Knowing how to throw a great party is a skill that not many people have. But just like any other skill, you’re not born with it, you hone it over time. We’ve got 10 tips for throwing a great party that will help you go from an OK party host, to an awesome party host in a matter of minutes (maybe days). The most important thing you need to keep in mind, before we begin, is that you mustn’t take this too seriously, it’s a party, you and your guests should be having fun, so relax and follow these tips for throwing a great party and you’ll be on the right track!
10. Pick a Theme
Picking the right theme or idea for your party can make or break the party; an awful party theme idea could ruin everything. If you don’t want people to come in costume, you could just pick something that anyone could do without too much trouble, for example a spring theme or Hawaii theme. They’re fun and everybody owns a funky Hawaiian shirt, don’t they?
9. Have a Plan
And by having a plan, we don’t mean a simple list of guests, food and drinks. Try to think ahead and anticipate any problems that might arise. Always have a backup plan in case something fails and when it comes to parties, something always fails. When it happens, do not panic, relax and go over your options.
8. Kid’s Table
Is your party going to be the kind of party where people bring their children? If it is, then you need to make a table for children. Keep them busy with games and fun foods and always keep an eye on them to make sure they’re entertained. If you can’t control the children at a party, then you can count on the party being a fail.
7. Invites
If you’re too busy to make actual invitations for your party, the easiest and most fun way to do it is to create a private event on Facebook and invite people to it. You’ll get to see in real time who accepted and who didn’t and you can post updates and people can post helpful comments. If you’re not good with Facebook, then stick to email!
6. Food
Fun party foods will liven up any party, but take time to learn about your guests and what their food preferences are. Is anyone allergic to anything? Do you have any vegans or vegetarian that will be attending? Make sure everyone has something to eat, because if there’s good food, then the guests will be happy.
5. Alcohol
Throwing a great party relies a lot on the alcohol served. First of all, it needs to be enough for everyone. Secondly, have a signature drink for your part. It is a fun idea that will give you enough control over what’s being ordered and consumed and you get to play bartender for a while. Make sure people don’t drink and drive!
4. Make Lists
We suggest you make four lists: one of the people attending, one for the food, one for the drinks and one for the things you need to do to prepare your house for the party (such as getting clean towels for the bathroom, plates and glasses, party favors or finding a place for all the coats to go). Needless to say, lists will help you get organized and make sure you don’t overlook anything.
3. Get the Right Music
For this particular tip we suggest you make a poll when you’re inviting people to your party. Of course the music depends a lot on your party theme, but make sure your guests have a say in what type of music gets played. If your party is more of a sitting down type party, then the music should be more of a sitting down type kind of music.
2. Set the Mood
As a host, you need to set the mood and lead by example. If you would like your guests to dance, then why not put on some dancing music, get up from the table and start dancing. Invite people to join you! You set the tone of the party, so make sure it’s a good tone.
1. Don’t Stress
If at any time during the party planning you feel too stressed or overwhelmed, then stop what you’re doing and take a moment to gather your thoughts. Remind yourself that it’s just a party; it’s not a wedding or a funeral. It’s a party where it’s going to be you and your friends. It’s a party whose success doesn’t depend on you alone. Have fun and take lots of pictures!
Do you have any other tips for throwing a great party? If you do, we’d love to hear them out, so comment below and we’ll spark up a conversation!
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