You have moved and settled into your new home. All the boxes are out of the way, and you are satisfied with how everything looks.
Now is the time to celebrate by throwing a housewarming party. That is a great way to show your new home to family and friends and an excellent opportunity to meet your new neighbors.
The first rule of a housewarming party is to keep it simple and casual so you can relax and enjoy it. There’s no need to spend hours preparing an elaborate lunch or dinner. Instead, go for a relaxing activity, such as an open house-style, potluck, or themed housewarming party.
Housewarming Party Invitations and Ideas
Be sure to indicate in your invitations what kind of housewarming party you are hosting. You may send out invitations by email or post. As for the neighbors, hand them the printed invitations or drop them in their mailboxes. Send your invites at least two or three weeks in advance. That gives you and your guests enough time to plan and prepare for the big day.
An open-house housewarming party means that guests can drop by at their convenience. In your invitation, give your guests the reason, date, and time frame for the party, for example, between 2 and 6. They can come and go whenever they want within that period.
Open-style housewarming parties are convenient if you have a small space and many people to invite. You don’t need to provide seating for everyone because the guests will be around at different times. Besides, at these kinds of parties, guests more often stand and mingle than sit.
This format is perfect for informal snacking. Just spread snacks, drinks, and glasses around the house and let your guests help themselves. Assign a few friends or family members to replenish the food and drink stations while you greet, meet, and enjoy the guests.
If you can’t imagine a housewarming party without serving a full meal, consider doing a potluck where each guest brings a dish to share. You can prepare the main meal and ask guests to bring specific side dishes, salads, desserts, or drinks. That way, you will have a nice variety on your dining room table without exhausting yourself.
But remember that you will need to provide enough chairs, plates, and cutlery for everyone invited.
You can’t go wrong with adding a theme to your housewarming party. Choose a theme that will be fun and engaging.
Karaoke night: Provide a list of well-known songs, rent a karaoke machine, and encourage guests to sing their hearts out.
No matter what housewarming party theme you choose, make sure that you have plenty of seating. You don’t want anyone to be left standing on the outside edge of the circle where everyone is sitting and enjoying an activity you prepared.
A tour of the home is a traditional part of every housewarming party. For many of your guests, this is the first time they have been inside your new home. They will want to see it.
You will probably need to give multiple tours throughout the party. Keep them short and simple. And to warm the hearts of your closest friends and family members, prominently display their photos or the things they have given you in the past.
A housewarming party in a retirement village is a great way to celebrate your new home and meet your neighbors. Most retirement villages have spacious community rooms or beautifully maintained outdoor spaces.
Before planning your party, ensure you're familiar with any rules or regulations regarding gatherings. Some communities may have restrictions on the number of guests or noise levels.
To keep your guests entertained, consider having a few games and activities. You can have a trivia game about the retirement village, a game of bingo, or a sing-along. After the party, clean up and return everything to its original condition. That will show respect for your neighbors and the community.
Traditionally, guests will bring a bottle of wine or a potted plant to a housewarming party, but it’s not a requirement. In your invite, you can request specific gifts, for example, gift cards to local salons or grocery stores. You can mention that presents are optional or not wanted at all.
On your side, you may prepare inexpensive trinkets or treats for your guests. You can’t go wrong with fridge magnets, small notepads, or packets of dried fruits and nuts. Set the gifts on a table near your front door for your guests to take when they leave.
Having friends has numerous health benefits, including improved mental and physical well-being, increased happiness, and a stronger sense of purpose in life. It's important to remember that making new friends takes time and effort, but the rewards are well worth it.
Moving to a new home in your 50s can be challenging for socializing. A housewarming party is an opportunity to meet your neighbors and make new friends. Other ways to make new friends after relocating include joining local clubs and organizations, volunteering, attending community events, and taking classes.
With a little effort and patience, you'll soon find new connections and relationships in your new community.
Before hosting your housewarming party, you had to move.
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