Most of us have been to parties that didn’t quite have the party vibe we expected. The venue might have been too small, food was limited, or entertainment was lacking. Whatever the reason, you’re likely eager to avoid the mistakes of other party hosts and plan a party that’s memorable for all the right reasons.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, planning a fundraiser, or recognizing an anniversary, you might be able to ensure the whole event goes off without a hitch by taking note of the following planning tips:
Set a Theme
A party can be fun without a theme, but that fun can be taken to the next level when it does have one. Consider popular party themes like letters of the alphabet, decades, and even casino themes. Alongside buying themed decorations for your venue, you can also explore Casino night theme party rentals to keep costs low while ensuring you have some of the best party decorations available.
Once you have a theme in mind, the rest of your party planning can fall into place. You can come up with fun-themed food and create themed invites. Just don’t forget to inform your guests that the party is themed so they can arrive in the right attire!
Book a Venue
While hosting your party at your home is an excellent way to keep costs low, it might not be a suitable option if dozens of guests will be RSVPing. Alongside not having enough bathroom facilities, you also have to consider the size of your home and the impact a party might have on your neighbors.
Instead, consider booking an appropriate party venue, such as a hall or a conference room inside an event center. By booking a venue, you can ensure it has all the necessary facilities and equipment, such as a kitchen, bathrooms, seating, and tables.
Send Out Invites
Sending invitations early can be important for ensuring your nearest and dearest are free to attend. Invitations can also give you an idea of how many people your party needs to cater to. When creating your invites, don’t forget these important details:
- Who the invitation is for
- The time, date, and year of the party
- Where the party will be held
- Dress code
- What guests need to bring
- Instructions for attendance, such as parking vehicles in a specific lot or using a particular entrance
Plan Food and Beverages
Food and beverages can be an important part of a successful party and can even contribute to an event’s success or failure. Once you know how many people will attend your party, start planning party food to ensure everyone is well-fed. You might decide to make or buy everything yourself or save the stress and outsource this task to a caterer. Whatever you choose, consider party favorites, such as:
- Pizza
- Chicken wings
- Pork ribs
- Club sandwiches
- Pastries
- Sausage rolls
- Potato skins
- Jalapeno poppers
- Charcuterie boards
Don’t be afraid to ask your guests if they have any dietary requirements so that you can cater to allergies, intolerances, and preferences like vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Making a plan for beverages can be of equal importance. Depending on your chosen venue, you might make beverages available for purchase. Otherwise, guests can bring their own. Ensure you offer plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, like juice, soda, and water, for any sober drivers and non-drinkers in attendance.
Book Entertainment
Being able to spend time with friends and family is entertainment in itself, but having something else for party guests to focus on can take your party to new heights. Consider hiring a band or DJ, or even choose something per your party theme. For example, if your party has a casino theme, you might hire roulette wheels, poker tables, and slot machines. If it’s a decades-themed party, a DJ playing songs of that era can also be a big hit.
Take Care of Logistics
As much as your guests might want to attend your party, that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to if you haven’t taken care of important logistics. They might worry about being able to get home again if they have a few drinks, or their location means they must book accommodation to be able to stay in the area overnight.
Think of every possible hurdle and try to take care of as many of them as possible. For example, you might include helpful accommodation details on your invite or arrange for someone to work as the sober driver for the evening, helping guests return to their homes and accommodation.
Any party can be successful when you invite the people you care about the most. However, putting extra thought into a theme, venue, food, and entertainment might mean that your party guests remember your party for all the right reasons.
