Excerpts from Wendy's workshop
on sensory entertaining:

SENSEational Party Tips

Create party magic!

People take in their environment through their five senses. So, the more senses you stimulate, the more interesting your party will become. Guests often don’t realize that a party is sensational because it is SENSEational!

Stimulate Sight with Light.

Party lighting sets the mood. For a party after sunset, use candles to create drama. Everyone looks beautiful by candlelight and eyesight quickly adjusts to low-level accent lighting. Also, small strands of christmas lights can be entwined in shrubbery as accent lights. To give more a casual look use multicolored lights while small while lights give a more formal look.

Stimulate Sight with Color Contrasts.

Even the simplest foods can be presented artistically by contrasting their color, which creates interest for the eye.

Stimulate Sound with Conversation.

A simple introduction can begin the buzz of conversation. “Jane, this is Paul Davis.” “Paul is from New York and enjoys tennis. Paul, this is Jane Weatherford; she’s from Texas and is planning to climb the Andes. Watch out for her tennis serve.” Now Paul and Jane have some facts on which to build a conversation. When introducing, give the person’s full name, where they are from, and an interest, talent or hobby. The rest is up to them.

Stimulate Smell with Fragrance.

In the spring and summer, add a soft blanket of floral fragrance by putting scented flowers in warm water and place in the party room 24 hours before the event. This works better indoors than outdoors. Fragrant flowers range from subtle to profuse, but shouldn’t overpower the food. Strong fragrance comes from tuberoses and stargazer lilies. Other subtler scented flowers include freesia, sweet pea, honeysuckle, jasmine, some violets and crushed rose petals. Spicy scents can enhance fall and winter parties.

Stimulate Taste with Seasonal Foods.

You can never go wrong building a menu around food that’s in season and plentiful. This ensures that the highest quality is available as you prepare for your party. Light and refreshing dishes are delightful in summer, while warm and hearty dishes are comforting in winter.

Stimulate Taste through Contrast.

Use supporting dishes with slight contrasts in color, size, texture, temperature or taste from the main dish to make tasting more interesting. For example, the rougher surfaces of fried oysters are a textural contrast to the smooth, creamy dip.

Stimulate Touch with Formal Textures.

Texture is an often overlooked part of entertaining. Basically, you want harmony in the textures you present. Wouldn’t a paper plate be out of place in this picture? Formal textures include china, silver, crystal, glass, other highly polished or reflective surfaces, plus linens, silks and other tightly woven fabrics.

Stimulate Touch through Casual Texture.

Casual textures can still create an elegant look. Here hand painted pottery, loosely woven plaid fabric and varied vegetable and flower textures in the centerpiece harmonize into casual elegance.