Four Carroll County Hostesses Tell How to Throw a Successful Bash

Written By Carol Cahall

Party giving is an art. It requires not only creativity, but logistical expertise, attention to detail, good taste, an outgoing personality, and a flair for putting the right mix of guests together. Four Carroll County hostesses who embody all of those traits and more, agreed to share the fruits of their knowledge and experience with our readers for the holiday season…

Jennifer Bartley
Residents of Mount Airy, Jennifer and her family entertain three or four times a year. Although Jennifer enjoys hosting parties at home, she sometimes finds it more convenient to have luncheons at her country club.
Her son Scott, a musician, often prepares a music mix for the party. Jennifer loves to decorate for her parties, carefully choosing colors, fabrics and centerpieces to fit the theme. Because she doesn’t enjoy cooking, Jennifer always engages a reliable caterer.

Jennifer’s tip for a successful party: Plan, plan, plan! Keep an open mind and find and trust a reliable, professional, party planner and caterer.

Melisa Mose
Living in the country lends itself to large, outdoor parties. But Melisa, who resides in Woodbine, also enjoys smaller, intimate gatherings. For larger events, she uses a caterer and event specialists. She prefers to cook for smaller parties. Decorations she uses include strings of lights, candles and seasonal displays. The music is especially prepared by her husband, who uses his IPOD to create the perfect party mix.

Melisa’s tip for a successful party: Remember to keep it fun. You should have a good time at your party as well as planning for it. Because people are so busy, she sends out “save the date” e-mails a couple of months before the party. She usually sends a more formal invitation to her guests about four weeks in advance.

Stacey Shaffer
Stacy Shaffer, a longtime resident of Carroll County who works for the County Circuit Court, enjoys hosting small, informal dinner parties four or five times a year. Stacy loves to cook and subscribes to several cooking magazines. She entertains at her home and enjoys preparing a menu of new and interesting foods for her guests. Stacy always offers them an appropriate wine in a relaxed setting along with a mix of good music.

Stacy’s tip for a successful party: Don’t worry if your house is not in perfect order. Relax, you don’t have to impress friends with a perfect house or complicated menus.

Jill Rosner
Jill loves to have parties. A resident of Westminster, she is known for her Labor Day and Holiday Parties. Smaller more intimate parties with friends and family happen six or seven times a year. Cooking is her hobby and she enjoys selecting a menu that is suitable for the guests she’s inviting. She sets the mood of her parties with appropriate background music and strings of lights.

Jill’s tip for a successful party: Carefully select the guests you invite to your party. If you’re having an intimate dinner party, invite groups of people who will be compatible.