Your Party Planning Checklist

By Author: Richard Curtain
Total Articles: 25
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Have you ever attended a party and didn't like how it went down? Did you criticize the food and the music? What about those parties that were unforgettable and fun? Those are the kind of parties you'll always want to go to and would never regret choosing it over a relaxing night at home. Everybody has their way of planning parties but they have the same goal, which is to make the event fun, exciting and unforgettable.

It's different when you're on the opposite end, not a guest but the host or party planner. Sometimes you think that you have planned everything well but the guests didn't seem to like it at all. That is why you need to take extra measures to know what your guests want in a party so you can cater to them. To be on the safe side, here are some things you need to include in your checklist. There are tips that can help you plan a successful party without having to go through all the trouble.

Invitation

Always send out your invitation a month before the event. The latest would be 2 weeks prior to the event. You wouldn't want to plan and spend a lot on a party with just a few people showing up for ...
... the big day. Whether it is a big or small party, always add RSVP. From there, you'll know how many people have confirmed attendance so you can make the necessary arrangements and/or adjustments. If it's a formal event, always specify how many seats you have allotted for the guest if only 1, or 2 with a plus 1. With setting a limitation, you won't have a problem with having too many guests on the actual day. That will cost you money and can make the seating arrangements a hurdle.

Food and Catering

What kind of food to serve during your party? You can go all out with a buffet or sit-down menu. If budget is a concern, you can choose to serve finger foods and drinks. The key there is setting the time of the event after lunch or after dinner. During this time, people have just taken full meals and wouldn't be too hungry to eat a mouthful. Some simple gourmet finger foods and some cocktail will go well and make your party fancy and sophisticated.

Always make it a point to do a food tasting and always trust in the reputable caterers. Food should be fresh and sumptuous. For drinks, you have the option to serve cocktails or alcohol drinks like wine. This might be expensive, but if the event is not too formal, you can go for BYOB or "Bring Your Own Booze" if that is something your guests can find exciting.

Decoration and Party Favors

It's nice to have a theme for your party to enliven the mood and get your guests excited to come. This is also a way for you to decorate the party based on the theme and find the suitable party favor for your guests. You can go for a sophisticated white party and keep the decoration classic and sophisticated with gold or silver highlights. If you want something more casual and fun, an 80s party never goes out of style. Find many ideas online so you can transform a boring venue into a magical and fun event.

Richard Curtain used to work for a caterer and party planner in Melbourne. With his exposure to party preparations and scouting for supplies online and offline, he developed the knack for being a party thrower himself. You can find party products in www.partiesonline.com.au.