Throw a 50’s Party

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The ’50s were a time when America was finally recovering from the war, rock ‘n’ roll was emerging, Hollywood ruled, and screaming teenage girls were swooning over Elvis. Are there better reasons to throw a party? Ladies, break out your A-Line skirts, and guys, slick back your hair. It’s time for a 1950s Party!

Decorations and Costumes

Vintage diners can provide inspiration for a great backdrop for your ’50s party. Think black and white checkered floors, and bold, retro fonts on your invitations and signs. Pink, aqua, and black are also traditional “diner” colours but feel free to be creative!

Charity shops are a great place to find old records that can be re-purposed for all kinds of things. Create cupcake stands or mould them into serving bowls for crisps. You can also stick them on the wall for quick and easy decor! Look for old Coca Cola crates to use for serving drinks, or antique tin ad signs to use in your decoration.

You could also go more Hollywood glam, and decorate with silver, crystal beads, ostrich feathers, and red carpet. Fill martini glasses with crystals, or tall vases with white ostrich feathers for easy centrepieces. Leave feather boas or beaded necklaces on the tables for guests to try on. Old Marilyn Monroe movies are perfect for inspiration, or just surf the web for images from that era.

Wondering what to wear? Think Grease. For ladies, the ’50s look was longer skirts with collared blouses or T-shirts, a coordinating scarf tied around the neck or ponytail, and ankle socks with sandal shoes. High ponytails with tight curls are a classic girly hairstyle. For guys who want a tough look, pair a leather jacket with tight jeans and a plain white T-shirt. Don’t forget the greased pompadour! For a more conservative look, tuck a short-sleeved collared shirt into slacks and add a bow tie. Part your hair to the side and you’re set.

Old Hollywood costumes are all about the sparkle. Beads, sequins, glitter, and form-fitting dresses were “in” as women started embracing their curves. Throw on a feathered boa or sheer shawl to top it off. For guys, tuxedos are perfect. If not, a tailored suit will also work!

Food and Drink

Serve the classics! Hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes are great for a retro menu. Toss some glass bottles in ice, and don’t forget the red and white striped straws! Fill old sweets jars with classic candy like gumballs or liquorice, and set up a ginger beer float station to complete the vintage vibe. Or just add a 50’s twist to classic desserts like cupcakes, cakes, or cookies.

Entertainment

Keep your guests talking about your party entertainment long after it’s over with a little 1950’s Entertainment. Celebrity Impersonators like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley will add excitement to the party, try a Big Band or hire a Tribute Band to get your guests up and dancing!

Hire a Photo Booth and provide some ’50s-themed props (cat-eye glasses, paper soda jerk hats, bow ties, scarves, boas, sunglasses, etc.), or set up your own. You could also provide photo ops with larger cut-outs, like convertibles, Hollywood premiers, or vintage signs.

Games like the limbo, hula-hooping contests, and hopscotch were all popular back then, so set up a space to hold some friendly competitions.

How to organise a college party

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A few years have passed since your glory days in college, but the memories make it feel like it was only yesterday! Take yourself back in time by planning a college reunion where you and your colleagues can relive those wild nights and great friendships. Getting a class together and pulling off a reunion party is no small feat, so we’ve put together a few guidelines to help get you through it. These tips (combined with your enthusiasm) will make planning the college reunion of the decade easy. Let’s start planning!

Getting Started

Before you can truly begin, you’ll need to form a group to help with all the planning. Find around 10-15 enthusiastic colleagues and start meeting at least 4-6 months in advance. Appoint one leader to oversee the planning. With your team, start locating the contact information of your class so you can go ahead and send out invitations as soon as possible. Your school should have a list with all this information and most people are on social media sites that provide contact information as well (think Facebook or LinkedIn). Send everyone a paper invitation to get the initial word out and create a Facebook page or website for your event where you can post reminders, updates, and information for your invited guests. Take this opportunity to start getting your guests excited about the reunion!

Theme & Venue

What’s a party without a theme? Since your reunion is going to be a party to remember, come up with a few theme ideas for your group to discuss. From the classic black-tie dinner, to a less formal, more festive theme such as an 80’s party, consider your guests and have fun with it! Once you’ve chosen a theme, it’s time to find the perfect venue! If possible, hosting the reunion at your college or university is ideal. But, if not, start searching for a venue big enough to accommodate everyone on your guest list. Remember to consider your theme and potential decorations as you hunt for that perfect venue. You’ll also want to take into account the seating situation to assess whether or not you may need to rent tables and chairs. Securing the venue makes planning decor that much easier, so you can begin creating your ideal atmosphere. Follow your general theme and have fun with it! Contact your classmates and request photos and keepsakes from the ‘good ole days’ to hang around the rooms or to create a nostalgia table!

Entertainment

You know the songs that just seem to recapture moments from your college experience? Have a DJ or Tribute band bring you right back to those days with the perfect party music to set the tone and liven up the party.

Keep the party going and conversation flowing with collages of old photos and videos. Everyone’s got those slightly embarrassing pictures of good friends they’d love to share. Stick with fun-inducing entertainment, give out prizes for games, or even have awards! Capture the new memories by booking a Photographer or even a photo booth!

Refreshments

From great decor and music to seeing old friends, your classmates will be having a ball! Add to the fun by providing party refreshments for your guests. If your reunion will be a more formal event, you may want to have a sit-down dinner, but for more casual atmospheres, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will do just fine! Call local restaurants (maybe an old college favourite?) and have one cater.

Tying Up Loose Ends

Now that you’ve got most of the big stuff secured, don’t forget the last few details! Be sure to find a potential hotel to suggest for traveling guests and send out this information as soon as possible to allow everyone time to book a room. For those hard-to-reach, make a point to call around 3 months before the reunion to help get every classmate you can to the event. Lastly, remember to contact all special invitees such as teachers and headmasters/mistresses! The more the merrier! With all these tips under your belt, we’re confident you’re ready to plan the best possible college reunion your classmates could have imagined!

Have a 70’s night

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Some might argue that the ’70s were the decade for parties, and we just might agree. So break out your bell-bottoms and your best John Travolta wigs and throw the party of the century. We’ll show you the way!

Decorations and Party Favours

The ’70s were definitely a colourful decade, so feel free to have fun with your decorations. Bright colours like orange, yellow, lime green, and purple are a must! For a retro look, geometric shapes are a winner. Try concentric circles and squares, and patterns that have warped shapes and waves. Also include big, colourful daisies, peace signs, Volkswagen vans, and hearts. It’s all about the love.

For some retro party favours, try letting guests tie-dye their own T-shirts, or give away thick moustaches to add some fun. Think Burt Reynolds! Hit the lights and pass out glow necklaces and glow sticks to get the party started.

Want more “glam” than gaudy? Break out the silver and gold. Decorate with traditional silver disco balls on the ceiling and gold tablecloths. Create metallic backdrops with fabric from a local craft store, hang beaded curtains in the doorways, and feel free to go crazy with the glitter. Fill martini glasses with silver beads, or tall glass vases with mini disco balls. Pass out disco ball key chains, disco ball necklaces, or glitter sunglasses as flashy favours.

Food and Drink

Fondue is a must at your ’70s party. It was all the rage back then, and who doesn’t love to dip things in melted cheese or chocolate? Make cake balls and dust them in edible glitter to keep things sparkly. Colourful cupcakes with swirled icing will match your retro decor, and martini bars will make everyone feel like they just stepped into Studio 54. Finger foods like vegetables with dip, small sandwiches, or meatballs are always great to have, too. They never go out of style!

Costumes

This is the fun part! Charity shops are a great place to find some great throwback clothes. Guys, look for loud V-neck collared shirts, bell bottoms, vests, and platform shoes. Girls, find some tall heeled boots, short dresses with long sleeves, and wrap dresses. The main thing is bright colours and patterns, and polyester always screams “retro.” Afro wigs, headbands, and bright eye makeup can complete the look. For the glam look, stick with draped metallic shirts or dresses for women, and V-neck metallic patterned shirts for men. For guys in a bind, a simple black dress shirt will do. Throw on a gold chain, show some chest hair, and you’re in business. Black winged eyeliner and nude lips are a must for the glam girl.

Entertainment

If you really want to take your ’70s party to the next level, live entertainment is a great option. Try hiring a Karaoke DJ to help you belt out some Aretha, or just have a Mobile DJ on hand to keep the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack on repeat. If you have the space, a Funk, Soul, or Disco Band can add some soul to your event. Adding an Elvis or Elton John Impersonator could throw some unexpected fun into the mix, too!

Another great way to get your guests interacting is to set up a Photo Booth. You can hire one that can print pictures onsite, or set up your own camera and share later. Use colourful wrapping paper or hang some bright streamers for a cheap and easy backdrop!

In short, if you’re looking for a funky way to celebrate a special occasion, try a ’70s party. It’s easy, fun, and bound to leave you with some great memories from the biggest party era of our time!

Great ideas for the oldies

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Someone special in your life is about to turn 80 years old or even 90. It’s a milestone! They’ve lived a long life and you’re ready to celebrate. Here are a few party ideas to make your loved one’s birthday special.

Know the difference between surprising and startling.

Many older people like quiet, calm surroundings. It’s very sweet to throw them a surprise party, but you don’t want to alarm them. Instead of leaping out from behind furniture and shouting “SURPRISE!” just assemble the guests in a room with balloons and party hats. The surprise will speak for itself.

Select your guest list carefully.

You know your loved one best. Would they prefer a small, intimate gathering of close family and friends, or a big surprise party with extended family? Make sure the guest list works well with the environment they favour.

Opt for daytime over the evening.

Chances are, at the age of 80/90, they’re early to bed, early to rise. You don’t want to plan a party for them in the evening hours when they may be tired or not up for it. Instead, opt for a midday party or luncheon. That way, they’ll have plenty of energy to keep up with their guests!

Get sentimental.

One of the most important things you can give someone for their 80th/90th birthday is your appreciation for the memories shared. Collect photos from other family members and friends to create a slideshow. Pair it with a beautiful song and you’ve got yourself an unforgettable birthday gift. Just don’t forget the tissues!

Take photos.

This is a big moment in your loved one’s life and you’ll want to look back on it someday. This is a great opportunity to get a photo of multiple generations if you have extended family present. Ask your Photographer for advice on staging your photos and make sure to get some candid shots as well!

Celebrate with a custom cake.

This is a special birthday! Ask your Cake Decorator to create a cake that celebrates the occasion and ties in the birthday gal or guy’s interests. You could get a cake inspired by one of the activities they love like crossword puzzles, gardening, knitting, painting, or card games.

Serve their favourite foods.

You probably know them pretty well by now. Whip up some of their favourite dishes or hire a Caterer to do the cooking for you. Nothing says “special birthday” like a buffet in your honour!

Entertainment is a nice touch for some.

For many, entertainment is a great way to celebrate a birthday. Some older folks don’t always have the energy to go out to a concert, but you can bring the show to them as an alternative! If they love music, search for an act you think they’d like. Opera, Jazz, Barbershop Quartets, and Singing Telegrams are all great options! On the other hand, if your loved one has a great sense of humour, you may want to hire a Comedian to entertain your family instead. You could even fill them in on some of your family secrets for a special roast – all in good fun, of course!

At the end of the day, you just want to make sure that the birthday boy/girl is feeling loved and appreciated. They’ve made it this far with the help of wonderful family and friends like you. Now go give them the birthday party of a lifetime!

Unforgettable Stag Weekends

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Your best mate is getting married and you’re on the prowl for ideas to make his Stag party unforgettable. As hard to believe as it may be, not every man’s dream Stag party involves a stripper jumping out of a cake. For the men looking for something different for their parties, here are five unique suggestions.

Explore.

If there’s a place within driving distance that your friend has always wanted to go to, now’s the time to do it! Get your best friends together and explore. Go on a hiking expedition and climb that mountain he’s been talking about, or go white water rafting, rock climbing, or kayaking. Have some fun in the great outdoors

Viva Las Vegas

If Vegas is too far for you to travel, bring the excitement of the casino to you by hosting your very own Casino Party Blackjack, Roulette, Slots, and other games will get the competition started. Don’t forget to hire a cocktail waiter to whip up delicious drinks and Las Vegas Style Entertainers for the live show!

Go for a beach holiday weekend

Spend the weekend at the beach with your best friends! Take advantage of the waves by surfing or playing water sports. Have your very own party on the beach, complete with a pig roast!

Night Out On the Town!

Treat your friend to a night out on the town with his best mates. Grab dinner at that new restaurant he’s been dying to try, go to a wine tasting, and then finish the night off with a burlesque show! If there aren’t any burlesque clubs near you, you can hire Burlesque Dancers for a private party.

No matter what you decide, make sure that your last hoorah before the wedding is memorable and leaves the groom feeling lucky to have such great friends at his side!

A murder mystery party

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Was it Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick? Or was it your best friend in the kitchen with a lamp? There’s only one way to find out… Have a Murder Mystery Dinner Party!

If you and your friends like acting, dressing up in costumes, mysteries, and/or the classic board game Clue, a murder mystery party is the event for you! Even if these activities aren’t real hobbies of your friends, you’d be surprised at how much fun you can have at a murder mystery party. Here are a few helpful hints at turning your dinner party into a who-dun-it murder mystery…

Only invite your fun friends.

We all have that friend who gets a little moody when they aren’t choosing the group activity. We love them anyway, but if you don’t think they’ll play along and have fun, maybe don’t invite them this time. For this kind of party, you’ll want to your guests to be as involved as possible and excited to play along.

Decide on scripted vs. unscripted.

If your friends are quick on their feet and ready to improvise, a script might not be necessary. However, for some, roleplaying doesn’t come as naturally and you may want a script to fall back on. Either way, send out your invitations ideally 4-6 weeks in advance, complete with their new identity. If your party is scripted, this will give them plenty of time to learn their part. For unscripted events, it’s the perfect amount of time to develop their characters and get their costumes ready! Regardless of whether or not you opt for a script, each of your guests should have a complete background of their character so that they can play the part successfully to match your clues. No talking about your new found identity. It’s a secret!

Say yes..

The golden rule of improvisation is to never say no. To keep the plot and the conversation moving, you’ll want to always respond willingly to a situation and contribute to the conversation. Your role as the host is very important. You’ll be the only one who knows who everyone else is, and therefore, it is through your mixing, mingling, and question-asking that they will get to know each other.

Dinner is served.

When it comes to dinner, you’ll need to decide if you’d like a fancy, sit-down dinner or a buffet. For many hosts, a buffet is preferred, as it allows them to focus their attention on the guests. Whichever way you decide, we strongly suggest hiring a Caterer, Bartender, and a Waiter to help your event run smoothly. They’ll keep the food and drinks coming while you search for the killer!

Offer a prize.

In real-life murder mysteries, you may see that a reward of £25K is being issued. You probably don’t have £25k to hand out, but it adds to the fun to incentivize winning. Whoever cracks the case gets a trophy or another special prize! This will keep the competition lively. Alternatively, you can offer multiple prizes for not only the winner, but the best costume or the best performance.

Bring in the pros.

If you aren’t feeling confident with your ability to create and assign characters, write a script, or successfully place the clues, get some help. A lot of details go into pulling off a murder mystery party, but luckily, there are companies who will handle these details for you. Plus, they’ll come to your party and interact with the guests to move the story in the right direction.

Most importantly, just have fun. Murder mystery parties are unforgettable and your guests will have a great time dressing up and mingling with the other characters at your party. So, just enjoy it… and watch your back!

Retirement fun

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A retirement party must be special. After all, the guest of honour worked their whole life for this achievement, so take every measure to ensure that this is the party of a lifetime! Here are some tips to celebrate the retiree’s life and work.

Guest List

This is the foundation of the party, so take your time. Start compiling it months ahead of time. Thoroughly sift through every potential guest – this isn’t a party any friend of the retiree wants to miss! Also, go back through the guest of honour’s life, find those special friends who left the company years earlier or old college buddies who haven’t seen the retiree in decades–in other words, cast as wide a net as possible, since this party is the culmination of a person’s career. Let them look back on their life and all the people who’ve helped them, taught them and assisted them through years of work. It’ll mean the world to them.

Venue

You’ll want this to be big. Your guest list, of course, will determine the size required, but make sure to secure a venue that can potentially hold more than you’ve planned. For a party this important, people will show up. They’ll also accept the invitation last-minute and plus-ones will become plus-fours. So get a big place, because you’ll also want to leave space for…

Entertainment

Also a must. Consider the retiree. Would they want a DJ or a Cover Band? Or maybe they’ll want something more specific, like an Oldies Band, maybe hire a Tribute Band, or a Rock Band or maybe music isn’t the best entertainment for them. What about a Comedian? Or a variety show filled with various performers? Whatever remains true to the spirit of the retiree, that’s the talent you should hire.

Decor

Keep it simple. If the guest of honour’s calls for something more elaborate (from exceptionally elegant to tremendously silly), then by all means do that. But for a party of such significance, the focus should remain on the retiree. Rent some Tables & Chairs, maybe hire someone for general Party Decorations and let the people and the occasion take centre stage.

There you have it. Keep things simple, make sure you invite as many people from the life of the retiree as possible, and put all of the focus on the guest of honour. Now, all the retiree’s got to do is figure what they’re going to do with the rest of their life!!

Plan a party for your little princess

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A Frozen Birthday Party is what most little girls want at the moment and were are here to help with inspiration on how to decorate your home or venue to make it that extra bit special.

Costumed characters are always a big hit with children’s parties; these characters call also entertain the children whilst you get on organising the food.

Make sure you have table cloths that look ‘Frozen’ for example you could have silver foil laid out with blue plates and don’t forget to have plenty of ice in jugs for decoration to really make it look authentic, or if your budget allows why not hire an Ice Sculpture for your centrepiece.

If you know of any singers in the family or friends, then they could sing a few ‘Frozen songs’ but if you don’t then why not hire a solo singer preferably one that can be Elsa or Ana for a few hours.

It’s all about the ‘wow’ factor when your little girl walks into the venue you’ve booked, she and her friends want to be transported into the world of ‘Frozen’.

Fairy lights can transform any dull church hall into something magical if it’s done in the right way. Battery powered tea lights are also very effective and safer!!

Tissue paper pompoms, honeycomb balls and paper rosettes also offer a great cost-effective solution to decorating any space. They pack the wow factor without much effort or cost.

Why not hire or make a Sledge where a photo opportunity would be great keepsake for all your guests.

For DIY party decor, a few tissue paper pompoms can help bring life to any table or theme.

When it comes to budget-friendly favours, we believe a party activity where guests create something to take home is ideal! It’s not only practical, but it’s also a lot less work for the hostess. And the kids will love something they actually made as opposed to something shop-bought. A jewellery- or snow globe-making station would be a great way to incorporate the theme into your activities.

​Another cool idea is to use white Christmas lights you may already have at home to create the “Frozen” atmosphere. And don’t forget the cute goodie bags or packaging to match your theme!”

Hosting a Private Party

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Hosting a private party can be a lot of pressure. A lot of love and careful planning goes into making an event a success, so it’s important to start early to get the best of the best. Here are some tips to help you put on the party of the year.

Set Your Budget

Your budget will help you determine many things, from what venue you choose and how many guests to invite, to what kind of party entertainment and services to hire. It’s best to determine your budget as early as possible and adhere to it with every step.

Set The Date & Secure a Venue

One of the first (and most important) details that you need to figure out is when to host your party. Typically, it’s best to select a date that falls on the weekend, as many people don’t work on the weekend. However, you know your guests best! Choose a date that will work for the majority of them. Depending on the size and formality of your event, you will want to select a date and have booked a venue anywhere from 6 weeks to 1 year ahead of time. It’s important to secure your venue early so that you can begin planning your event and send out detailed invitations.

Book Entertainment & Services

Depending on the occasion and/or theme of your party, this will vary quite a bit. Peruse other Party Ideas for more specific examples. However, you have plenty of entertainment to choose from – from Rock Bands, Jazz Bands, and String Quartets to Aerialists, Clowns and Stilt Walkers. Once you know your party’s theme, it will be easier to determine what kind of entertainment would best suit your event.

If you plan on having food and drinks at your party, you may want to consider hiring a Caterer, Cake Decorator, party Waiters or Bartenders to enhance the quality of your event and take some of the pressure off!

Invite Your Guests

Again, depending on your event, the timing for invitations will vary. But, generally speaking, it’s best to send invitations out 4-6 weeks in advance. For informal events, an e-mail invitation or group event on Facebook may be a sufficient way to get the word out. However, for more formal events, or just to add a nice touch, send customized invitations that fit your theme or occasion.

Decorate

It’s best to plan out your decorating scheme ahead of time and buy all non-perishable decorations in advance. Wait until the day before or morning of to purchase any fresh flowers or helium balloons so that they’re still standing strong at your party. Ask a Party Decorator to help you plan your party decor with colours that complement your event’s theme. For outdoor events, you might consider renting Marquees, Tables & Chairs, or Portable Dance Floors to add to the atmosphere.

Make Memories

Your party is a hit, so of course it will be memorable. Hire a Photographer to make the rounds at your party and take photos of the guests as they celebrate. Later, when you’re sending out thank you cards, you can include a few of your favourite shots of each guest! Alternatively, you could set up a Photo Booth so that your guests can pose as silly or serious as they’d like and take home the photo strips as party favours.

How to do a Prom in style!!

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Lights, camera, prom! It’s the night you’ve been waiting for. From finding the perfect dress or suit to stressing about who’s going with whom, you’ve got enough on your plate without planning the big night itself. But never fear! We’ve come up with a few tips to make planning the perfect prom as easy as class with a substitute teacher!

Form a Committee

First things first, you’ve got to put together a Prom-Planning Committee of around 10-15 people who are reliable and enthusiastic about your event. Appoint one leader to oversee the planning process and delegate roles to the rest of your team. This way, the great plans your committee forms will actually get put into action! Get your class Head Girl/Boy involved and be sure to include the appropriate faculty member(s) in your decision-making.

Early Decisions

One of the first decisions your committee should make is choosing a date for your event. Check your calendars and try to find a day that doesn’t conflict with other school events and also works for the majority of your guests.

Once you’ve set the date, it’s time to secure a venue. Depending on your budget, an outside venue may not be an option. If you’re looking for a change of scenery from your school, start the search for a perfect venue by first finding locations that are able to accommodate the size of your guest list. Next, check to see which ones are in your price range and are free to be booked on the day of your event. Remember to find somewhere with a dance floor or somewhere with a space for you to add one you’ve rented. Visit a few to see if they’ve got the atmosphere you’re shooting for and if they’d be easy to decorate.

Pick a Theme

Now for the fun stuff! A big part of planning a prom is choosing a theme around which you can build the rest of your event. From the more traditional black tie formal, to festive atmospheres like Casino Night or a masked Ball, the options are endless. Have fun with it! Worried about pleasing the masses? Poll your students with 2-4 themes to choose from and find out which one gets people most excited!

Entertainment

While your party decorations may be some of the best in the biz, chances are your guests will need a little more to get their party started. Prom is all about the dancing, so prepare to use a large chunk of your budget on booking a great band or DJ.

Consider hiring a photographer to capture the memories everyone will be making at the fantastic event you’ve put together. Another fun addition to take your prom to the next level is having a photo booth! Not only does it set the mood for fun, it also gives your guests a party favour to take home and remind them of their amazing night (all thanks to you)!

Food & Drink

With your music booked, your guests will be ready to dance the night away! Set them up for success by providing refreshments to keep them fuelled for a night to remember. If your budget allows, hire a Caterer to provide delicious food your students won’t forget. For a less costly option, ask parent volunteers to provide snack options.

All that great food combined with those killer dance moves will leave your guests thirsty so don’t forget the drinks! Booking a Bartender to whip up.

Get the Word Out!

This is going to be the best prom your school has ever seen, so let the tickets and invitations show it! Coordinate them with your theme and make sure they have all of the important info like time and location. The more excitement the better, so start advertising your event early on with posters, emails, or even t-shirts!

With these party-planning tips and tricks we’re confident you’re ready to pull off the best prom ever!