Opinion | The hostess with the mostess
Whether it was my 22nd birthday party or a Halloween game night, hosting a gathering of people at my apartment has become the therapy and serotonin I need in my life. Photo collage by EMILY PARIS, photo editor
While some people might find putting together a party for their friends to be overwhelmingly daunting, I find peace in the chaos.
Frantically pouring onion dip into a bowl, carefully aligning all the Oreo cookies in a perfectly concentric circle and adjusting the lights to the adequate ambient lighting might sound like symptoms of a stressed out perfectionist. While I can't deny the attention to details takes lots of time and mental energy, it has allowed me to find serotonin bliss in hosting parties this past school year.
So far, I have hosted four parties, and I am absolutely hooked. While the final result of a flawlessly executed party resembles the image I had for the soiree in my head, I enjoy the process of putting the event together even more.
Megan Forrester, features & entertainment editor
In total, I have hosted a Halloween game night party, my 22nd birthday party, an ugly Christmas sweater party and a Galentine's Day celebration. All four were very different in content, but each one made me feel like Jay Gatsby hosting the party of the century (but instead of hundreds of people in attendance, mine consisted of my handful of close friends, some card games and lots of drinks).
I normally spend a week prior to the event preparing. In other words, I am in a stress-induced glaze where all I can think about are what the best decorations and food could be. Prep-time consists of developing a theme, making invitations on Canva, buying a plethora of alcohol and ordering as many balloons as my heart desires.
The Party City down the street from my apartment lures me into its lair and whispers new deals into my ear: "Hey Megan, for your next party you could save 50% off on this streamer backdrop" or "We just got these adorable heart-shaped balloons that I know you would love." Each whisper fuels my addiction and almost makes me want to curl ribbon in my sleep.
Another vital step to prepare is to ensure you have people in your inner circle that can assist you in any needs for the party. You know in "The Office," where they have a Party Planning Committee? Well that is exactly what I have with my friends, who help me scour TikTok for the best drink ideas and become maestros who curate shared playlists on Spotify for the event.
The ability to find friends that love hosting just as much as I do has made the experience that much more delightful.
The final result of a party that has been completed better than what you had planned in your head is a feeling of utter bliss. When the frosting on the heart-shaped cake is at a perfect room temperature and the themed playlist is blasting through the room, it feels like the best accomplishment.
Do I just walk around and admire the masterpiece of a party I have just put together? Absolutely. Is that something that is probably bad for my mental health? 1,000,000% yes.
You could say I am Monica from "Friends," eagerly wanting to please people with my hosting abilities, but we don't need to look at it on a deeper level. Sure, if you're my therapist, you could say that my need to make people say "I love the decorations!" or "Where in the world did you get this amazing cake?!" is fulfilling my need for others to give me validation.
But, if this problem means I can keep putting together a fun gathering with all my favorite people in the same room, then alas — this so-called flaw just might be a glistening strength. Should I just get "I need validation" tattooed on my face? Probably at this point.
Before each party begins, I place film cameras on a table for people to capture as many photos as they would like. While it is fun having pictures of my friends rolling on the floor laughing or wearing a Larry David wig, the photos are so much more special to me. With graduation looming over my head, I have been in a state of nostalgia — wanting to remember each and every moment with these people that I can confidently call my best friends.
What is the most bittersweet to me is that years and years later, when people ask me about the photo of my boyfriend and I dressed as Goose and Maverick from "Top Gun" or just a simple selfie with friends at my birthday party, I will reply with this: "I hosted parties at my apartment in college, and it was the best time of my life."
But guess what? There is no time to be sad, because I have more parties planned! You better believe I am going to do an Oscars viewing party along with a St. Patrick's Day party — if I can get a four-leaf clover balloon in time. Everyone has a vice, mine just happens to be that I tape garlands all over the walls and find excitement over themed napkins.