Tips to help you put on the party of the year
Hosting a private party can be a lot of pressure. A lot of love and careful planning goes into making an event a success, so it’s important to start early to get the best of the best.
Here are some tips to help you put on the party of the year.
Set your budget
Your budget will help you determine many things, from what venue you choose and how many guests to invite, to what kind of entertainment and services to hire. It’s best to determine your budget as early as possible and adhere to it with every step.
Set the date and secure a venue
One of the first (and most important) details that you need to figure out is when to host your party and where! Depending on the size and formality of your event, you will want to select a date and have booked a venue anywhere from 10 weeks to 1 year ahead of time. It’s important to secure your venue early so that you can begin planning your event and send out detailed invitations.
You could however have it at home or at your office depending on your celebration.
Book your catering and other services
The season of the event matters, establish a good balance with your menu. This does not mean you don’t take a risk! And remember Laissez-Faire Catering has the capability to provide linens, tables, chairs, florals, and event décor. If you give us an idea of what you like we can pull everything together for you and organise all the services.
Catering Pro Tip: Ask whether the catering is finished on site or cooked ahead of time and left in a hot box to stay warm. These different practices will have a great impact on the quality of the food when it's served to your guests.
Invite your guests
Again, depending on your event, the timing for invitations will vary. But, generally speaking, it’s best to send invitations out 4-6 weeks in advance. For informal events, an e-mail invitation or group event on Facebook may be a sufficient way to get the word out. However, for more formal events, or just to add a nice touch, send customised invitations that fit your theme or occasion.
Play host(ess)
When the time comes and the party has started, make sure to mix and mingle with all of your guests. If you’ve hired help for your event, this job is much easier. Either way, you’ll want to be sure to greet and talk to each of your guests, thank them for coming, and ensure that they’re having a good time.
Make memories!
Your party is a hit, so of course it will be memorable. Hire a Photographer to make the rounds at your party and take photos of the guests as they celebrate. Later, when you’re sending out thank you cards, you can include a few of your favourite shots of each guest! Alternatively, you could set up a Photo Booth so that your guests can pose as silly or serious as they’d like and take home the photo strips as party favors.
It’s all going to be alright! We know you’ve got this. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can always turn to an Event Planner to do the hard work for you, or reach out to us for help. Enjoy!