| When you're hosting a special party celebration, there's always so much to plan and think about. Firstly you need to know what sort of event you'll be holding... everything from the ages of your guests and how many there'll be - to whether it's a classy sit down affair or a raucous outdoor bonanza... whether you'll be serving finger food, a sit down meal, or simply plenty of cocktails...and of course where you will be holding it!
The old mantra has always been 'location, location, location' and it's exactly the same when you're planning parties! You'll need to consider firstly whether it will be indoors or outdoors, whether it will be held at your house - or whether you'd like to hire a venue. There are plenty of pros and cons to each. For example, if you hold a party at your house, you will have everything at your disposal, feel comfortable with the location, have the ability to control it easily and create the atmosphere you wish - and perhaps most importantly, keep costs under control! However on the downside, there's a real risk that over enthusiastic (or well lubricated!) guests may accidently damage your home by breaking something valuable or spilling drinks over the carpet... there may not be enough space, and you may not be able to escape for a quiet five minutes in the middle of proceedings! Plus anyone who's had to turf sleeping guests out from under tables and living room corners after particularly lively dos may well feel that it's well worth the money to have someone else take on the responsibility and stress of hosting the party!
There are a huge range of locations to choose from for your party, and again it depends on budget, guests and type of celebration. You can also consider whether you wish to simply hire a venue - for example a local hall - or go the whole way, say for a wedding or engagement party, and hire a beautiful country house or hotel function room along with the services of professional party planners! Getting in the pros is a fantastic step if you can afford it for really special parties where you need everything to run perfectly and with lots of pizzazz - for example a party to entertain clients, a special engagement party with a lot of guests, or a wedding party.
For kids, off site parties are good options too for your sanity! The old favourites such as fast food restaurants or child-friendly restaurants with play areas are great ideas - for a cost effective budget you can feed, water and entertain the little angels all in one place and with the help of other adult supervisors! Other places such as theme parks, zoos, go karting or bowling alleys are also good locations for children and even teenagers. Of course you may even wish to go for something extremely unusual for a truly unforgettable party - parties on boats are really good fun for a large group of adults, or hiring a cottage is great for a weekend of celebrations! Or go 'retro' and enjoy an 80s party in the local church hall or social club, complete with mobile disco, cheese and pineapple on sticks and plenty of competitive dancing competitions and retro cocktails - get all your guests to arrive in their 80's finest and you'll be guaranteed a really fun theme night!
Another important aspect of organising a party is all the planning - right down to the tiny details. The good news is that there are good supplies of things to help you on your way - for example you can get party plans which are beautiful to look at and a great keepsake. There's a version with a funky design and with record cards and useful pockets inside to store cards, clippings, RSVPs and various lists for menus, guests, phone numbers etc. You can plan your guest list inside, as well as your drinks list, party decorations and themes and the food you'll plan to serve. The pack even prompts you for things to think about, and it's a great idea if you're planning a particularly special party. It will also stop you from making various lists on bits of paper which you promptly go and lose in your bag - and you might even want to organise your party outfit at the same time by looking for inspiration in your favourite magazines and using the cuttings to pull together your look...
Regardless of what you choose for your party location, theme and type, just make sure you take some time away from all the organising and stress and simply enjoy yourself - remember, it's your party too!
For further information, please visit http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk |
