"Why was I born with such contemporaries?"
Oscar Wilde

My husband and I are throwing a small soiree, by invitation only. We want to start having a few small parties, with varying little collections of friends getting together formally. We don't wan't to stop having larger parties - but to add and mix up our social gatherings. It's seems to be a popular idea with our crowd, and the first is due to happen next week. It's awkward, however, to begin having invitation parties in a crowd so used to open parties. We don't want to be snobbish, and we plan to include everyone at different times, but in this first soiree, we are inviting a few of our closest friends, we are supplying the food - funky, light fare, and we are arranging the space, with the small size of the gathering in mind. Unfortunately, some of our aquaintences here have never (it seems) encountered a formal party, and don't seem to realize that it is not open to anyone and everyone - it can't be, without being a completely different gathering. How do we deal with this situation - being hospitible but also throwing the party the our guests and we expect? What would you do in such a situation?

Tonight we are headed out to hear a few friends perform in the city. Tomorrow, and Sunday, we expect rain, and cozy at home baking, throwing, writing, and reading.