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:
the theme of your party
the type of party
the number of guests
the time of your party
the location of your party
the invitation to your party
the decor for your party
the types of drinks for your party
the food for your party
the unique and memorable aspect of your party
the budget for your 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
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?
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.
Memories of your party
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.