If the thought of hosting your own party this festive season
simply makes you want to shriek "Humbug" and head for the hills,
then some advice from a local hotel's expert events planner may
just be what the doctor ordered.
The Clumber Park Hotel and Spa, situated in Nottinghamshire,
know all too well the pressure of throwing the perfect party having
hosted numerous weddings, corporate gatherings and black-tie
evenings, and want to take the sting out of your shin-dig by
sharing their advice.
"Parties are meant to be fun but more often than not, they're
far from amusing for the person who has to organise it," explains
Sarah Lamb, the hotel's Wedding & Events Co-ordinator.
"The idea is obviously for the guests to have a good time but
with that comes immense pressure for the host to deliver an amazing
event," she continues. "Then, before you know it, the person
throwing the party is a nervous wreck and what should have been an
enjoyable experience, turns into seasonal stress-fest!"
Sarah's keen to emphasise that this can be avoided by simply
following a few straightforward tips. So try the following and
watch your Noel nightmare turn into party perfection!
1) Fail to prepare and prepare to fail!
When it comes to throwing a party you need to plan, plan and
plan some more! The more you can organise before the actual event,
the less you'll have to sort on the night. The less you have to
sort, the more you can enjoy yourself - and a happy host means
happy guests.
2) Count the pennies!
Your budget will dictate whether you'll be throwing a soiree to
Rival Kate and Will's nuptials or the kind of buffet that would be
at home in the Rover's Return. Decide on your budget and above all,
stick to it! Good budgeting leads to good planning and good
planning means a great party. It's worth having an emergency
reserve too as unexpected costs usually always crop up.
3) It's My Party…
One of the biggest perks of throwing your own party is that you
get to call the shots and decide what you want and what you don't
want. Be realistic though about what can be achieved with the time
and resources you have available. Don't get carried away!
4) Guest List
A party can be planned to perfection but if the guest list isn't
right, then neither is the party. Firstly decide whether you want
it to be a large or small gathering? Formal or informal? Then, once
you've got an idea of numbers, start pulling the list together.
It's always worth getting a close friend or family member to check
it after you've done it as more often than not, you'll have
forgotten to include someone!
5) Location
Where you'd like to host your party isn't just important in
terms of how it looks but also where it's located. Think about
where your guests will be travelling from? Are there parking
facilities? Is their public transport nearby? There's no point in
hosting the perfect party if no one can get there!
6) Venue
Always double check that the venue can not only accommodate the
amount of guests you'll be inviting but also whether they have
overnight facilities. Everyone likes to have a tipple or two during
the festive season so a venue that provides accommodation, will
reduce the number of designated drivers so more people can let
their hair down!
7) Theme
It's not compulsory to have a theme but Christmas and New Year
is the perfect time to do something that little bit different. A
Murder Mystery night is always entertaining and engaging for
guests whilst a 1920's or James Bond theme allows the ladies to get
dressed up and the gentlemen to become suited and booted. If you
want to play it safe though, a Winter Wonderland theme always works
well and never fails to get people in the festive spirit.
8) Deck the halls!
Christmas is the perfect time to flex your artistic muscle so
don't be frightened to experiment with colours and materials you'd
usually shy away from. Tinsel and paper chains are popular again so
why not try creating a retro backdrop? Or if you like to stay bang
on trend, according to Pantone® (the world's authority on
colour) tickle everyone pink with the colour of 2011- Honeysuckle
18-2120.
9) Let there be light!
Don't be left in the dark this festive season - use lights to
add those sparkling finishing touches to your party. Try draping
curtain and net lights in windows and doorways or trimming outdoor
areas with battery operated ones.
10) Eat, drink & be merry!
Make sure the style of food and drink that you're serving ties
in with the type of party you're hoping to throw. Buffets, mulled
wine and Egg Nog work well for informal gatherings whilst
canapés, a sit down meal and bubbly are better suited to a
more formal evening.
11) Relax & enjoy!
Remember to smile and enjoy yourself! It is the season of good
cheer, after all! (this isn't really a tip but it's just as
important!)