Who doesn’t love a good party? Everyone loves a party where they can get together with friends, families, and loved ones. But gathering all of them together in one spot can be a tough challenge on its own. While parties always sound great on paper, execution can be complex. Be it a birthday party, a wedding, an anniversary, or a family reunion, the happiness is often preceded by great difficulty — or at least to the one organising.
It takes a certain amount of experience in organising events to pull off a flawless party, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to improve your party organising skills. The many facets of managing a party are critical to its success, and here are a few pointers to keep in mind.
Location Is Important
When planning out a party, one of the first questions we ask ourselves is, “where?” This is important because it sets the entire mood and theme of your party. The location you’ll choose will dictate your attire, the number of people you can invite, and even your budget, whether you can splurge or skimp.
However, the location doesn’t just dictate what kind of event you can have, whether formal or casual, indoor or outdoor. You also have to think of the site relative to your guests. You don’t want to choose one that’s too out of the way for most of your guests, and if it is, you might consider nearby lodging they can stay at. Parking is also another thing you don’t want to forget; make sure there are areas nearby where your guests can park.
Choose the Best Date
Whatever the celebration is — a birthday, an anniversary, or a wedding — it’s usually ideal to do it during the weekend. It’s more likely that people are free on the weekend. But whichever date you choose, make sure to set it in advance to avoid no shows and other hassles. When you invite people to a party ahead of time, this gives them ample time to make preparations, and it provides planners a chance to coordinate better with vendors.
Think About the Weather
Even if your party is indoors, the weather can still affect the mood of your guests. Not to mention, it can make travelling to the location challenging. While nobody can predict the weather with one hundred percent accuracy, it’s still best to check the weather forecast. This is particularly crucial when your venue is reliant on good weather.
For instance, an outdoor picnic party requires sunny or cloudy weather — anything but rain. When renting a BBQ boat, you need to know the most appropriate weather. This is also because you don’t want to waste such a beautiful opportunity in inclement weather. These are some weather concerns you need to think of. As soon as you’ve chosen a date, make sure to check the forecast a few days ahead.
Consider Your Budget
As you progress in your planning process, your budget will constantly be at the centre of it. Your budget might constrict you, or you might end up overspending if you’re not careful. This is why it’s essential to set an estimated budget right from the start and adjust accordingly as you go on. Having an estimate rather than a fixed budget allows you the leeway to spend extra on some aspects and bring costs down on other parts.
Another important aspect of finance is how to gather funds. If it’s a family reunion funded by most members, it’s wise to create an easy way to collect funds and make it transparent. Of course, it’s less of a hassle if you’re paying for the event out of your own pocket, but that places the financial strain on you.
Don’t Forget About the Food
What’s a party without good food and drinks? A potluck party is never a bad idea, but catering is an excellent option if you want to experience new cuisine. Whatever you choose, though, make sure you include it in the budget. Food and drinks also mean you’d have to think about the miscellaneous: plates, cups, utensils, icebox or cooler, tables, and chairs. Figure out if you’d have to spend for it, if catering includes it, or if you can be creative with it.
A party is most memorable if spent with the people dear to you. The company of good friends and family, coupled with fun activities, create special moments that you’d want to reminisce on. These days, most people are already skilled at taking pictures with their smartphones, but go ahead and bring a camera or even hire a photographer to take photos that you can fondly look back on.
