Throwing a party is a lot of fun, but it can be stressful, especially when you are trying to select the foods to that will be a hit with everyone no matter the occasion. As you poor over cookbooks, recipe websites, and read people blogs and first hand experiences, here are some tips you may want to consider as you select the menu for your upcoming party.

Pay attention to what time you’re having your party. Are you having an evening affair or an afternoon brunch? Knowing the time and what meal that coincides with throughout the day will help you a lot when it comes to selecting your food. If haven’t selected a time yet, you should be conscience of certain things like does your budget allow you to serve a complete meal or were you just wanting to do something simpler like hors d’oeuvres? These are the types of things you should know before you even start picking foods out.
Where are you having your party? Are you having it outdoors or inside at an elegant banquet hall? Knowing the location and surrounding of where you will be hosting your party will help you select great food choices that compliment that particular place. I mean, after all, you don’t want to serve a sit down, steak dinner out of doors at your standing-room-only garden cocktail party! Just like in real estate, location is an important part of choosing party foods.
Consider your space. Is there a lot of room for chairs and tables or were you just wanting to have everyone stand and mingle at your party? This is an important question to ask, because it will play a huge part in whether or not you serve actual sit-down foods or finger foods. Another important part of considering your space is to also consider how many people will be attending. You don’t want to try to cram thirty people at your dinner table, and try to feed them a meal!
Glance at your guest list. How many people are coming? Are there a lot of children that will be in attendance? This is another great question to ask, because it’s hard to have a sit down meal without a lot of kids in tow, especially since meal time and kids don’t usually go together. It’s also hard and expensive to feed a really big meal to a big crowd. So, by evaluating your guest list you are helping yourself make the best food decisions for your guests.
Consider your party type. Are you having an elegant affair, a cocktail party, or a birthday party for your child? The type of party you are having also dictates the type of food you should serve. Elegant affairs usually require nice sit-down meals, while a child’s birthday party could be as simple as cake and ice cream. By considering the type of event, you are not only taking steps to have great food, but you will also be doing your best to meet your guest expectations about what kind of food will be served at your particular party.