 “Between too early and too late, there is never more than a moment.” - Franz Werfel Do you look forward to the special events in your life, or do you dread those dates as they pop up? Maybe you think you just don’t have the time to plan a party; you barely have time to attend an occasional party, let alone throw one of your own. With a few tips and techniques and a little organization, you can host a party that people will remember for years. How about that big anniversary your parents are about to celebrate? Wouldn’t they love a big bash with all their friends invited to share this important milestone with them? Throw them an anniversary party they’ll never forget. Before you plan a single thing however, talk to them about what they’d like. Their idea of a great celebration might not be exactly what you would have planned; but this is their day, remember? Will it be casual or formal? You can make it as simple as a backyard barbecue, or as fancy as dinner and dancing at a classy restaurant. Talk to any siblings as well, to see if they’d like to get in on the fun. If you’re on a tight budget, let them pitch in to help with the planning and the fun. This is how families make memories. The bigger the bash, the more time you’ll need for planning and organizing. Don’t wait until the last minute to try and throw together something as big as an anniversary party. Depending on what has been decided for a theme, and whether it’s to be casual or formal, you may need the services of a rental company. Just about every large city or town has a rental company that will rent out everything from tables and chairs to cutlery and china and everything in-between. Once you’ve decided on the date and a venue for the party, you’ll need a guest list as soon as possible. If you’ve decided on the theme, it’s time to go shopping for invitations; or if you wish, you can design one on your computer and print them out yourself. Check out your nearest office supply store for a wonderful selection of paper and cards perfect for the do-it-yourself type. This takes a little time, but you can really personalize the invitations to fit your loved ones and their special occasion. The invitations should be sent out at least two weeks before the party, so your guests can make their own arrangements to attend. As soon as you have an estimated head count, you can go shopping for the supplies. These will vary, depending on the theme of the party. Don’t forget interesting favors for your guests to take home with them, to remember the important day. Photos are always a great idea; try taking a photo of each guest with the happy couple. Let them hold up a banner, proudly proclaiming the date of the anniversary party. You could even have t-shirts screen-printed with a photo of the couple, to give to their guests. If you’re preparing the food for the party yourself, try and get as much done the day before as you can and store everything in the refrigerator. Two or three hours before the party, do all the decorating and any other preparation work that’s necessary. Let family and friends lend you a hand. Many hands make the work lighter and more fun. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to shower and dress for the party and give yourself some relaxing time to catch your breath, so you can enjoy yourself too. You don’t want to look harried and hassled when your guests start arriving. Be ready ahead of time and greet each of your guests as they arrive, making them feel welcome. Take any coats or jackets they may be wearing, then direct them to the foods and drinks. Show them where to find the happy couple. You may have to make the rounds a few times, to make sure your buffet is replenished occasionally. Keep all dishes filled. If you’re organized and prepared, everything should go off without a hitch. Just remember, as always, be prepared for the unexpected. Try to anticipate all scenarios. Plan on having more than enough foods and drinks; it’s better to have leftovers, than to run short in the middle of the party. This is just a quick overview of a well-planned party and can be adapted, depending on your theme, venue, number of guests, and formality involved. The important part to remember is to have fun and make it especially fun for the couple whose anniversary you’re celebrating. Moments like these will never come again. That particular anniversary will never come again. Enjoy them to the fullest. Maria Edgeworth, in an interview with ‘O’ Magazine, said it best. “If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.” The other special event you’ll no doubt be called upon to plan for and deliver will be birthday parties. No matter the age, everyone enjoys a birthday party. For children, it’s essential to have parties to mark the milestone birthdays. Kids love having a birthday. Once again, you need a head start to plan a birthday party. Let your child help decide the theme and who’s to be invited. Places that have pizza parties geared towards kids are all the rage right now. For a nominal fee, you can have the party on their premises, where they provide the foods and drinks and a party atmosphere in the form of kid-size rides. You’re given two hours, plus a place for the kids to sit and eat and the birthday child to open his/her gifts. You bring your own birthday cake. Then they do the cleanup. No muss, no fuss, no Kool-Aid on the carpet or cake on the furniture. The biggest mistake parents make when it comes to hosting a party for their little darlings is to invite way too many children. The younger the child, the fewer guests there should be. Too much excitement can cause young children to become very difficult to handle, argumentative, and teary. Smaller groups and carefully planned activities are easier for children to handle. Two hours is pretty much the time limit you should shoot for when it comes to younger children. Make sure they’ve had a nap before the party starts so they don’t become overly tired. After hours of planning a child’s party, decorating, creating, cooking, and baking, then watching them tear around everything while enjoying themselves, it’s hard to have a great deal of patience. Remember, they’ll grow up and be gone soon. These memories are important. Stay organized and you can do it. “You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.” - Franklin P. Jones |
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