If you’ve never hosted or planned a party or any event before, it may seem like a daunting task. There’s so much to consider and many aspects that need attention such as food and beverage, decoration, guest lists. If you don’t know where to start, here’s a quick rundown of what elements should be included in your party planning checklist. These are the basic things to consider when planning and will help you get started on the right foot!
When planning a party, it’s ideal to start as early as you can. Many things can go wrong or change, and getting the right puzzle pieces to fit together takes time. It’s best to start early especially if the occasion will have a lot of guests. The more guests, the earlier you should begin planning. The first thing you’ll want to do is set some kind of budget. Be realistic about how much you are willing to spend on the occasion. Then once you have a ballpark budget set, it will help you narrow down everything else since you will only be focusing on things that are within the budget.
Theme - This is the first thing you’ll want to brainstorm about. Whether it’s a birthday party, anniversary, or whatever the occasion may be, setting a theme will help you with the design and overall vibe you want to set for the occasion. Keep in mind the time that the party takes place. Is it in the afternoon or evening, is it during spring or summer? Knowing when it will take place can help you choose a theme that fits.
Guest list - Making a guest list is important so you know roughly the amount of people you want to invite. The majority of the guest list will also influence other choices like venue size, food, and other party extras like giveaways or anything similar.
Date and venue - Next decide when the party will take place. You’ll want to have a few dates in mind because you can’t always be sure that you’ll be able to get the venue on the day that you want. Some venues are booked months in advance so if you are looking for a venue on short notice, you might have some difficulty especially if you need a very large space or need to accommodate a large group of people. When choosing the date, also take into account the people you will be inviting. Is it a children’s party during summer break or a baby shower in the middle of the week? If you want most of your guests to be able to attend, pick a time and place that is convenient. Weekends are popular since most office work is only during the weekdays. If the venue happens to be out of the city, make sure you provide your guests with instructions for directions or maybe nearby places to stay if they don’t want to drive home that same day or night, especially if alcohol is involved.
Music and Entertainment - Every good party has some kind of music, entertainment, or activity. This can range from having a band or a dj, to having activities such as a DIY station of some kind where guests can create something and take it home with them, or it can be a photobooth station. If you want people to mingle and talk, then give them a dancefloor or something to talk about or bond over. If it’s a more laid back type of event, you can even bring out a bunch or card games or board games and place one on each table. This is a great way to get people to mingle and get to know each other minus the awkwardness. When it comes to music, which by the way there should always be some kind of music. There is nothing more awkward than absolute silence between people who may or may not know each other very well. Make sure to choose the right kind of music for the occasion. If it’s more formal than make sure the songs have no explicit lyrics, if you want people to dance then maybe skip the romantic ballads and so on. If your playlist is good, it’s a sure way to get your guests in a good mood too.
Food and Beverage - If it’s a small group of people at your home and you are confident in your cooking skills then you can always do it yourself if you would like. The key is to prepare and chop everything that you can (within reason of keeping sanitation and freshness in mind) days before the event. That way on the actual day all your prep is out of the way and you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests. If it’s a larger group of people, some like to hire a chef for the evening who will use your kitchen to do all the cooking while you can sit back and relax with your friends and family. If you are having a party at an external venue and it’s a large group of people, it’s best to hire a catering company. It’s important to take note that some of your guests may have allergies or food sensitivities or specific dietary requirements. It’s best to have different options during the event, that way you know everyone has something to eat. You can also make a quick survey if you have your guest list to see what the consensus is when it comes to the dietary requirements.
Decorations - There are many decoration companies that can cater to pretty much any theme you would like to have. However, if it’s a small party and you’re on a budget, you can also do it yourself. There are so many different websites where you can order decorations that are already pre-made and all you have to do is either blow up the balloons (with a machine that’s very affordable) or stick, hang, unfold, etc. There are also sites where you can easily customize the decorations such as cups, napkins, plates, party hats, and more.
Invitations - Invitations can still be a card or some kind of paper, however, some will opt to do an online invite instead via social media or email to save on cost and of course it’s also less waste. Make sure to send out your invites at least a month in advance so people have ample time to arrange their schedule.
Comments