Now the warmer weather has finally graced us with its presence, after a long working week the first thought on many people’s mind is letting their hair down… BUT, if the very idea of a summer shindig leaves you wailing “where to start?” fear not – as luckily for you, at Please Organise Me we have many years of events experience from company launches, weddings, to small gatherings – we like nothing more than a good party, hooray!
So, with that in mind let us take you through our top tips for hosting your very own summer soiree.
Take your time
While there is nothing better than throwing an impromptu party, where able we always advise giving yourself a couple of weeks to plan ahead, after all, there’s nothing worse than feeling overwhelmed with your to do list.
The rule of thumb
When planning your guest list, always go by the 80-20 rule. Expect that around 80% of your guests will arrive so you’re totally safe to invite an extra 20% to make up for that eventuality.
Nowadays its more than acceptable to send your invite via social media in the form of a private event, but if you like a good old-fashioned invite – who are we to judge?
Food for thought
An excellent party needs some excellent grub to keep your guests feeling full and content. If you’re looking to cater yourself we suggest doing an online order, firing up the BBQ –head to your local butcher where you will find BBQ packs ready to go, or if you really want to push the boat out why not call in the caterers? If you’re London based check out the fantastic Ginger Jar Food, their menus are to die for and are sure to get the taste buds tingling –
Booze glorious booze!
Let’s face it, we all like a little tipple now and then… If you’re stocking up the bar yourself, we recommend three bottles of wine for every five guests.
Alternatively, the folk at Majestic wine offer an amazing party service including free delivery, free glass hire and sale and return on all wine and un-split cases of beer or cider – how’s that for stress free?
Accident free zone
Prior to any size party we recommend that you move your precious items out of harm’s way. Accidents do happen, and you want to make your area as party friendly as possible to minimize that risk. Have dedicated areas for food, drinks, etc meaning minimal disruption to your space.
Keeping the kids happy
For a family friendly event, it’s a nice idea to set up a separate area away from the grown up so that the kiddies can let their hair down. Lay out some nibbles, set up the music or maybe hire in some entertainment from Nutty's Parties.
Have fun!
The most important part in the whole party planning experience is that when the day comes you are relaxed and able to have fun. Don’t stress about the small things, go with the flow, take a deep breath, follow our advice – it’s gonna’ be awesome!
Download our handy checklist here
Finally, if you’re still at a loss and decide you’d like an extra pair of hands, drop us a line at Please Organise Me and one of our team members will be on hand to help you.