Keeping a Party Journal & What to Put in it

WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?

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Raise your hand if you’re obsessed with parties and entertaining. Me Too! That’s why, when I began hosting too many parties to mentally keep up with, I started keeping a party journal. It has become invaluable to me over the years as I jot down every detail I want to remember.

There are two main reasons I like to keep notes in my journal. First of all, I don’t like to do the same thing twice with the same group. And secondly, I like to keep a record of what works and what doesn’t.

What Notes To Keep

I started hosting and entertaining over 25 years ago, and early on I jotted down notes on stray pieces of paper, on my calendar, or in a notebook. Once it became evident I needed a central location for them I purchased a designated journaling book to keep all my notes in.

For each party I document these key factors:

• Guest list, including who was invited and who was a no-show.
• Complete menu and recipes I served.
• Which recipes where a hit and what was a miss.
• How much alcohol and non-alcohol drinks were consumed.
• What type of alcohol was most consumed (beer, bourbon or vodka, white vs. red wine).
• Any special touches I incorporated like an ice sculpture or chocolate fountain – both were a big hit!
• Even what dress I wore! I have a closet full of black cocktail dresses and yet still ‘never have a thing to wear’.

Organizing The Details

• I log each party I’ve hosted, and I have separate sections for our annual Christmas cocktail party, fun theme parties, and ladies nights.
• For each party I list what the menu was, and where I can find the recipe. I have a ton of cookbooks, binders, recipe cards, and tear sheets of magazine recipes, so writing down where to find it again is crucial.
• I note how well the recipes were received. A simple asterisk beside it means it was a hit – serve it again! And I’ll add it to my go-to list of party food which has helped me create the perfect appetizer party menus throughout the years.
• I include who was invited, but more importantly, who attended each party. I have a 3-strikes rule I like to follow. If I invite someone to a party three times and they don’t come, I strike them off the invitation list. Of course if there is a legitimate reason they’ve missed, I account for that. In general, life is too short and full of friendly faces to be chasing after people who aren’t invested in your friendship and hospitality.
• I note what I wore. That’s right, any hostess with the mostess knows she can’t be seen wearing the same outfit twice. Haha, I’m only half joking! This really only applies to the Christmas party. I now have a closet full of cocktail dresses that I’ve worn once!

Future Party Planning

List information and ideas that you want to try out as well as those that you’ve done and were successful or not.

• Add a list of decorative touches. This includes things like making an ice bowl or an ice bottle cooler, to hanging white string lights for an outdoor party. I have a long list of decorative touches I’ve done over the years, or may want to try in the future.
• List of go-to menus. This is a handy section that takes the guess work out of planning. For instance, a fail-proof easy brunch might include a fruit trifle, cheese grits casserole, and bacon wrapped smokies. I also have a holiday meal section that includes classic recipes with a twist.
• I have a Party Tips section with useful information I’ve collected over the years. Things like how to handle wine spills, pre-cleaning tactics, setting the mood with light and music, etc.
• I have lists of recipes that I want to try, from appetizers to side dishes to drinks. Beside each item I list what book with page number, or binder the recipe can be found.

A party journal is a great tool for every hostess and can hold pre-approved dinner menus, perfect wine pairings, favorite party activities, and more.

There’s so much more that you can include. I have a whole section on Christmas that includes family traditions, classic movies to watch, new activities to try. I’ve got notes on preparing the guest room, creating a cheese plate, setting up a coffee bar, pairing wine and cheese…the lists go on.

It’s such a great tool to have and I love writing in it as opposed to keeping a computer file, pinning, or texting into an app. As you can see, my journal is old and well worn. There are many beautiful journals you can find in stores like Target, HomeGoods, or online shops.  I hope you’re inspired to keep your own party journal!