mixing groups when entertaining

cjsbdl

Does anyone regularly invite a mixed group of people when entertaining. Example: inviting co-workers + neighbors + family, etc, to the same party.

Oddly, I've never really done this. We have typically entertained different groups at different times with little mixing.

I'm specifically thinking about doing this with a girls-only party. Would love to hear if you've done it successfully.

TIA!

lsgarver

I've only found two situations in which this works well, a big group (like a house party) and a smaller group of girls only.  I've stopped doing mixed dinner parties for now. 

First and foremost, alcohol helps. 

Make sure everyone has at least one other person she knows--it's awful to be in a group of 10 and you're the only one who doesn't know anyone else there. 

As the hostess, you're expected to help them make connections.  Plan connections ahead of time--Alice, this is Diane, she lived in Nashville for a few years.  Diane, this is Alice, she went to Vanderbilt for undergrad.  Find people who are in related jobs, went to similar schools, have similar interests, have kids of similar age, etc.

Another trick is to have some "jobs" available and asked people who don't know each other to partner up--Alice and Diane, can you take those ingredients and make up some punch?  Then they have to meet and connect.

kjvogelsang

We have done this and our friend circle has grown because of it! And, friends of our have done it and we have met people who are now our friends because of it!

 

I agree with lsgarver though. Make sure there is alochol and make sure that you, the hostess introduces people and makes sure connections are being made.

I do have a suggestion. I have a couple friends who are not so outgoing and are pretty shy. Its hard for me to try to introduce everyone and then "babysit" these people. (I mean that in the nicest possible way too)  I try to talk to one of my friends who knows these shy people to help introduce new people to them and help me out, so I am not focusing my efforts on just those shy people!

 

TarHeels&Rebels

I do it all the time and it really works well.  I mix our personal friends with co-workers with neighbors at almost everything I do.  But we just have those sorts of friends who are gregarious, easy-going types who have a good time wherever.  DH's high school buddy is now great friends with our 60 year old neighbor bc they share a love of good whiskey.

I think it comes down to the personalities - if these girls are outgoing and chatty, they'll have a good time.  I would try to invite people in pairs (2 people from work, 2 neighbors, etc), just for a safety blanket as things get started - that way one person already knows at least one person when they arrive.  Showing up alone to a room of strangers is tough even for chatty types like me

HisCB

we entertain a lot, and often it is mixed. we throw UFC pay-per-view parties just abotu every month, superbowl and other football parties, and daytona 500, and people from like 5 groups come, his friends (2 groups), his family, my family, his dads friends, it works great, but people dont really have to mingle to entertain themselves since theyre sporting events.

we just threw an over 21 halloween party and it was the first time that people really were mixed without tv generated entertainment and i think it went well, the groups tended to seperate into groups of people who knew eachother, but a few intermingled, there were even a few who didnt know anyone but my husband or i.

i think it would be a great idea to do it with the girls only, im always looking to meet girls outside of my current groups. then later, if you want to invite some of the fellas also, the girls would already know eachother, and be kind of a buffer.

GatorWedsNole

lsgarver:

Another trick is to have some "jobs" available and asked people who don't know each other to partner up--Alice and Diane, can you take those ingredients and make up some punch?  Then they have to meet and connect.

I agree with this. Or you have interactive food and drink like a hot chocolate bar with toppings options or foundue that kind "makes" people gather and chat. 

Temp38995750004016

I do it with girls only parties, but not co-ed. It just seems easier for women to find things in common with one another!

cg-pm52111

DH and I do this almost every time we entertain.  We like to blend our friends.  We also usually make sure that each person invited knows at least on other person.  Most of our friends are pretty laid back anyway, so it's never too big a deal.  We also like to play games that get everyone talking.

wldktz10

We always do that, but only because the majority of our friends are lame and if we invite 40 people over to the house, maybe 5-8 will come. It works if you make sure to introduce people who might want to talk to each other, or do something with the group to engage them as a whole. It can be tough though if the group that comes doesn't mesh well.