine” theme go to your local craft store and pick up faux greenery and faux grapes. Use these fun vines to add some color to your tables!! If you are planning on going glam, don’t forget your crystal platters, fancy bowls and specialty knives for your cheese!!
Then get looooopy.
