Are you throwing the ultimate party this summer? There’s no reason to lose sleep over entertaining hundreds of guests. Hosting the ultimate party can be easy and fun for the host as well as the guests, with proper planning.

It doesn't matter if the party is a graduation bash, a golf outing or a bridal blowout, some guidelines of party throwing never change.

First, who’s your audience? If you’re giving a bridal shower, don’t cook bratwerst on the grill. Save the brats for the golf outing.

Next, pick a time frame of when you want to have your party. If you want to rent a hall, check for availablity. The Green Community Center next door to the Green Fire station is a nice facility for rent. Many churches rent halls as well as the Tudor House in New Franklin.

If you decide to stay in your own backyard, ask yourself, do you need a tent? A tent is nice in the heat of the summer because it provides shade from the sun and provides a "central gathering point."

If you choose to be indoors, consider if your home is comfortable enough to accomdate your guests. The last thing you want are guests feeling like sardines. They won't remember what they ate but they will remember if they were made comfortable.

Once a location for the party is determined, pick a date and time. Send invitations at least four weeks in advance.

Pick a theme. If it's graduation, celebrate the student. Display a first grade or kindergarten photo or an elementary piece of art.

When it comes to food, are you going to cook or cater? So many places offer catered trays. Shop around. Shaffer's Market offers trays but they also include the salads and the buns. Subway and Quiznos also cater sandwich trays. Subway makes 3-foot long subs served on a wooden plank. You can supplement your menu with pre-orders of chicken from restaurants such as the Hartville Kitchen.

Most graduation parties are buffet style. When arranging your buffet, make certain you have a nice flow of traffic around the food and into areas to sit and dine. To eliminate congestion, place drinks in one area or two areas of the home and create a different area for desserts. This also gets guests up and moving, in a forced mingling situation.
Once you've established a menu, make a list of supplies you will need. Warming trays, plastic serviceware, plates, napkins, cake plates, tableclothes and salt and pepper. Strategically place garbage recepticles around the yard or in the garage.

Make certain you assign a family member, the graduate, the bride, or a spouse to greet guests. The last thing you want is for someone to walk into a backyard graduation party and not have them recognized upon arrival. That's just rude.

Set aside a basket for cards and a table for gifts.

Remember the varied ages of your guests. Some elderly guests can’t climb steps. Reserve areas for them that are step-free and easily accessible to restrooms. You may want to consider assigning an attentive family member to waiting on your elderly guests, especially if you serve buffet style.