Hostess with the Mostess®

I am going to go with D. but I am also going to add one of my own. Rude people who do not RSVP properly. If one takes the time to send out custom invitations to a soiree, shower or dinner party, then the guests should respond properly and in a time appropriate manner so that the hostess can plan properly!

Definitely E. I completely agree with Jilly, guest’s not RSVPing is frustrating & becoming way to common!

Figuring out what to do for games or activities is ALWAYS a nightmare for me… I despise the typical games at every bridal shower, yet can not think of something creative/new/fun either! Argh!

I’m going to have to agree that E is the hardest for me to deal with.

I am choosing D.

I have a hard time finding affordable decorations that aren’t ugly! Many times I resort to making them myself and that takes a ton of time, and usually more money.

I LOVE the boutique-y style of invites and decorations, but a lot of it isn’t feasible for a 20-something’s budget.

F……and I love, love, love, those espresso cups!!

I think that F is my hardest partin plannig a baby shower especially.

I think it is always tricky trying to find the perfect party favor. I have 4 children and we have lots of parties to plan for during the year. I just posted about what I have done in the past for the party favors and such on my blog. I am always on the lookout for cute favors.

F. Figuring out games and activities. I hate the cheesy ones that are often used. Plus, I try to only think of one or two; you want your guests to be able to chat and mingle and not have to play organized games the whole night.

I’m going with a… Big Fat F!

I absolutely loathe those typical party games, like wrapping the bride in toilet paper or playing the baby poop diaper game. But loads of people are so traditional, especially when it comes to grandmothers and other older folks. It’s difficult to find a balance of something more hip and something traditional, so you won’t lose your audience.

I have to say G. It is so hard to find exactly what I want online. I end up searching through tons of sites that have nothing I like and then having to piece everything (games, servingware, favors) from a billion different places.

And what do I google “hip baby shower”? “hipster wedding party” so I don’t get 89,000 Disney responses or or over the top cutesy fluff? What’s a stylish, modern girl to do?

Definitly E. When I’m excited about a party I tend to focus most of my attention on planning it!

I definitely pick C, spending all that time (and MONEY!!!) on favors that no one really wants to receive, but if we didn’t have them, people would totally complain!!!

I was going to say D, but of course there are those times when you want cheesy decorations. Otherwise it would be F, as so many party games are awful. I cringe sometimes. Then I guess they go with the cheesy decorations, though.

H. Trying to maintain the ruse of secrecy. Does anyone EVER manage to pull off a real surprise?

all of the above minus E— i dont think there is such as thing as over-preparing– the more the merrier the party!!

I vote for R – as in in RSVP ! Or the lack thereof, like Jilly and Tracey alluded to earlier. Don’t people realize that head counts are important when you’re trying to order food, drinks, etc.? The other aspects of party planning can be fun and creative. Worrying about budgets is not

D and C and also finding affordable items for decorations and favors! it shouldn’t have to cost a fortune to throw a shower. and i have to admit the RSVP thing really gets to me…i’m trying to get a count so i can FEED you people! cooperate!

My Answer:
C, D and F.
Mostly F since I find most games and activities are very old fashioned and not that much fun for professionals. (the majority of my friends are professionals.)

A and G, I have a difficult time finding unique themes, and spend too much time looking for items online.

Definitely F! Do you even have to have games?

Love the cups.

Definately G. When I am hosting a party I’m always trying to look for fresh ideas and I end up surfing the net for hours which usually results in finding the same-old ideas.

I definitely have a hard time with g-looking for ideas and not finding anything worthwhile.

from the list i would say F….but for me the hardest part is that baby showers are usually “co-hosted” by several people. It is very difficlut to try to plan shop, prep, etc for a party with so many people involved.

Several things:
1 – trying to get people to RSVP
2 – Getting people to help me prepare for the party (especially as I live with roommates, who seem to think it’s my job to clean the day of in addition to preparing all the food & drinks etc)
3 – BUDGET
4 – a little of G – trying to find the perfect combination of things. But i haven’t done a wedding or baby shower so this is based on other parties.

i love those cups!

Mine would be a little bit of everything, with the RSVP problem thrown in. I love planning parties, but it can be difficult to pull off a creatively themed party without going overboard, or spending a fortune. That’s why this blog rocks! Great ideas at my fingertips.

G!!!! The internet is the black hole for my mind!!!!
-Andie Smith
andie_smith@mac.com

D, definitely.

My biggest problem is E, with G running a close second.

I am already(in February!) starting to scour the internet for some very specific items that I want for my Christmas/Holiday party & gifts. See, exactly. 11 months early. I just can’t help it though, I love LOVE LOVE planning parties!

And I am SO glad I found your blog; it definitely has saved me some time and hassle.

F and G.

What a gorgeous set!

F: All the games are so over done and cheezy!

I get frustrated with:
1. RSVPs! I’m beginning to think etiquette is dead.
2. Dealing with catty mom’s, mom-in-laws, bridesmaids, etc. Why, oh why do woment get so crazy when it comes to showers?
3. Fighting with my @#$%! printer to make my own invitations.
4.Finding a location to accomdiate a large number of guests that won’t break the bank. The last shower I threw there were over 100 guests on the list! Thankfully only about 50 acutally came.

and I’ll agree with your
F. Figuring out what to do for games or activities
They are usually way tacky (like guess the melted candy bar in the diaper) or no one participates (like baby picture match up)

All that being said, I actually love to plan showers. Picking themes and favors are my favorite part.

Both A & G. I get stuck right at the beginning stages of planning.

Definitely E. I spend so much time planning!! I think for my sister’s bridal shower I spent the whole time she was engaged planning the shower, hahaha. Can we say OCD?!

I would have to say that D and G are my biggest frustrations. Why am I bombarded with classic pooh, disney and precious moments EVERY TIME I look for something for a baby shower?!? Blah!

for me it’s E and G.
i’d say F b/c shower games are all generally atrocious but i’m of the opinion that if you hate shower games you just shouldn’t have them.
why make yourself and all your guests miserable?
and i’d add:
*keeping from breaking the bank
*coming up with good locations – i live in nyc – most people’s apts are just too damn small for parties

both ‘a’ and ‘c’. i’m tired of candy buffets and every other thing you see on the knot. also party favors stump me…you never know what someone will use or throw away.

A, F, and G plus the lack of people RSVP-ing (is that a word?).

I always want to be original but it is so hard to find something that everyone will love and enjoy.

Finding party favors, decorations, etc. that are both cute AND budget-friendly!

i would have to say A. Would love to find some cool, modern new themes… I have to plan my sister’s baby shower in June.

Definitely “E.” I always get wrapped up in the planning stages so that when the day comes, I just want it to be over so I can move on to another project.

Mine would most definitely hae to be G – which is exactly why I’m so eargerly waiting for your site launch!

Cheers!

Actually, most of the choices ring true with me. But if I had to pick one, I guess it’d have to be “B.” It always seems to happen that I get a great, semi-unique idea for a party and then go crazy trying to find party ware and other items to fit my scheme.

It’s definitely B, but the sub- problem to that is finding things that I can afford! So many things for baby and bridal showers, in particular, are incredibly cheesy and the classier things tend to be extremely pricey. I wish there were more affordable and chic options out there.

Thanks for all the great comments, everyone!! A lot of them are cracking me up It’s so fun to get your input – and I can definitely empathize all the frustrations!! The Disney & Precious Moments search results bombardment…toilet paper brides…candy bar poop diapers…wanting to throw the printer across the room because it keeps eating my imprintable invites…wiped-out bank account…absent rsvp’s… YEP…definitely been there!!!

A – I like cool and different themes, but I am always afraid people will diss the break from the norm and want more traditional ideas. Of course, having interesting ideas would always be good to have, too!

I get frustrated with all of the above. Finding cool themes, and planning a party at a price i can afford. these need to be affordable and chic

I love French Bull! I’d say the hardest thing is coming up with cool, affordable favors.

G… And dealing with friends who think I go overboard on the details, but its fun!

Laurie

I’m going with D and F!

A and F–something unique and unordinary.

What a beautiful set!

I’m going with F and G. I’ve wasted so much time looking for baby shower games on-line with very little reward.

I recently went to a baby shower where we played a fun game – “Name that Tune” and all the songs had the word baby in the title. The music varied from “Baby Baby” by Amy Grant to “Baby Got Back” from Sir Mix Alot. It was really fun. And as a shower favor, we each got a copy of the CD. I thought it was a cute idea.

F and G.

g, then e.

A. Definately A. It seems like every bridal shower or baby shower I have been to lately, it is the same themes over and over again. However, at the same time, I can understand why people choose those themes — it is usually easiest to find plates, napkins, etc. that go along with “pastel baby rattles” or the silver wedding bells!

A little bit of all of the above. Adding one more thing, space planning! I live is a super small apartment. It’s very difficult to plan a party that would accomadate all of my guests comfortably along with all of the food, booze, and partyware.

Oh no! I’m 20 minutes too late for the contest (I was super excited thinking I was on time since it is not yet midnight in my time zone), but I will answer anyway.

My biggest frustration has been F. Some of my friends are not interested in doing the typical party/shower games so we’ve either had to work our way around having no games or keep the games simple.

E. i always spend too much time planning for parties. i have to always worry about whos droppping the keg whos getting tap etc.

E. i spent all this time planning my daughters first birthday and gave everyone a 2 week notice and no one showed up

Coolest teacups I’ve ever seen! Good luck everyone, bu I got I get them! HA

I am hosting my daughters bridal shower and I am soooo frustrated looking for these same espresso cups or something very similar. Please help if anyone knows where to get them. I have gone on the web with no luck.