How to Plan a Party - Event Themes, Designs, Party Ideas and More!

Whether you are planning a party for your birthday, baby shower, engagement or wedding the actual preparation can be quite overwhelming! You will want to make sure that you invite the right people, pick the right venue and choose the best party supplies - after all everyone wants to throw a party that people will enjoy and remember!

The first step is to think about the venue, where you are having the party will have a big influence on your guests, how many you will invite and what sort of party it will be, you may choose a house party, beach party, your favourite restaurant or the local town hall..?! Once you know where you will be holding your party you can firstly set the date - you are likely to have this in mind before you choose the venue so that you can make sure that you get the right time etc. Once you have it all booked then start picking a theme; this will help you to come up with the ideas for your invitations, decorations entertainment and more.

Make sure that you set a budget for your party before you send out the invites that way you will know what to tell your guests, e.g BYO drinks or Food and Drink Provided. Once you have tackled the theme you can then concentrate who you will invite, arrange to have your invitations sent out and await the RSVP's from those would love to help you celebrate!

When you know how many people are coming you can then start to think about food preparation whether you will seek the help of your family and friends or if you will need caterers - bear in mind that these should be booked as far in advance as possible. Plus if you are organising it yourself don't forget the serving ware such as plates, bowls and cutlery!

Your theme may influence your choice but make sure you spend some time thinking about the music you will play at your party. This is important as it will help to set the mood and vibe of the event. Then come the decorations, these should reflect the theme of the party and could include table gifts or party favours for all of your guests! Make sure that the colours match in with your chosen scheme so that the venue is perfect for the arrival of your guests!

The hardest part will be to pick the theme, there are so many fantastic ideas out there and your choice will of course depend on your personality, who you are inviting and what sort of party vibe you are after. Here are some pretty cool themed ideas to help you plan a memorable party that your guests are sure to enjoy.

Why not choose a 'Year Theme' that means something to you - Here is our selection of party ideas from the 1920s to the 1980s...

1920s

Also known as the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age, the 20s saw an art deco style that represented elegance, glamour, functionality and modernity.

1940s

With World War II taking place in the first half of the decade and lingering well into the late 40s, why not base your party on a wartime theme; hang up your bunting, wartime posters and pictures of spitfires and camouflage!

1950s

Rock and Roll dominated the popular music scene in the late 1950s. It saw artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richie and Elvis taking to the stage! So think American Diner and select your music carefully and 'rock around the clock' at your 50s theme party.

1960s

The Swinging 60s - think Summer of Love, Woodstock and Psychedelic influences! Peace, Love and the rise of the 'Hippie' culture make this a very colourful theme for a birthday party.

1970s

Create your own Disco - Boogie Nights experience with a 70s theme party! Think John Travolta, bright lights and disco balls!!

1980s

Think Marty McFly- Back to the Future or Madonna & Boy George! Whatever you plan for your 80s style party you can be sure that there are some pretty cool ideas for your party decorations, gifts and favours.

You could also consider a theme from the following list:

Back to School

Black and White

Caribbean or Hawaiian

Masked Ball or Mardi Gras

Tarts and Vicars

Hollywood

Murder Mystery

Beach Theme

Wild West

Winter Wonderland

Nationality Themes;

Spanish

French

Irish

British

Australian

... There are so many styles and themes to consider but with whichever you choose the golden rule is to make sure that you simply enjoy yourself, whether it is a party for you a family member or friend, all of your planning efforts must be rewarded with a little bit of fun!


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Corporate Party Games - Livening Up Your Next Work Function

At any corporate party, games are great for two reasons - they allow workmates to bond and have fun together, and they are an ice-breaker for people who may not know each other. Here are 2 corporate party games to play at your next corporate party:

"The Gift Game" Corporate Party Game

This is one of the simplest corporate party games, but is still loads of fun. Prior to the event, purchase and wrap 10 cheap gift items for the game. Before guests arrive, hide 10 coins in and around where the party is being held. Guests have to search for the coins, and the people who find them can exchange their coin for one of the gifts, as long as they don't open them yet. All the partygoers stand or sit in a circle, with one person reading a made-up story containing the words "left" and "right" many times. Every time the word "right" is mentioned, guests have to pass their gifts to the right, and the same with the word "left". Once the story is finished, the people left holding the presents keep them.

"Pass the Hat" Corporate Party Game

This, more than many other corporate party games, requires cooperation and imagination. Party guests have to stand in 2 circles, one inside the other. One player from each circle starts the game wearing a hat, which has to be passed around the circle without anyone using their hands. The first team to pass their hat all the way round is the winner.

At almost any corporate party, games can generate laughs and make the event really enjoyable for everyone. All that's needed is a bit of imagination, and people willing to 'have a go' for the sake of team building and having a good time.

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Tips In Choosing Banquet Chair Covers

Banquet chair covers provide style and elegance to any occasion you will celebrate. These are weddings, birthdays, debuts, anniversaries, and more. Whichever event is celebrated, here are helpful tips you can take note of when choosing banquet chair covers for chairs.

White is a common pick. This is because most events are themed white. When overused, it tends to look boring and lifeless though. When you want to liven up plain white, consider cloth material. Linen is normally used. You may also choose satin which is more expensive but softer.

Size also matters. Make sure the covers used fit the chairs perfectly. They should neither be too loose or too tight. This will make seating more comfortable for your guests.

Aside from cover size and the type of cloth used, hue can also be altered. Plain white can be replaced with related color hues. You can use cream, ivory, or dirty white instead. White appears clean to look at. But it also makes stains and dirt more obvious. Using other colors associated to white may lessen the visibility of stains.

Some party's have other colors as theme. If this is the case, incorporate the color with accessories. Tie the white chairs with ribbons, sashes, or bows. These will represent the color theme. Chair colors other than white are rarely used. You may still opt to have chair covers carry the same color as the party theme if you wish to do so.

Still on colors, white as well as black creates a sense of formality. This makes them fit for any formal event which requires a banquet. Aside from formality, elegance and style are also important in these occasions. Elegance need not be expensive. Banquet chair covers when chosen properly will help achieve elegance.

Elegance as well as style must be depicted in how banquet chairs are covered. The type of cloth used, color, and accessories are affecting factors. It is not about how much they cost but how they are utilized well.

Besides the actual chair covers; arrangements also matter. There are recommended banquet hall seating orders which can be followed. These maybe downloaded online. A widely used pattern places the important figures in a pedestal. Invited guests are assigned seats on an audience like manner.

Banquet chair covers should be intricately chosen detail by detail. These are important pieces in any type of event. Style, elegance, design, and comfort are all achieved when these are chosen properly.



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Choose Wine For Your Party Just Like a Pro

Choosing wine for a party begins before that last minute rush to the grocery store. Some wines work well with warm foods, while others pair nicely with cold buffet foods. Knowing which kind of party you will have and what is on your menu can help you pick the wines to compliment your food choices.

Shopping for Your Vino

There are several reasons to shop early. You should taste the wines you intend to serve and create a list of whites, reds and sparkling wines that you enjoy. Keep a close eye on the cost per bottle. Many wines are less expensive by the case and you can shop around to reduce the cost.

As far as how much to buy, keep in mind that each bottle will serve about five glasses. And while not all of your guests will be drinking, you can safely estimate each guest will have one glass per hour of the event.

Your wine list should also include both reds and whites since most guests will prefer one type or the other.

Matching Your Wine to Your Food

If your food will be a cold buffet then your wines should be served chilled. Good choices are fruity red wines and crisp whites. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and sparkling wines are good choices to serve along with light snacks or appetizers. Pinot Noir and a fruity rose will keep up with a summertime buffet or afternoon get together if the foods being served are lighter.

To chill your bottles and keep them cold, you should use tubs of ice and water instead of the refrigerator.

Warm appetizers or hot buffets call for stronger flavors to stand up to the menu. Serve a red wine with foods that are highly flavored like meats and cheeses, but also consider that a very dry white might work, as well. The strong flavors in reds do well when your food selections are spicy, but reds are also likely to have a higher alcohol content. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot should have the variety of flavors desired in a red wine while still being a good value.

Playing it Safe

When choosing a wine for a party, take your time to pick some that you enjoy or that at the very least are generally popular. If you are unsure about which wines are popular, try asking your friends what they enjoy drinking. A reputable wine merchant can often point out which bottles are fashionable, but make sure that he is not simply trying to unload the cheap (or the too-expensive) stuff on an unwitting buyer.

Remember, your guests will probably enjoy the wines you select whether they are complex and expensive or relatively simple and less expensive!

If your guests are relatively new to appreciating wine you might have better luck with more of the fruitier wines and fewer of the dry varieties. Experienced wine drinkers will likely prefer the dry varieties to the sweeter wines if given a choice. A combination of the two is always a good idea!

With the knowledge of your menu and some basic shopping rules you can make choosing wine for a party more like an adventure than a task to cross off of a list. So have fun with it!

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Buffet Table Setting Tips - Setting up the Room

There's just a ton of buffet table setting advice on the web. All you have to do is a quick search-- soon you'll be overrun with advice on how to add height to your tables. Or how to arrange the dishes you'll be serving "just so." Or how to decorate the buffet table like this, or provide these plates, or arrange utensils so they're easy for your buffet guests to take with them.

And all of this is good advice. But before you can follow any of it, you first have to know one very basic thing: how to set up a room for a buffet reception or dinner party.

But that's easy, you might say. Just chuck a table against the wall for the food, set some plates up on the end, and set up another little table for desserts and drinks. Done. After all, how much could go into simply arranging a room for a buffet dinner?

Actually, more than you might think. The arrangement of the space in which the buffet is held affects the entire buffet-- a well-arranged room reduces spills, looks nice, and makes things easier on your guests. Want to get it right? Read on for three easy-to-follow tips on preparing a space for a buffet dinner.

1. Buffet Table Placement The first instinct of many hosts and hostesses of a buffet dinner party or reception is to place the buffet table against the wall. This keeps it out of the way and allows more room for seating. But if you have enough space, the middle of the room is the best place for the buffet table. Why? Well, if you only have one buffet table setting, it allows equal access from both sides of the room. It also makes it easier to serve from both sides of the table, and allows mingling, snacking dinner guests to chat together in closer proximity to the table. This works especially well for finger food buffets.

2. Distance the Drinks Table. Sure, occasionally a plate is dumped over during a buffet dinner, but it's drinks you really have to worry about. The best way to prevent nasty spills? Set the drinks table up across the room from the food buffet. This will keep traffic to a minimum, minimizing the chances of guest collisions and nasty drinks spills. As a bonus, it may also prevent guests from trying to juggle loaded dinner plates in one hand and drinks in the other. They'll generally visit their table to drop off a plate of food before getting drinks, minimizing the chance of spillage. Even better, provide water and wine on the tables themselves, and make getting up to get a drink completely optional.

3. Know the Seating Arrangements. Unfortunately, most of us weren't blessed with tons and tons of space in which to set up a buffet table. And when space runs short, one of the first things to go is seating. If you don't have room for designated tables for your guests, chances are they'll have to perch on chairs, sofa-arms, or whatever piece of furniture they have handy. If this is the case, think of rearranging the dining area temporarily for your guests. Add extra end tables or TV trays to the space, and move chairs and other seating closer to tables, shelves and other places for guests to rest cups, plates, elbows, whatever. There's nothing worse than being perched on the end of a chair with nowhere to place your drink so you can eat your dinner. Think of your guests. Even if that TV tray looks silly in the middle of the room, put it there anyway.

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Linen Rentals Ideas to Make Unique Wedding Decorations

You can find several rental agencies in California that can offer various kinds of linens. However, you should follow some guidelines while selecting any types of linen rentals.

Linens can generate stylish look and atmosphere that people can enjoy throughout the wedding reception. For some people, this can be a difficult task since they do not want their wedding to be like everybody else's.

There are few ways to utilize linen rentals in innovative, interesting and distinctive ways. These innovative and more exceptional style ideas can make your special day visually appealing. Below are the suggestions to use linen for your wedding:

Layer linen rentals on the table:

You can get innovative ambiance with the linens by layering the fabric on the rental tables. Most of the events arrange single table cloth for all the guest table. But to get unique atmosphere, you can include multiple colored and textured linens. This generates depth in your design and looks great on tables.

Use colored linen rentals to designate the tables:

Using linens in various colors can give new and unusual look. Most of the people make use of same colored linens for each table in the event. Using different colored linens on the rental tables can generate an interesting and distinctive design visual to your event.

Different styles of chair covers:

Many people don't recognize that there are various ways to use linens when chair covers are concerned. Like table linen rentals, chair covers can also be available in different heights and styles. You can create distinctive appearance by selecting chair covers that wrap only a fraction of the chair leaving the legs uncovered. Few like to wrap the whole chair, while some others want the chair covers to stop at the floor. Rather than renting tighter chair covers, you can consider huge, billowing, draping chair covers.

Accessorizing the chair covers:

Adding accessories to the chair covers can alter the design and look of your occasion that actually incorporate the colors of the chairs. You can add ribbons, bows, simple fabric or flowers to add a design that anyone do not find at events and apparently a design setup that will be remembered for years.

Though each uses linen rentals for their events, it is fun to find distinctive and different ways to make use of the linens that can increase the style and look of your event. Think different from the routine so that you can have distinctive and new ways to make use of the linen rentals. The moment your wedding date is decided, immediately start searching more and more about linen rentals for your big day.

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Top Ten Adult Party Themes to Wow Your Guests

Looking for great adult themes for your next get together? Who said kids are the only ones who can enjoy a fun theme party?

You may not want clowns, balloons, or a petting zoo for your next adult party, but how about a pirate theme! There are literally hundreds of ideas for adult party themes that will really wow your guests. Here are the top 10 adult themes in no particular order.

Decades

Did you and your friends sow your wild oats during the 60's? Perhaps it was the 80's or another era in time altogether. You can have great fun setting up a decade theme party. Your imagination is truly the limit for this type of themed party, you can even choose a time period before you or your friends were born!

Hawaii

Sunny skies, warm beaches, and hula dancers are some of the things that come to mind when you think about a Hawaiian themed party. Most of these adult parties will lean toward the luau style. Set up a tropical paradise with lots of bright colors, leis, fake palms and grass skirt on everything! Popular drinks for a luau include mai tais, pina coladas, frozen daiquiris, and Bahama Mamas! Greet everyone with a flower lei and an aloha and you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time.

Western

Can you say Yee Haw? How about Yahoo! Western themes are always a crowd favorite with blue jeans, cowboy boots, cowboy hats and country western music. You can have your very own hoe down in the backyard. Typical western fare would include barbeque, baked beans, beer, and perhaps even a few shots of bourbon.

Movie Themes

Do you and your friends have a favorite movie? Gone with the Wind, Lord of the Rings, and even some of the popular horror flicks are great fodder for an adult themed party. Decorate in the style of your chosen genre, whether it's the deep south or middle earth, and offer food and drink that coordinates. Your friends will love the chance to dress up as their favorite character. A movie theme is a great choice for upcoming Halloween parties as well.

Magic

There is a little magic in everyone, and what could be more fun than a magic themed adult party. Top hats, wands, and magician assistant costumes are total fun. If you wanted to go all out, you could hire a professional magician for entertainment.

Las Vegas

What happens at your party stays at your party! (At least if it's a Vegas style affair that should be the motto.) Decorate with big fuzzy dice, black and red balloons, and provide green "felted" tables for black jack and poker games. Friendly gambling will be the underlying theme and your friends can come out in their most glamorous duds.

Harvest Theme

If you need a reason for a party why not the changing of the seasons? A fall harvest party is a very popular choice for ringing in cooler temperatures and celebrating the brilliant colors of the season. Leaf shaped invitations, pumpkin and gourd decorations, and fall activities make a wonderful party. Schedule a hayride, build a bonfire, and bob for apples.

International Food

Do you enjoy dishes from around the world? Create an international foods adult theme party. Your guests could dress in traditional clothing from around the world and bring their favorite foreign dish. Catering this type of party is also a great option.

Mardi Gras

Celebrate the spirit of Louisiana no matter where you live with a Mardi Gras style party. Massive amounts of purple, green, and gold decorations are a must, as are masks and beads. Beat the winter blues with this favorite adult themed party.

Girls Only

Want a night out with just the girls? Consider a sleepover, pajama party, or spa theme. Whether you are young or young at heart nothing beats a good old fashioned sleepover with movies, games, popcorn and ice cream! Pamper, share, or cry to a good old-fashioned chick flick with your girlfriends.

Conclusion

There are many adult themed party ideas you can choose from, these are just a few of the most popular choices. Let your imagination carry the day as you plan your next adult party. Go crazy or totally refined; it is all up to you!


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