How to Plan a Stress-free Party

It doesn’t matter the size or theme, planning a party can be stressful. Are all the decorations right? Was anything forgotten? Has the food been ordered? These are just a few of the many questions to consider. The following are some helpful tips to make planning the next party easy and stress-free.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Planning a party of any size is a simple matter of organization. From the beginning when you first get the idea to have one, to picking the date, finding the venue, picking what type of party and who to invite, keeping a careful list of what needs to be done can eliminate all the stress inherent in being in charge. Start by sitting down with a piece of paper and pencil (or computer) and start your list. Everything should be on it, from invitations, to music, from flowers to food, anything you can think of should be listed. Get input from your friends and family. The more information you have on your initial list, the better off you will be. After decisions start being made, you can cross off those items that don’t apply. Make sure you identify your budget as well.

2. 
   Invitations are a great touch for any party. Be sure to include an RSVP!

   Understand that about 30% of the people you invite will actually attend. If more than that RSVP their attendance, you can usually count on at least some of them not appearing on the day. Plan your venue, food order, etc accordingly. Most caterers will provide about 5% more food than the count they are given. If the numbers are firm, its possible to save some money by slightly decreasing your food order.

3. 
   Covered pavillions are rental at local parks

   Choosing a venue can be one of the most difficult parts of planning a party for it will greatly influence all your decisions. If leaning towards a hotel, consider whether you will need any overnight rooms for your guests. If yes – make sure you include that information when you contact the hotels for availability. Always check more than one so you have a choice as to prices and location. Once you decide, find out what else is provided. All hotels provide the food, so you can discuss menu with the banquet manager, but most will also provide basic decorations free of charge. Negotiate to include table linen, etc into your costs. Planning a party in a park or other location has its own points, both good and bad. While less expensive price wise for the space, you’ll have to provide any decorations and your own caterer. Outdoor locations might be available with covered pavilions however, if not, remember to check availability and cost for a large tent.

4. When planning food there’s a great rule of thumb to use. Always plan one beef, one fish, one chicken and one vegetarian dish. This will cover any person attending, no matter their dietary needs. Buffet’s tend to work best, allowing guests to choose what they want to eat. If a sit down dinner is preferable, be sure to include meal choices on the RSVP, then color coordinate the meal choices and the place cards or nametags. For instance, a gold dot alerts the server to serve chicken; red equals beef, etc

5. Entertainment can be another tricky item to plan. Again, depending on the occasion, there are many different possibilities. An evening indoor event could utilize a DJ or Music group for dancing, while a daytime picnic could make use of a clown, magician or someone who can organize games for any young people. Be a wise shopper, chose an entertainer or company that provides all your needs so that with one call, everything is taken care of.

6. 
   Simple and elegant, a glass bowl, water, flowers and a candle on a mirror tile.

   Decorations are one of the easiest things to decide, but can prove to be time consuming. Finding a company that can provide for all your decorating needs is your best choice. If the caterer or hotel does not provide dining table decorations, be sure to include something simple in your plans. If you choose to handle the decorations yourself, plan something simple, that won’t take a great deal of your time to create. It’s amazing how incredible a centerpiece made from a glass fish bowl filled with water and some floating candles or flowers over a mirror tile can look. Simple can be elegant.

7. The week before the party, take some time and move step by step through your list, confirming with any company or people you have hired all information. This will greatly ease your mind regarding the arrangements you have made. The day before the party, again, call your contacts, and ask if they have any questions, concerns or comments. This will prove to them that you are on top of everything and that you are well aware of all elements that need to come together. Once you have accomplished this – you should be able to relax and enjoy the event. There may be, of course, one or two small items that pop up during the course of your party, but they should be relatively minor and easily handled by a quick decision.