Planning a party should be fun, but sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the choices and decisions you need to make. How can you ensure your party is a true success, without being completely overwhelmed? As you are making your plans, make sure you plan for these 10 items to ensure your party is a success!
1.Great Theme
Everything, from your decor to your activities, begins with a theme. This really is the starting point of your party planning. Your theme should match the level of formality of the event. Is it a formal party or a more casual affair? Some ideas for themes include:
- A particular decade
- A particular movie or movie-based theme
- An exotic location
- A holiday
- A phrase (Somewhere in Time)
- A color scheme
- A cartoon character
- An imaginary character
- An ethnic group
- Vintage or retro
- Glam or glitz
These are just some ideas. You really can be creative when it comes to the theme, but start with a great theme to ensure a great party.
2. A Budget
Early in your planning, consider your budget. This will dictate what choices you make for all of the details of your party. You can throw a great party on a budget, but knowing at the beginning what that budget is will help you choose to spend your money as wisely as possible.
3. A Venue
The venue is also an important consideration. No matter what type of party you are throwing, you need a place. The venue will set the mood for your party and also provide many of the supplies, like table, chairs, lighting and media, that you need for success.
How can you find the perfect venue? First, consider the setting. You want the venue itself to be attractive, well-lit and, if possible, provide a lovely view. Next, look for a venue that provides some supplies, like tables, chairs, dishes and microphones, that will help lessen the strain on your budget. When the venue has these items, you don’t have to rent them! Finally, ensure that the venue has space for all of the activities you want. Do you want dining and dancing? Are you bringing in entertainment? Do you plan to show a slideshow or movie? Make sure the venue has space and equipment for all of these needs.
4. The Entertainment
The worst thing you could face at a party is a number of guests who are bored. Providing and planning entertainment will help prevent this scenario and ensure your party is memorable. Some types of entertainment would include:
- Party games
- Video or slideshow presentations
- Live music
- Comedian
- Magician
- Dancing
- DJ
Your budget, venue and party type will all determine what type of entertainment you will provide, but make sure you plan some things to keep people engaged.
5. Food
People at a party are going to be hungry. Your food can be as simple as a snack, like cake and mints, or as elaborate as a fully catered meal. Make sure that you provide enough food for the length of your event, so people are not left hungry. You may be able to provide some of the food yourself, or you may find it less stressful and more fulfilling to have the food catered. Ensure that the venue you choose has the supplies and facilities to serve up the food you order, and don’t forget to consider drinks in addition to the food. Be sure to have ample water available in addition to the other drinks you purchase to keep people well hydrated.
6. An Appropriate Music Playlist
Unless you are hiring a DJ, in which case you would leave this job to the professionals, you will want to consider creating a music playlist for your party. This would include songs that are important to you or the party’s guest of honor, as well as songs that would fit your entertainment and provide a way to dance, if you’re planning to have a dance. You may also want some quiet, soothing music to play during the meal. Match the playlist to the theme and ambiance of the party, but don’t neglect this or you may end up with background music that doesn’t fit the theme and tone of your party.
7. The Right Guest List
It may feel as though you want to invite everyone you know to your party, but this would not be wise. If you create an air of exclusivity about your party, people are going to be more inclined to want to come. Also, keeping the guest list small presents the problem of having too many people.
When planning your guest list, remember to onside the temperaments and demographic of the guests. Try to have a mix of introverts and extrovert, males and females, and people from various walks of life. The goal is to have a mix of people that make the party enjoyable for all.
8. Festive Decor
Once you have your food, budget, theme and guest list settled, you can start planning for the decor of your event. Sometimes the venue itself will help with this, as many venues have festive lighting, lovely views or rugged wood-lined walls. Still, even if all you are doing is centerpieces and table runners, you want to have something fun and festive that lines up with your theme well.
9. A Compelling Invitation
People are busy. Sometimes, even if your party is great, getting them to attend is going to be a challenge simply due to their busy schedules. One way to help overcome this is to invest in a compelling invitation. Make the party seem as though it’s the can’t-miss event of the year, and mail the invitations around six weeks before the event to give people time to clear their schedules and attend.
10. Have a Fun Surprise
Finally, make the party memorable with a fun surprise. Maybe it’s a chocolate fountain dessert table. Perhaps it’s a photographer bringing a photo booth to the event. You may even find that the venue itself can be the surprise. Whatever the surprise might be, work one in to ensure your guests leave impressed.
If you’re looking for a venue that will be both surprising and enticing for your next party, consider a river or lake cruise. Paradise Charter Cruises offers cruises of Lake Minnetonka and the Mississippi River which capture the essence of a fun party with beautiful scenery and built-in entertainment. Ideal for parties of all types, including:
- Anniversaries
- Bat/Bar Mitzvahs
- Neighborhood Parties
- Retirement Parties
- Promotional Events
- Bridal/Baby Showers
- Birthdays/Sweet 16’s
- Class Reunions
- Church Groups
- Tour Groups
- Senior Groups
For your next party, partner with Paradise Charter Cruises to make the event a success!