Now that a new year has begun, there are plenty of celebrations to look forward to. Whether you’re planning an upcoming baby shower, wedding, anniversary celebration, or retirement party, a lot needs to be considered before the official day arrives.
For some veteran planners, this is a breeze. But for many newcomers to arranging a big bash, party planning can feel like a chaotic and stressful mess, especially when common pitfalls occur on the day of.
Try out these simple and effective pro tips to help you plan your next event like a proper party planner and ensure the night goes on without a hitch.
Nightmare #1 – Unfit venue for your gathering
There’s nothing worse than hosting your shindig in a place that doesn’t suit your celebration. A location too big can make your gathering feel sparse and really kill the atmosphere, whereas a venue too small can be very loud and overwhelming and make your guests uncomfortable.
Consider important factors like how big your venue is, how many guests you’ll have, and whether or not children will be attending. Unless you have a very large home or an intimate guest list of just a few people, hosting most large parties at home may not be the best idea.
Have a rough idea of how many people, tables, and decorations you’ll want before you book a place. Look for special spots in local bars or pubs that have designated spaces for rent, like Badbobs Live Music Bar in Dublin, who offer a stunning rooftop terrace for private events.
Nightmare #2 – Overwhelming guest list
It’s understandable to be excited when planning your event, but sometimes, we go overboard with the amount of people we want to include. If you’ve got a large friend network or family, this can be especially difficult to control when having to choose between who can and cannot attend.
For elaborate or formal events like a wedding, this can really rack up the price tag and eat into your party budget, especially if you’re paying for food for each person.
Things can also quickly get out of hand with too many people in one space. You’ll have less time to mingle or cater to guests or ensure everyone is maintaining proper etiquette for the occasion.
Keep things under control by having more than one guest list in order of the importance of the guests you would like to include and choose a maximum realistic number. You can then send invitations in waves, and if guests from your first list can’t make it, you can invite more from your secondary list.
This keeps invitations prioritised and organised without attendance getting out of hand.
Nightmare #3 – Lack of a schedule
When your guests arrive, they expect you, as the host, to have an idea of when activities take place throughout the night. Even if your only entertainment is music and dancing, it’s important to take breaks, especially for food (a hungry guest is not a happy guest).
There is nothing worse than a confused group of guests bombarding a host with a slurry of questions about when events are happening throughout the night. Keep things running smoothly with a simple and timely itinerary for your entertainment.
Are you hosting a baby shower or bridal shower with games for everyone to participate in? Be sure to start and end on time as close as possible. Don’t push dinner too far back into the night without serving starters, lest you want a grumpy and not-so-festive group.
Be courteous to everyone’s time and get the music started early to get people relaxed and in the mood to enjoy themselves.
Other entertainment mishaps to avoid
Even with a nicely set schedule, hiccups can happen. It’s important not to make the night less fun than it could be by making some of these other small mistakes that quickly become a nuisance to party-goers:
- Music that is too loud so guests can’t hear one another.
- Lack of proper seating or tables, especially for games or moments when guests are viewing a performance.
- Not considering guests’ taste in music (get everyone to share a favourite song to avoid this!)
- Not setting a theme or dress code. If guests feel embarrassed because they are under or overdressed, they won’t be up for enjoying the fun.
Conclusion
By staying organised, having a clear plan, and keeping your event simple, you’re sure to host an awesome party. Always consider what you can feasibly provide for your guests and avoid these pitfalls to have a fun celebration for everyone involved.
For more party planning tips, check out our other blog posts here!
