It's a GREAT idea to host those two groups separately and by doing so, you're also reducing your stress levels. If the family gathering is as informal as it sounds like you'd like it to be, don't worry about invitations. It sounds like you have that gathering set to go and have a great plan for it. Make dinner simple. Serve a tossed salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers = basic salad) or a more complex salad (house salad = add bacon bits, chopped eggs, and shredded Colby Jack cheese to the basic salad mentioned OR an appetizer salad = baby spinach, quartered strawberries, almonds, crumbled feta). Serve AT MOST two dressing options. Ranch and Italian are go-to's. Do NOT worry about pleasing every individual need of your guests. It's your brand new apartment and they will respect that. Keep it simple, like I said. Pick a salad and two dressings, pick up a loaf of fresh bread from your local grocery store or bakery and keep it warm in the oven - serve with salad, and pick an entree of grilled chicken chicken/shrimp kabobs with veggies. A DIY ice cream bar with vanilla ice cream and several toppings is a sufficient dessert that you can't go wrong with.

As for the more formal gathering, your e-invite sounds cute to boot! Pick a salad, warm some bread, and consider shrimp/seafood pasta (like scampi or alfredo). It might be easier if you pick a theme for the gathering, which you'll want your invitations to match. Summer getaway? Grilled shrimp and pineapple kabobs with watermelon or raspberry lemonade. Fiesta? Turn the counter or dining table into a fajita or taco bar. Country hoedown? Onion rings and BBQ. Relaxed summer get-together? Burger bar! If you're not interested in paying THIS much attention to food, get a veggie tray and some good ranch dip. Throw together a fruit salad and have a refreshing drink like either of the lemonades mentioned above.

For either of the gatherings, regardless of theme, submersible decorations are beautiful AND inexpensive. You will need a few fake flowers of your choice, clear glass vases, large pebbles or gravel stones (from the driveway or local park), and distilled water (can be purchased by the gallon at the grocery store). Fill each vase with distilled water then trim your flower of choice so that it is SHORTER than the vase itself. Glue the bottom of the fake flower to a small pebble or rock. Put the rock, now attached to the flower, in the vase and let it sink. Now you have a beautiful, vibrant flower floating in water. A decor piece for everyday or any occasion. Set these around the table or on the counter. A gorgeous and also inexpensive option is to light a tealight candle and set it on the top of the water (don't worry, it won't tip over and even if it does, the vase is full of water!). Google submersible orchids if you would like more detailed instructions. You do not have to use orchids.

Have a great time!

Thanks :) Unfortunately, I'm allergic to shellfish and my bf is lactose intolerant so your food suggestions won't really work but, it did give me a couple of ideas. I especially like the idea of the submersible orchid.

I've just rented my first apartment (moving out of my parents home) and am very excited to show it off and have had lots of requests to come over and see it. I need some information about how I should go about hosting it appropriately.

I'm thinking I'll host 2 separate parties: the first will be a very informal gathering of my very close family members (brother, parents, etc.) and it will just be like a regular 3 course dinner party only I'll be hosting.

The second will be more of a girls night with friends from work, etc.to show off my new place. This is the one I'm not sure how to go about hosting. I'm thinking of sending out e-vites that say "Come check out my new pad..." and have a little frog on the front. I'll make appetizers, have some drinks available and put out 2-3 heartier main dishes buffet style. Any other suggestions about how to go about doing this? This will be my first time as host since I've never been able to before.

I'll probably also have a couple of smaller gatherings once I've gotten a bit more settled (dinner for my bf's parents, game night with my bf and some mutual friends, etc.)

Is it proper etiquette to host each of these people separately? My apartment is tiny and I don't have enough room to have everyone over all at once, plus I think it would be awkward as most of these individual groups would have nothing in common with each other.

Also are there any recommendations regarding decor, food selections, games/activites, etc?