1. Determine your budget and get organized with a party planning check list. These two items will be the most important element to keeping you on track and looking like a pro.
2. Choose a color scheme and or theme. Whether your throwing a cocktail party, holiday party or kids birthday party the colors and theme set the tone of the party, like the colors of the Sip and See/Housewarming party.
3. Food selection and preparation. Determine if you will be hiring a caterer or making the food yourself. The menu selection will be determined by the type of party your throwing i.e. brunch, wine party, dinner party and the date i.e. time of year. Scallops are a perfect appetizer to serve for spring and summer parties. See Surprise 50th Birthday Party for details.
Who doesn’t love Pinterest? However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the delicious and beautiful recipes. Plan on making a few items well and buying the rest. Food bars are a hot trend, so why not take the work off your plate and set up a bake potato bar or taco bar for your guests.
4. Use fun and special occasion serving pieces. There’s no better time to use all those 3 tier food platters, china, or fun serving dishes you received as wedding gifts! Varying the height and size of your food display is one of the tricks the pros use to make the food table look beautiful, like in the photo below from a Summer Cocktail Party. Don’t have a punch bowl, cupcake stand or enough place settings? Ask a friend if you could borrow it for your party or rent them for your local party rental company.
5. Décor and flower arrangements. Once you’ve decided on your color scheme and or theme, it should be woven into your party through the invitations, table linens, food, serving dishes, flower arrangements and decorations.
Pictured above are some of our favorite flower arrangements from Tying the Knot Bridal Shower, Easter Celebrations, Valentine’s Day Sneak Peek, and Summer Wine Tasting! Flowers don’t have to be expensive or look like you just bought them at your local grocery store. Shop farmers markets or Trader Joe’s. Arrange flowers in various heights and colors, use fruit as your vase, and use festive elements like candy.
Don’t have tons of money for flower arrangements or decorations? Use fruit in glass containers and home décor items such as candles and lanterns to set the mood.
6. Signature Drink. No matter what party your hosting, make it stand out with a specialty drink like the Moscow Mule pictured above from the Queen City Gala: Black Tie For Charity.
7. Entertainment. Don’t have a budget for a DJ or band, then make a party mix on your IPod or download your favorite party mix on your.
8. Be a guest at your own party. As a host of any party or event your busy greeting guests and making sure things run smoothly. However, make sure you take the time to enjoy it all. If you don’t have the time to get all the party planning tasks complete or don’t want to the extra stress, hire a party or an event planner and be a guest at your own party!
Credits
Style and design – Sarah Sofia Productions
Photography – Sarah Sofia Productions
Floral Arrangements – Sarah Sofia Productions
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Welcome to The First Wordless Wednesday of February!!! I dont know where the time goes, it was just Christmas!!! So now I would like to introduce you to the Ladies of February and your hosts for the month where your Links will be seen on 18 Blogs, Yes thats right!!! Wow we have been growing and spreading the word!!! The more the merrier!!!
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Host is Karren from “Oh My Heartsie Girl”
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These are some awesome tips! I totally need to use them!
Thanks Britney!
Wonderful tricks and tips! I am planning my wedding right now, so I need all the help I can get. 😉 Thanks for this fun, and useful article!
Bethany, thank you! Congratulations on your engagement! Enjoy this time, it flies by!
These are some really good tips! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
The roses in the watermelon are absolutely beautiful! You have such an eye for beauty!
Kim, you’re too kind, thank you!
What great ideas!! I love throwing parties and already do some of these but you definitely game me some new things to try out!
You got it handle, but glad that you stopped by!
Brilliant tips! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you!
Thanks for the wonderful tips! I will definitely be pinning for later! 😉
Thank you!
i’m planning my son’s 2nd birthday and although it’s going to be very casual, all of these tips still apply and were so helpful. thanks for the help when i needed it the most lol.
Jennifer, thank you! Oh, so fun! My youngest daughter is turning 2, such a fun age! I love planning kids parties. I agree, casual parties don’t have to be boring or stressful to plan. 🙂
I think the signature drink is KEY to any event. I always go to things hoping they have something special so that I don’t have to make up some drink on the spot when I figure out what mixers they have. Absolute best idea!
Christine, thank you! Great minds think a like. 🙂
Hi Sarah, thank you for being a part of the Oh My Heartsie Girls WW!!!
I love the features you have added to your post!!! I wish I could have parties, your ideas look so fun, I bet you enjoy being creative!!!
Liked and Tweeted!!
Have a great week, Karren
Awesome tips…I used many of them while planning my husband’s 40th birthday party that we didn’t have because I was sick and he really didn’t want the party to begin with and I was having it because it was all about me…I mean…it was MY husbands birthday…right?!?! 😉
I’m looking forward to the weather warming up so I can and execute some outdoor parties. I want to be able to incorporate the natural setting as my backdrop and elements from my garden in my party styling.
More fabulous tips Sarah! Glad to be hosting WW again with you this month!
xx
Lysa
The choosing a color theme tip is so smart!! Absolutely love it 🙂
http://www.skinnybelle.com/
These are definitely some awesome, simple steps that can be easy to overlook in the excitement of planning events! It is now pinned to my Party board! Thank you =)
Love the idea of using fruit in a vase instead of flowers. I do that sometimes around the holidays because my cats try to eat flowers!
this is awesome, you give me such inspiration!