How do you define a great party? Is it the hangover the next day? The friends you made during it? Or, if you’re the host, is it the fact that things went off without a hitch? For us, it’s definitely the latter.
If you are planning on hosting a party or event in the not-so-distant future, then you’ve probably already wondered how to define the occasion. From themed nights to providing the right entertainment, all the way to arriving at the most appropriate venue and more, these are just some of the ingredients which go into planning an exciting party for an event.
Birthdays, engagements, anniversaries and other milestones…you name it, there really is an event to suit every occasion. Regardless of the cause of celebration, your party can stick in the minds of guests longer than the resulting hangovers, ringing in the ears and food coma. With that in mind, here’s how to plan a successful party for any occasion.
BALLOON DECORATIONS
Let’s cut to the chase; every party needs balloons, and lots of them. Why? Because balloons are fun and seem to signal a certain sense of frivolity is to follow, of course!
Balloons are also an inexpensive decoration and are ideal for a number of occasions; think weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, and, of course, birthdays. Moreover, you can easily decorate the room with these inflatables in no time at all – that is if you have a pump or helium canister (we’ve all been red-faced and out of breath trying to blow up balloons at someone’s birthday party, after all).
Whether you decide to create a stunning arch, weave a bright long garland, or make grotesque columns, here are some of our favourite balloon ideas:
Neon Balloons: Are you going for a rave theme? Then neon balloons are ideal. You can get balloons in neon colours or balloons that react to the light, which create a visually arresting spectacle perfect for this theme.
Having bright neon coloured balloons that glow under UV black light creates just the right aesthetic for raving; use a range of bright neon colours to make the fluorescence really impactful. Bear in mind that while neon balloons are quite inexpensive, a blacklight may set you back a few pennies.
Create a Balloon Chandelier: If you’re looking to add some glamour and the wow factor to your party, creating a balloon chandelier will certainly impress your guests. We love this DIY balloon chandelier from The House That Lars Built, which you can find here.
A mixture of round and long balloons in various colours, simply hang your chandelier from the ceiling above your dining table so they float above your head while you enjoy your party with your friends.
Balloon Garland: Perhaps the easiest and most widely used balloon birthday decor idea; the balloon garland. Choose the shades according to the colour scheme of the party, then tie your balloon garland to the walls, hang it in front of the house entrance, or decorate stair railings to make a lasting impression on your guests.
Balloons With Gifts: Did you know that you can put almost anything in the balloon, that is as long as it fits inside and doesn’t actually pop the balloon? You’ll of course need a high-quality, clear latex balloon for the task, but after that, it’s time to get creative!
PICK A PARTY TYPE
If you want to make your party memorable, before you start to plan and make arrangements, the first thing that you will need to consider is what kind of event you want to throw. A few key decisions and fine tuning will define the feel, ambience and mood of the event, and so much of the success of your party occurs in the planning process.
Once you’ve determined the overarching theme, you can narrow down other options like the food you’ll be serving, the music you’ll be dancing to (if there’ll be dancing, that is) and other specific elements.
Firstly, though, the big questions. Some of the most common types of party include, but are not limited too:
- A dinner party
- A garden party
- A costume or fancy dress party
- Seasonal parties (like Halloween, Easter, Christmas)
- A wine tasting event
- An event which focuses on dancing
- A karaoke/talent show themed event
- A simple barbeque
Of course, the party should be appropriate to the cause for celebration. For instance, for a centenarian celebrating their triple digits, it’s not going to be a raucous event hosted in a nightclub, probably. Yep, this is a lot to take in and determine, and sometimes delegating some of the more administerial elements can be a relief.
The experts at House of Party Planning concur, suggesting that ”a party is meant to be about creativity, celebration and a bit of carousing, not stressing about schedules and suppliers”. Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of planners to help you realise your vision.
LOOK FOR THE RIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
For your big event, you will need to have the right entertainment to match the occasion and cause for celebration, otherwise, you risk the event being forgettable. Every party needs an aspect which defines it, from live music acts to firework displays to photo booths and more; that magic element which people get nostalgic over. You want your guests to be asking ’’remember when….?’’ about your event with a smile on their faces.
Yes, these elements can be expensive, and may feel frivolous even, but they represent the magic dust you’ll be sprinkling over the party, so pull no punches here.
CONSIDER A THEMED EVENT
Some people love to be guided, steered and pointed in the direction of fun with a stern hand. Sure, organised fun isn’t for everyone, but more often than not, a themed event brings out the best in people.
Having a pre-arranged theme can pull an event together and allows you to create a backdrop against which you can choreograph the finer details. In many ways, rather than being restrictive, a themed party focuses the mind of both organiser and attendee, eliminating that dreaded ‘paradox of choice’ from the costume and culinary choices, equally.
It could be something as simple as a colour theme, a seasonal salute or one that celebrates a certain cuisine or country; just make it clear and concise and allow your guests to get creative in their interpretation.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT VENUE
The frame is sometimes as important as the picture, as they say, and when you have the right venue for your event, it can ensure the whole affair runs as smoothly as possible. Before embarking on that all important venue search, decide how much input and assistance you want from your venue.
Some locations offer just that, a location, and little else, whilst some are more than happy to provide all kinds of other resources, such as catering services, decoration, music, staging hire….you name it. For some, this level of help is welcome, for others, it leads to the party becoming impersonal. Determining whether you fall in the former or latter camp will help you choose your venue.
KEEP IT A SURPRISE
A magical, exciting element of party hosting which seems to have fallen in popularity in recent years is the ‘surprise party’. For some, that moment when friends and family leap out yelling the magic word evokes a certain amount of dread, but for others, there’s no more romantic notion.
But let’s be honest here, what better way to celebrate a big birthday or an anniversary party than by making it a total surprise? As long as you have the dedication of all guests in keeping their counsel in the days leading up to the event and their punctuality when showing up for the big reveal, this is one of the best ways to host an unforgettable, exciting event.
THE BOTTOM LINE
There are so many considerations, both big and small, which go into organising a successful event. Regardless of the occasion, the magic elements which determine whether a party lives long in the memory or fizzles out before the night is even over are largely the same. We hope yours goes down in history as a success!