No matter what type of party you’re throwing, it’s all about bringing people together, something that’s important to keep in mind throughout the planning process. The idea is to avoid the possibility of boredom and make it all about fun.
Of course, there are some essentials that no party should be without, including these.
A Theme
The best parties have themes, and once you pick one, everything else will fall into place easier too. Activities, entertainment, and even food and drink can all be based around your theme. For example, you might choose a classic ’80s theme, asking attendees to come dressed in their ’80s best and hire a band that plays tunes from the era.
Even the food can be retro, for an ’80s party, like potato skins, ranch pasta salad, and jelly-glazed meatballs served in a crockpot. For beverages, it’s all about wine coolers, although you should probably have some soda on hand too.
Food and Drink
Whether your party is themed or not, food and drink are a must. A OnePoll survey conductedfor BJ’sWholesale Club revealed that not having enough food or drink was the biggest party foul a host can commit.
A dinner party is obviously all about the dinner, but if you’re throwing any other type, you’ll at least want to put out a variety of appetizers for guests to snack on. As noted, if you have a theme it can help you decide what to serve. For a Hawaiian theme, grilled ham and pineapple kabobs, fruit skewers or bacon-wrapped pineapple bites are all fabulous finger foods.
The beverages can be based on your theme, but either way, if you plan on serving cocktails, wine, and/or beer, be sure that you have some non-alcoholic drinks available too.
Entertainment
No matter what type of party you’re planning, booking entertainment is one of the best ways to eliminate the worst fear: boredom. If you don’t want everyone twiddling their thumbs, hire a band, a singer, a magician, or another type of live entertainer. If you book a comedian who can get people laughing, a fun night is pretty much guaranteed. Just be sure to choose one who is appropriate for your crowd.
Activities
While the entertainment might be the highlight of your party, it’s a good idea to have some activities planned that your guests can enjoy before or after the show. Board games, cards, charades, and trivia are all possibilities.
If you want to go beyond the classics, you might create a scavenger hunt that covers your neighborhood. Renting a karaoke machine can be a lot of fun too – you could even give out awards for “Best Country Singer,” “Best Pop Vocalist,” and the like.
Decor
Without decor, your party won’t have the wow factor that makes it memorable. This is a great time to get creative and impress your guests the moment they walk through the door. Once again, if you have a theme, it will be easy to choose the decor. Otherwise, some simple ideas including hanging balloons from the ceiling, installing backdrops for photos that add a touch of glamour, and let everyone be a star by laying out a red carpet at the entrance.