Are the more the merrier?

The more the merrier is true only if it is a big enough venue and there is enough food.

Your point about the friend being invited isn’t about the number as much as the quality.

A huge crowd or a small crowd needs to make sure there aren’t any ass-hats that will ruin everyone’s good time.

No, that isn’t true. To me, the New Years in Times Square, New York is an example of the more gone wild.

Depends.

I usually want people to feel like people can bring along a plus one or their kids or even parents. For instance I was just visiting back in Memphis and called a friend to meet for lunch. My husband was with me and I knew her husband would come, but I also know her mom lives with her and she has a son. I always try to make it clear everyone is welcome, and I would absolutely be fine with all of them coming.

Large parties people tend to form their own little groups are mingle among each other, and you create your own little pocket in the party anyway. I think it often can be more “merry” in large groups, assuming everyone gets along.

Sometimes the goal is not merry though. An evening with friends or family can sometimes be interesting, or pleasant, or relaxing. All of which are very positive to me. Merry I associate with festive, maybe dancing, music playing, a party.

I really like times together that involve fun and funny stories and that can happen in any size group. Smaller groups sometimes are best though, especially if there are a few story tellers in there.

When speaking of cookies… yes.

It doesn’t matter how many or how few, it just matters that the right people are at the right gathering.

That was really weird and awkward that your friend invited someone else on your trip. That’s an example of having the wrong people (the extra un-invited by you person) at a gathering.

On the other hand, I remember one company Xmas party we had, during the middle of the day, and although the company itself was closed to the public, we had several service technicians that came in to do some work. There was tons of extra food, because it was buffet style, so I invited them to come on in and have a bite and then I packed up extra stuff for the ones who were still working while the rest of us were eating. I ended up making several new friends that day, and no one else seemed to mind.

That just reminded me of another situation at that company. There was this horrid, bitter woman who worked there. We used to have potluck parties fairly often, either for Halloween, or for someone’s retirement party. Anyway, this woman never once actually brought anything to the potluck. She would show up after the festivities had started, barge into the buffet line, then stand over a garbage can and wolf down her food. She also never said hello or congratulations to the guest of honor. Then she’d leave as quickly as she had come. She was a hideous beast. One year, I drew her name in the Secret Santa deal. I told our receptionist, who was minding the bowl with the names, that there was no way I could choose a gift for her, other than a lump of coal. She took pity on me and let me put it back and choose another name. I never did find out who got stuck with her name.

Our house warming was classic West Indian. We invited 15 and I cooked for 25. Twenty turned up. We had a ball.

No, I think that applies to people who really enjoy other people, which unfortunately I am not. My mom is and drives me crazy talking on the phone, texting, inviting strangers over when I’m trying to talk to her, etc…a social butterfly, ugh.

No, definitely not.

Who you spend your precious time with matters.

Also, one friend should never invite someone along on a trip without the beforehand OK of all others going on the trip.

I only say it when I think it is true. Which is not always.

New Year’s Eve, the more the merrier!

When I have a party, I either want three or less, or 50 or more. I miss the parties we used to throw before we lost our house. I’d spend two days before buzzing about the kitchen preparing stuff, and the whole day of cooking, and people would start slowly filtering in, and before you knew it there’d be a huge crowd, and a fire, and ten people with instruments out playing great music, and as people started leaving we’d end the night with soothing hot coffee cocktails, and I’d pass out pillows and blankets for anyone unable to drive home, and there would be breakfast the next morning.

sigh – I do miss that.

I prefer lively, extroverted, FUN loving types that know how to enjoy themselves.
The more the merrier only applies if the people ARE merry. haha
In my experience the energy of a lively, uninhibited, fun loving group can bring some of the more introverted types out of their shell. Not always, but zippy energy is contagious.

I am not talking about loud and obnoxious, I am talking about fun and enthusiastic.
Nothing worse than a party where nobody will dance. Bah Humbug! lol

@Seek_Kolinahr I miss that too. Now my son has regular get togethers where people pour in and out all day and some stay til after midnight to help clean up. Wow is it different in LA from Raleigh. Holy cow.