Party Planning Basics
Do you like to host parties? Do you like to party? If you answered yes to those two questions, the information in the Party Guide will assist you in planning your parties. It will also give you tips on how to enjoy your parties and how to be a good guest at other parties. There are some basic, fundamental elements to think about when planning a party:
Theme Parties are given for a reason. You can have a party "just because" but even that is a theme. Your theme dictates the other elements of the party. Type
Number of guests How many people are you planning to invite to your party. This will affect your budget, the amount of food and drink you serve, and the location of the party. Time of party Will it be an afternoon, late evening, brunch, or night-time party? Your theme and type of party will affect the time of day. Location of your party You can have your party wherever you like as long as the venue will hold the number of guests and the rental cost is within your budget. Your choice of location may add to the ambience you want for your party. Invitations Your invitations are a reflection of you and your taste. They also will get a feel for the type of party and if you have been very creative, it will create a buzz among your guests. Decorations Your party decorations will set the mood when your guests enter the room. The touches you add will make your party stand out and will have your guests talking about your party for days or weeks to come. Drinks for your party The drinks you serve should be appropriate to the theme of your party. Will you set up a bar? For an afternoon luncheon, you may want to serve only non-alcoholic drinks. At an evening party, you should be considerate of your guests and have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. Food for your party Your theme and your type of party will dictate the food for your party. If you are having a tea for the girls, you may want to serve petite sandwiches and/or have interesting desserts. For a sit-down dinner, you may have a more elaborate offering that fits within the budget you have set.
The mood you create, the interaction of your guests, and the take-away from your party will create an interesting and lasting memory of your party. Budget for your party The number of guests, the amount of food and drink, decorations, location, invitation, and so on is included in the costs of the party. You should determine an amount for each. Stick to your budget as much as you can. Parties can be expensive. When you decide on these elements of your party, you have a concept for your party. You should create a plan for your party. Write each of the topics on a separate sheet of paper. Refine your theme. As you go through each item, create a shopping list. Refine your lists as to what you must do as a timeline before the party. For example, if your party is six weeks away, you want to start your task timeline at six weeks before the party and move down each week, five weeks, four weeks, three weeks, two weeks, one week, day before the party, and the day of the party. If your party is to be catered or if you intend to have professional servers and a bartender, you will need to make these arrangements in advance. You can use these elements for any type of party you plan. For some parties your timeline may be longer and for others, it may be shorter. The important element is your budget. Keep it in mind at all times. If you enjoy giving parties and want to host more than one party a year, you need to be mindful of the expense. You do not want to end up in a financial situation that will create stress for you. Do not forget to enjoy your party. Be a good host but try to be a guest, too.
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You have to decide what type of party you are
having. Will it be a cocktail party, brunch, a sit-down
dinner, and so on?
Memories of your party