Planning An Event
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How to get started – with ANY event
Choosing a Theme
Easy Elegance
Planning Ahead
The Final Countdown
Putting Guests at Ease
Saving Sticky Situations
How to get started – with ANY event
The first step is figuring out the nitty gritty: where, when,
who, why, what! Jot down answers to the questions below and you'll have a party
plan in no time.
 | What date and time do you want to have your party? When choosing a date,
check your personal calendar as well as the calendars of any fellow planners
and guest(s) of honor. You'll also want to discover if any special events
occur on that day. A major religious holiday or a hometown game might mean
fewer guests could attend your event. Plan accordingly. |
| How many guests do you wish to invite? The number of guests affects every
other detail of your event, from the location to the amount of food. Do a
first draft of your guest list by putting names on paper — this will help
you get a more accurate count and help your planning. |
| Where do you want to have your party? If the venue is not in your home,
then brainstorm some different possibilities (e.g., recreation centers,
hotel ballrooms, restaurants — whatever is appropriate). |
| How many people fit in the venue? Whether the venue is available on your
preferred day? How much it costs to rent the space? What's included in the
rental and what other services are available? |
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Costs can be complicated! Ask the venue's contact person to
give you all possible charges (e.g., some places might have separate fees
for room rental, security, maintenance, insurance). Find out what services
the venue offers, such as catering or decorating. Many venues insist that
you use their catering services and won't let you bring in food from
outside. You'll also want to consider how accessible the venue is to your
guests, so inquire about parking and public transportation near the site. |
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What's the purpose of your event? How will you express it?
This is the really fun part: you get to shape the style and spirit of your
event. It's easiest to start with a theme, which will help you decide
everything from décor to food to the style of your invitations. The best
theme ideas come from some special interest of the planner or guest(s) of
honor. Once you've identified a few possible themes, brainstorm all the
different ways you can carry out the idea: decorations, tableware, favors,
music. Which one sounds the easiest? The most fun? |
What's going to happen? Dancing? Speeches? Presentations? Two to four hours
is adequate for most events. If a meal is involved, especially a sit-down
dinner, four to five hours is plenty (if most of your guests are under 10 years
old, two hours may be perfect). Write out a schedule for the hours of the event.
Some guidelines:
| Provide time for mingling before and after directed activities — but
especially after since people will have even more to talk about. |
| Don't let guests go hungry! Feed them sooner rather than later. |
| Unless the purpose of the gathering is centered around speeches (such as a
press conference, business meeting, or dinner honoring a VIP), keep speeches
and presentations short (20 minutes, though it sounds short, is PLENTY of
time to fuss over the guest of honor!). |
You now have A LOT of information about your event. The next
step is to review each issue in light of the others (for example, if none of
your venues are available on your date, you may need to change your date or call
some other places) and start looking at it with regard to your budget.
Now you're ready to delve deeper into the details, revise your
budget and finalize your plans. This is a good point to involve a friend or
partner — running your ideas and figures by another person will help you sort
them out.
You will probably come up with many questions about costs. Get
on the phone to gather estimates for food, drink, music (live or DJ),
decorations, flowers, favors, printed invitations, limo service, photography,
videography, entertainment, and any special equipment (e.g., if you're showing a
slideshow, you'll need to rent the projector and screen). You'll want estimates
from two or three vendors for each type of item so you can comparison shop;
also, talking to more people gives you more ideas!
Once you've selected your venue and vendors and fit them into
your budget, start scheduling. Arrange everything as far in advance as possible.
Enlist help! Write out a schedule for yourself for the day of the event (e.g.,
what time is the photographer arriving, what time will the caterers be on the
scene) and share it with anyone who is helping with the party arrangements.
As the pieces fall into place, you'll spend less time making
decisions and more time tracking details and following up with vendors. Keep
your calendar or notebook handy and keep writing everything down in one place
— your notes will be an invaluable resource at every stage of your planning.
Choosing a Theme
Want to throw a party to remember? Choose a theme! Transform
your home and let your guests delight you with their surprising costumes and
novel ideas on how best to celebrate it. Whether it's completely off the wall,
or a classic toga party, centering your event around a theme is great fun.
You might be thinking "Sounds good, but I don't know what
to choose." Almost anything can be turned into a theme. Themes can be foods
or eras, people or places. So just decide on something, like chocolate, and then
get creative. Choose something offbeat (e.g., Wild West meets Austin Powers) to
entice your guests into being creative. When the results are the least
predictable, they're often the most interesting.
Retro themes are popular. Choosing a time period toward the
earlier part of the 20th century or before will set your event apart from the
more common 60's, 70's and 80's retro parties. Another way to find a theme is to
center your event around a movie, television show, or character. For instance
you might have a Star Wars theme party, or Shaft theme party.
Once you've thought of a theme, it's time to brainstorm. How can
the theme be applied? Is there a food associated with it? How can you decorate
the event location in the spirit of the theme? What music goes along with the
theme? Should people dress in costume? What sort of invitations will introduce
the theme to your guests?
One of the best aspects of throwing a theme-based party is the
creative process - thinking of all the ways you can express the main idea. Give
your imagination free reign!
Easy Elegance
Inexpensive, easy ideas to help you add an extra touch of style
to your setting. Want to add a little elegance? Try including some of the
following:
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Fresh Flowers - Even a few dollars worth of flowers will
bring style and freshness to your setting. If you have little to spend,
avoid the pricey stems and look for bunches. Go for quantity over variety: a
hearty bunch of white daisies has more impact and energy than a few roses! |
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Candle Collection - Candles have come into vogue, which
means they are easy to find and they come in colors and scents to suit any
taste. Place several together to make a striking arrangement. Avoid heavily
scented candles around food; place them in a bathroom or sitting area
instead. Always use appropriate caution: seat them in a suitable holder,
place them where they won't be easily knocked over and make sure they aren't
left unattended. |
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Beautiful Bathroom - Make your bathroom sparkling clean. Put
out fresh towels and include some nice touches: add a candle (see above), a
small vase of fresh flowers, a fancy magazine or catalog, or even a toy
(place two plastic dinosaurs face to face on a ledge). |
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Nice Napkins - Save the paper napkins for another time and
get a hold of some fun napkin rings and cloth napkins to spruce up the
dinner or buffet table. Provide a basket for guests to place used napkins
in; this is nicer than you collecting them and toting them off to the
laundry room! |
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Collapsible Coat-rack - If you don't have enough space in
your coat closet, set up a coat rack in an extra room and hang up everyone's
coat. It's a nice change from piling coats on beds or chairs, and makes it
easier for guests to collect their belongings when leaving. |
Planning Ahead
A timetable will help you have more fun, less stress. Everyone
procrastinates! But waiting until the last minute may make your event a hassle
instead of an enjoyable experience. To make the process easier, develop a
timetable and avoid a lot of stress.
To help you out, we’ve provided an example timetable. Keep in
mind that depending on when your event takes place, its size and type, your
timetable will be different.
Here's a typical timetable for any small to medium-sized event:
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2 to 4 weeks before: |
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Mail invitations |
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Reserve any necessary equipment |
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1 to 2 weeks before: |
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Plan the meal or refreshments |
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Purchase beverages and supplies |
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3 to 5 days before: |
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Choose attire, or assemble your costume |
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Obtain rented or borrowed equipment |
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Make a shopping list |
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3 days before: |
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Clean the house |
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Prepare make-ahead food |
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1 to 3 days before: |
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Set up the beverage area |
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Select music |
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Decorate |
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Create a final checklist |
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Day of event: |
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Go over checklist |
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Set the table |
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Have everything ready well before guests arrive |
The Final Countdown
20 minutes to go before the first guests arrives. Ready?
The food is almost ready to go and your first guest should
arrive in about 20 minutes. We're assuming you're dressed and that the house is
pretty much clean (if you've done all that and have 20 minutes on your hands,
well done! You're ahead of most!). Now, the real test! Have you:
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Figured out where coats will go (preferably an area or room
you don't mind guests walking into without you). |
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Cleaned the bathroom (including fresh towels and an ample
supply of toilet paper and soap). |
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Cleared the main passageways and traffic areas so that
people have enough room to mingle and/or move from one area to another. |
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Tidied up the kitchen. People always congregate in the
kitchen. If there's anything in there you don't want them to see, get rid of
it now! |
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Put on some pleasant music. |
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Freshened up the air. If cooking smells are a delight, let
them linger. But if there's a pet or food odor floating around, give a
spritz of the air freshener and open a window. |
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Thought of what you'll tell people to do when they come in.
The first few guests usually are at loose ends until more people arrive.
Give them some direction by putting them to work (if they offer to help) or
inviting them to talk with you in the kitchen or sitting room. |
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Provided something for kids to do. If kids are coming to
your event (and assuming they aren't the focus of the event), they and their
parents will love you for providing some amusement (a game, coloring books,
a room where they can watch a video). After all, other people's toys are
always more fun! |
Putting Guests at Ease
Guiding Principle: guests feel most comfortable when:
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Their basic needs for food, liquid and comfort are met; |
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They are secure in their surroundings (e.g., know where the
exits and resources are) and; |
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They feel integrated with (or at least unthreatened by) the
group. |
So given this, do the following:
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Welcome folks warmly, even if your head is spinning with
details and last-minute preparations. |
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Make sure you have enough food and that people can reach it. |
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Keep an eye on the room temperature. Be ready to open a
window or crank up the heat/AC. |
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You know the drill: when introducing folks, say each
person's name clearly and share a little fact about each one, such as
"Sam, Lucy has just returned from a trip to Borneo and shares your
interest in windsurfing," so they have something to talk about right
away. |
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Keep the bathroom clean and well stocked. |
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Before the event, scan the newspaper or scoot around the
Internet to gather conversation fodder. Unless the get-together is a
networking event, many people will enjoy discussing things other than the
usual "What do you do? How's work? How's the family?" etc. Teens,
especially, will appreciate NOT being drilled on their interests and school
experiences. Small children, on the other hand, will happily list their age,
favorite cartoon characters, friends' names, etc. |
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Don't force reticent guests to pose in pictures or do an
activity if they say "No" more than once. |
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Give a guest who is alone or looks lost something to do,
such as bringing out new platters of food, or pouring champagne for a toast.
Start a conversation. When the task is complete, help this person join a
group by saying "Max and I have just been discussing the new album by
B.B.King. Lucy, you're a fan, aren't you?" Once Max has been integrated
into the conversation, feel free to duck out with a quick "Excuse me,
I'll be right back." |
Have fun. If you're relaxed, your guests will be too!
Saving Sticky Situations
What to do when something goes wrong. Even the best-laid plans
may go awry. Your best defense for unexpected troubles: Knowledge! Read on, and
equip yourself with this good advice on how to handle the most common
event-throwing woes.
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Food turns out bad. |
This may mean the food doesn’t show up, or it showed up cold,
unsavory, etc., or the recipe you prepared turned out to be a dud. As tummies
will not stop rumbling on account of your apology, a quick solution is needed
here. Order out! Although it might not be the most exquisite of meals, it will
fill bellies, and quickly. And remember that a delectable dessert will salvage
any failed meal.
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Someone gets injured. |
It’s always wise to have a first aid kit around (and an ice
pack in the cooler or freezer) for any party or gathering. If one of your guests
gets injured, don’t panic. Do your best to attend to the guest, and administer
first aid for minor injuries. But recognize when a guest needs immediate medical
attention. Call an ambulance or get someone who hasn’t been drinking (always
have a few of these people around) to drive the injured guest to a hospital.
Have relevant telephone numbers (e.g., poison control, fire and ambulance, local
police) and directions to the nearest hospital prepared beforehand, and tack
them up somewhere where they're easy to find.
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Guests become rowdy. |
There’s a fine line between everyone having a good time and
everyone getting out of control. Try to defuse your guests' energy before they
reach the out-of-control stage. Staving off rowdiness:
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Getting your party back under control: |
| Turn down loud music. Change music to something more soothing. |
| If lights are low, turn them up. |
| Try to keep all of your guests in sight. Enlist a calm friend to help
corral guests into one room if they have wandered from the center of
activity. |
| If you're getting upset, turn off music and make an announcement or ask
people to leave. |
| If you're way in over your head, call the police! |
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Guests quarrel. |
This is a tough one! It requires you to confront your guests and
re-route their behavior. In each case, face them squarely, stand up straight,
look them in the eyes, and speak in low, friendly but firm tones. Have a trusted
friend at your side. Stay in control of your own emotions, and keep thinking
"friendly but firm." Don't get sucked into hearing sides or playing
judge, just work to get your party back on track!
| Diffuse and Distract: The first step is to try and diffuse tension with
a lighthearted, gentle remark that redirects their attention, such as,
"Come and join me in the living room and help me polish off the crab
dip." If you can separate the combatants and give them a new task
(e.g., ask one to help you in the kitchen; have a friend lead the other
into the living room), all the better! |
| Remind and Request: If guests don't take the hint and continue
antagonizing one another, make a request that reminds them of how their
behavior is affecting others (without belittling their conflict): "I
know this is important to you, but it's upsetting me and putting a damper on
things. Could you please stop?" |
| Evict/Enlist Help: The next step is to ask them to leave. "I'm
sorry, but I must ask you to leave." If you suspect that guests will
throw punches or act in some other violent manner, call the police
immediately. |
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Something breaks. |
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Once something breaks, it’s broken, and ranting and
raving will not fix it. If nothing can be done, forget about it, enjoy the
rest of the party, and leave your worrying for the morning. Try to
remember that guests do not plan for these things to happen, and they
would undo them if they could, and that they feel guilty. As a precaution,
lock away anything fragile or valuable in areas where guests will not be,
and get insurance for items of great value. Save discussions about
replacement or reimbursement (if appropriate) until the next day. |
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Something spills. |
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Have several types of stain lifter on hand: one for
carpets and furniture, and a couple for different types of stains on
clothing. |
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If the stain is on your property, try not to get upset.
Your guest didn’t mean to spill his or her drink. Clean up the worst of
it and leave the heavy scrubbing for later. There’s no reason to stop
having a good time when you can take care of it later. |
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If the stain is on someone's clothing, grab the
appropriate stain remover and apply. You may wish to offer guests a clean
robe or other garment they can change into if it's a big stain more easily
removed with the garment off. |
You should be prepared for everything now!
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