how can I throw a housewarming party with a large family (apx 75 people) without having the new place trashed?

Question

also we cant fit that many at once....

Answer 1

have it outside and give a tour of the house.... you can't split the party into 2 days or different times that's a bit weird and over the top not to mention a little selfish. The worst thing that could happen; all your family and friends who love you show up b/c they love you and are happy for you, bring a gift, laugh, eat and you have to clean up. suck it up, it's worth it.

Answer 2

Luckily for you at this time of the year it is nice outside for the most part. Try to plan an evening party and set up tables out back and put all beverages back there. That will help keep too many people in the house at once.

The open house idea is also a good one but chances are if they are all family they will want to visit each other as well.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

do what Barbra b said and keep a lot of trash cans spread through out the house.The trash wont be every where also have a refreshments table near .Have a BBQ and grill out side.For the people who don't want BBQ have pasta or steak in side set food on a table in the kitchen and tell them they can heat food up in the microwave.also make goodie bag and set them at the door include good stuff in the bag and put something special in one bag tell people its there but don't let them know which one they will be more eager to get the good stuff so they will leave early.tell them they can only get one when they leave.Keep a room in your house for children then hire a baby sitter to watch them keep fun games set up a tent and have a TV make sure the smaller kids have sippy cups or your carpet is gone. hope this helps

Answer 4

I'm surprised you would think that there might be a possibility that your new house would get trashed after throwing a house warming party... are you talking about kids or are you concerned with your adult realtives, too?

I have not thought of any guests possibly trashing my house.
I probably would not even invite anyone who poses a threat to my home.
Yup, even if it's family... LOL

The first thing to ask is what is your goal for this party?
Is it getting the house warming gifts or just being with family in your new house?
If it's just the gifts I'd say it's not worth taking the risk... Imagine getting $1000 worth of gifts but having to pay $5000 worth in damages... really...

The key is "Damage Control"...

I'm used to throwing big parties at home between150-250 guests and I try to concentrate the guests in one area.
It's usually the front yard or the back yard.
I live in Southern California so I'm able to do this at any season.
I also provide stuff for them to do to
keep them busy outside the house. LOL
table games for the adults...
arts & crafts or inflatable jumpers for kids...
movies in the living room for whoever wants to watch.
hot beverages & some deserts in the kitchen coz the "oldies" wanna hang out there...

since we're out of the house most of the time during the party I lock the bedroom doors so nobody "accidentally" gets in the bedroom while looking for the bathroom...
I leave the guest room unlocked for whoever wants to rest... usually elders or small kids.

I also try to stay away from serving foods with tomato sauce (spaghetti, lasagna, etc...) and other ingredients that may stain my carpet.

I do not serve alcohol if I can help it. Hard to control during big parties.
I only serve it during formal sit-down dinners at my house.

I do not believe in splitting my parties...
I get exhausted just thinking about the long hours of serving the guests vs. having a big group then entertaining whoever is left towards the end of the day...

Congratulations in buying a new house.

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to pull off an
excellent house-warming party.

TIP:
Remember to have one of your kids or ask one of your friends/ relatives to have the guests sign your "guestbook" (with complete mailing address) so you know where to send the Thank You cards...

Answer 5

On the one hand, you would like your family members to feel welcome - but there are always a few who simply can't be counted on to act as civilized guests.

OK so that means you'll have to guest-proof your house as best as possible.

Schedule an open house - on a sunday afternoon.

I'm sure you've toured historic houses - where rooms were roped off so that the door remained open, and people could only look inside. Take a cue from them. Designate some areas as "public" and others should be roped off for viewing only. That means a big wide velvet ribbon across the door - just like in a museum - with a sign saying "Private, Please" or "For viewing only." Barring that, lock the doors and people will get the message that this room is really private.

Schedule a guided tour of the house each hour, however, so that guests can oogle over the imported travertine in your master bath. At other times, the rooms should be roped off with their "private" signs.

Recruit a few family members (no more than an hour per shift) to be stationed near the private areas to act as guides and watchful eyes.

Of course you will more than likely have some people holding trysts in your private quarters, or going through your makeup, jewelry, closets and the dreaded medicine cabinet in your tucked-away master bath; but they will be kept at a minimum.

As to damaging the rest of the house - the public part, that is. Make sure there is plenty of toilet paper in the downstairs powder room. Remove some of the furniture in your living and family rooms to allow for more people - but not encourage them to stay too terribly long. If you make things too comfortable, they'll stay for hours and hours.

Limit refreshments to snack-y finger-type foods - no sit-down dinners. Fewer plates etc. to wash. Keep messy/gooey dips etc. in the dining area so drips can be wiped up.

Keep alcohol down to a bare minimum - or not at all - as guests drink, they become more careless; as well as helping to minimize the inevitable relative who overendulges and needs to crash that night.

Answer 6

if you have a gathering not everyone will show up. Try to have a small gathering (25ppl) each day of the weekend- one Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. OR you can have one on Saturday at different times 12-2, 3-5, and 6-8- Which gives you time to clean up in between, get more supplies, and take a small break for you. You can also have it at you apartments leasing office or pool. Its up to you. Congrats on your new place.

Answer 7

it's impossible to have 75 people in your house unless it's a mansion.
Split them into groups of 20 per party........that makes about 7+parties. If you are afraid of your place being trashed, don't do it. I won't.

Answer 8

Have your extended family and aquaintances over during the day for an afternoon bbq on a sunday afternoon and have the party animals over on saturday evening and keep them outside your new place.

Answer 9

Have an open house from like 1pm until 6 pm (or whatever times you want) that way it gives them the opportunity to stop by whatever time they would like and people will constantly be coming and going so they wont be there all at once

Answer 10

A garden party (out doors), and what they call here a come and go, what the other answerer called an open house