10 simple steps to an epic party
Real EstateHave you ever had a party disaster that could have been prevented with a good plan? My question to you, even before you start this journey is, “can you afford to have a party in one place or just at home”? It matters. Much. I could tell you some party horror stories for lack of budget. A party I attended ended early, no one wanted to stay because there was no food available. That goes for cheap buffets too, some people would rather go to street food than bland sandwiches and mini rolls thrown on an aluminum plate and some won’t go back unless the beer is really good. I’ve seen horrible places with sticky floors and disgusting toilets, sometimes the party can be ok, but if the place you’ve chosen is horrible, people will remember it more. And what about the day when all the vendors for a party showed up at the venue that was closed and when they called and asked why they found out they had no record of the reservation?
Don’t let these embarrassing things happen to you. If you’re going to have a party, it has to be epic, even a party at your house needs to be memorable for all the right reasons. Have a great plan, these 10 simple steps will help you get to an epic party.
The first 3 steps are the most important. members of your group and do these steps before doing anything else. These top 3 are the party makers and breakers, the main must-haves for your party, and if you’re on a budget these 3 are the only things you need.
1. Pick a date.
Start planning your party at least 3 months in advance, 9 if you’re really organized. The places are cheaper during the week, from Sunday to Thursday. Fridays and Saturdays are the weekend and ‘holiday days’ and can be more expensive. Think of the holidays as great dates for parties, a Sunday night means no work on Monday, a fabulous idea. Keep these things in mind as you take the next step.
2. Choose your place.
For a party, a birthday, anniversary, etc. choose a place like your home, a pub, a social club or a function room; For a more formal occasion, you can choose a hotel, a park, or an estate. After booking, pay your deposit and get your reservation in writing, it must be a contract, but at least a confirmation email with a receipt of your deposit, which you can print as proof.
Do not do; The book arrived unseen.
Do not do; Make further plans for the party until you have the venue reservation in writing.
Do; Beware of the place that says free event room when you buy their buffet. Remember the bland sandwiches and mini rolls thrown on an aluminum plate…avoid them at all costs! The only time to consider this is if you have checked the reviews and hygiene ratings, if everything is ok and looks great then book it, it could be a good deal.
Do; Pick a place that has the facilities you need. For example, do you have a bar, wheelchair access, stairs, restrooms, a place for the DJ to set up? Smoking area, tables, chairs, catering tables, etc.
Do; Check if the place needs a bit of sprucing up like; Do the bathrooms need any air freshener, liquid soap, flowers? If the stage looks dirty, put a bright banner on it. When the lights are dim, these things will look good with these helpful tips.
Do; Call your venue with your name and reservation date and request access time for vendors catering your party 1-2 weeks in advance. This is also a great way to have a chat with your venue and confirm your reservation again.
3. Choose a catering service
Many people make the mistake of reserving the food for their party last, you could really end up disappointed. The catering service is one of the first 3 steps after reserving your place. Have you ever been to a party without food? When people drink, they want food, even if it’s just a burger. I’ve been to parties where sandwiches and cakes have been served, this is fine for a teen house party but not if adults are invited, people will leave early looking for food, you don’t want this to happen. Consider your budget, your guests, and what food you love. Choosing a buffet should be fun, choose the one that best suits your tastes and budget. Get menus from a few vendors and compare them. Make sure your caterer is fully registered, insured, licensed and has a good hygiene rating. As soon as you know which caterer you want to work for you, get them booked, pay your deposit to save your date on your schedule ASAP. You don’t need to count your guest or even your finished menu to secure your date in the catering diary. . Make sure you get a confirmation of your reservation and/or a receipt for your deposit.
Do; Hire a caterer. Catering is a lot of work and stressful for those who don’t do it regularly. You don’t want to be exhausted from your party, you should enjoy your party and guests, not work. Everyone remembers food, so make it memorable, but it doesn’t have to break the bank, there are excellent caterers, who will offer burgers and wedges along with a few flourishes, and your guests will be impressed.
Do; Find out if you have guests attending with allergies or have dietary requirements like vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. and tell your provider.
The steps that make an enchanting party epic!
4. cake
If you need a cake for your event, reserve it below. I hope I don’t surprise you by saying this, but not all the best bakeries have storefronts in your local town or city, some of the most amazing cakes I’ve ever had are from bakers who have their own bakery in their own kitchen at home. I know and have used quite a few and have never been disappointed. Check Facebook to find home bakeries, check their portfolio, hygiene rating, reviews and book that cake.
5.Entertainment
Do you have a DJ or a live band? Clown or bouncy castle? A soloist or a string quartet? Whatever you have decided, do your homework, look at profiles and reviews. A great place to get free quotes is FREEINDEX, they are the kings of comparison shopping when shopping for services. I always get 5 quotes on FREEINDEX, which I can compare with each other. Other well-known sites that you can get supplier quotes from charge the supplier exorbitant prices just to get back to you, so they are no good if you want to compare quotes, you are unlikely to get more than 1 or 2.
6. Costume of the place
When guests enter your party, the wow factor immediately hits them through the ambience created by your venue’s vanity. So how do you want your room to look like? What do you want? Something simple like colored balloons? Something more romantic like flowers and candles? Or do you want to go all out with chair covers and frames, tall chandeliers, or even trees with lanterns tied to them? Whatever you want, a place dresser has the “wildest dreams” type of imagination and is a great person to tap into your creative ideas.
7. Invite
Party invitations must be sent out 8-6 weeks prior to the event date and RSVP date must be at least 10 days prior to the party. You will find that your caterer will need the final numbers 7-5 days before the event date and Once you have locked in the number of guests, your caterer will not be able to decrease your numbers, only increase them.
You don’t need them, but the epic parts do!
8. Free drinks
Whether you have a beer or wine behind the bar for your guests and hand out drink coupons on your invitations or have a glass of champagne on arrival for everyone. Your guests appreciate the idea that the first drink to get the party juices flowing is with you. If the bar at your venue doesn’t offer arrival cocktails like bubbly or mimosa, then ask your caterer to do so. If your venue doesn’t have a bar or you’re hosting your party in a garden tent, you can hire a bar from an independent bar company or your caterer.
9. Party favors
I’ve come across a lot of party favors in my time, from love heart rolls, lottery tickets, chocolate covered fruit bags, popcorn bags, candy carts, cupcakes, cigars, fancy chocolates, the list. go and go. Even though party favors aren’t important and you don’t need them, your guests appreciate them, especially when you’re a little quirky. Candy carts can be a more expensive option for a party favor, but people love them. A chocolate fountain is also a very welcome idea.
10. Event Photographers/Photo Booth
A great way to have a keepsake of your party favors. People love them and post them on social media, turning your lovely party into an epic event in attendees’ lives. Don’t forget to tell everyone your hashtag for your party, put up a sign at the bar, so everyone can see your photos of everyone else in the same place online. #stephsgreatparty #johnis21 etc