Becoming organised
The more organised you are, in advance, the more successful you’ll be at entertaining. Follow the checklists in the book to ensure that you’re able to take it all in your stride and minimise what has to be done at the last minute.
As soon as you have set the date
Plan of action and countdown
A surprising amount of the preparation can be done well in advance of a special occasion.
| A month or more before the party | |
|---|---|
| If you are ordering a cake, cupcakes or biscuits, place the order for these items. If you plan to make them yourself, you could do so now (see relevant guides for storage or freezing) and you could start to make edible sugar paste/tylose decorations to adorn your cake or cupcakes (such as flowers, characters, etc.). As long as it is not too hot and humid, these will store well once they are properly dried, but do not put them into a plastic container before they are completely dry! | |
| Beautifully iced biscuits make a perfect take-home gift for guests and can be made in advance. Un-iced biscuits can be baked and frozen a month or so before the party (place them in an airtight container). If you do not plan on freezing them, make them a week or 10 days before the party. | |
| Make macaroons and meringues, then store in an airtight container and freeze, ensuring that they will not move around too much or break (separate layers with baking paper). Decide in advance on the colour you wish to make them to ensure that you have the correct gel colourings or flavours available. | |