Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Determine your party plans
• Part 2 of 3: Getting the party ready
• Part 3 of 3: Making your party a success
• Tips
• Warnings

Sometimes you just have to throw a great party! There is nothing more fun than being a hostess or host and seeing all your friends together. But how do you do that? With adequate planning, the right food and music, and a good guest list and things to do, your party is sure to be a hit and maybe even a tradition!

To step

Part 1 of 3: Determine your party plans

1. Pick a spot. Where are you going to have the party? Will it be a big event or a small get-together? Can you keep it at home or with a friend? Did you have a location in mind, such as a specific restaurant, bowling alley, cinema or park? Make sure your location is suitable for the activities you may have planned.
   • If you plan to have quite a few guests and can't keep it at home, you may need to pre-book your venue to make sure they can have you. It is best to call at least a week in advance as this will give you the best chance that it will be okay. Put a date on your invitation for when they have to cancel and call your guests if they have not yet responded.
2. Set a date and time for your party. If it's a birthday party, most people try to have the party on the exact day. In other cases, every night on the weekend is generally best so that you and your guests don't have to go to school or work the next morning. Most parties are after dinner, but a brunch or afternoon party is also possible. Pajama parties are also great fun, but require a bit more planning and entertainment.
   • You also need to make sure you pick a date when most guests are free. Do you know of another party or event in the municipality, or a holiday where everyone is away? You may need to ask around beforehand if that's the case.
   • You may also need to determine in advance how long your party will last. That way, your guests know that when it's midnight, they don't have to go home yet but they won't be able to stay with you (or at the location that is about to close). It also helps people not to wonder when they will leave.
3. Determine a theme. Is it a special occasion? If so, consider what will appeal to the guest of honor. In other cases, you should try to come up with a theme that everyone is excited about or interested in. Here are some tips:
   • Do something that's accessible, especially if the party is already over the coming weekend. A party in black is easy; not a 40's party (unless you give everyone enough time to prepare).
   • Do something that has nothing to do with clothing. A sandwich party (where everyone brings a different sandwich) can be quite a hit. Don't forget the classic wine or beer tasting. Tasting chocolate is also a lot of fun.
   • Do something with a broader theme, such as a "golf" or "owls" party. You can then adjust your snacks accordingly.
   • Or have no theme at all. Sometimes it's just fun to get together as friends and enjoy each other's company.
4. Plan your guest list. This is partly determined by where you will be hosting the party - how many people can the venue accommodate? Also, who would you like to join and who would like it? Do you know someone who is not free? Make sure the venue is large enough to accommodate all of your guests.
   • Not everyone wants to dance and not everyone wants to listen to the music; some people like to talk and relax. If your party is one of a kind, keep this in mind with your guest list. However, if you can, try to take into account different interests and levels of social comfort when planning the space, and if appropriate, take into account different age groups as well.
   • Also decide if you want your friends to bring friends too. That can make a big difference in how many people you need to plan for and how many mouths you need to feed.
5. Set one budget on. If this is your party, you probably have to bear most of the costs. You may even need to decorate some, even if it's not kept at your home. How much do you want to spend? If it's not that much, you can ask a few friends to help pay. They want to party too, right?
   • A good way to pass on the costs is a "potluck". That way everyone contributes, it's part of the fun and you don't have to pay for all the food. You can also specifically ask certain people to bring drinks, ice, napkins or cutlery.
6. Spread the news. A party is not a party if your guests don't know to come. You can approach guests personally about the upcoming party or just call or text them. Aim to start telling them for the first time two weeks in advance so they don't make plans, and remind them one or two more before the party. The day before the party, it is a good idea to ask for confirmation whether or not they are coming.
   • You can also make or purchase invitations. Hand them out in a reasonable amount of time. If you plan on letting your guests bring friends, don't give the invitations too early, otherwise you could have a lot more guests at your party than you can handle. If you're okay with your friends bringing people, limit the number of people they can bring, or you might be overwhelmed by a flood of people you don't know.

Part 2 of 3: Getting the party ready

1. Prepare and set up your food. What food you choose can be an important element of your party. If you don't know what to get, ask around what your future guests would like. Safe choices include small snacks such as chips, vegetables, cookies and cupcakes, mini sandwiches, pretzels, popcorn, cheese and crackers, and fruit.
   • Don't forget the drinks, ice, cups, napkins, plates, forks and knives. You also need some kind of refrigeration (such as a large refrigerator) to keep the drinks cold.
   • If you are of age you must provide non-alcoholic drinks if you also offer alcoholic drinks; not everyone wants or is allowed to drink alcohol. Plus, you don't want a few drunk guys kicking a mess and there's no one out there who hasn't been drinking and can drive them home.
   • Always make sure that none of your guests has allergies or serious dietary restrictions; if they do, you must have food for them too.
2. Make a playlist for the party. What is a party without music? Choose music that you think best suits the mood of your party and your guests. It's a good idea to have iTunes open on your computer so you can download music or play videos that your guests recommend.
   • If you don't have a lot of music yourself, you can ask your guests to bring some. You can also turn on an internet radio station with the most popular music.
3. Set the mood and tone of the party with lights and decorations. If you want an energetic dance atmosphere you should have music, strobe lights, lasers, a fog machine and maybe some videos in sync with your music. If you want a classy wine tasting, leave the flashing lights and go and light some candles. It all depends on how you envision the party.
   • When it comes to decorations, you can know for yourself. Are you literally going to roll out the red carpet for your red carpet party? Old-fashioned with confetti? Do you want to be in the Christmas spirit? In general, your theme determines which decorations you use. None at all is okay too, if you don't like it.
4. If necessary, you clean your house. If the party is being held at your place, you have to choose an area where your guests can sit, chat and eat. Clean and tidy that up beforehand so that guests feel comfortable and won't touch your personal items (for example, reports from your kids, private photos, phones, toys, or other things that your kids, partner, or you would rather not have others use. see).
   • It's a good idea to have some cleaning supplies handy in case someone spills something on themselves or your furniture. Also make sure there is enough toilet paper. It may sound strange, but you don't want your only memory of the party to be an empty roll, and you really don't want someone you might not know to use your hand towels.
5. Get some games ready. This no longer means what it used to mean with donkey sting and nail shit (although you can if you throw a retro party). Nowadays it means video games, gossip games and some crazier stuff.
   • Rock Band is a good game to have in the background at a party. Available on multiple game systems, this game aims to allow band members to play using the guitar, microphone, and drum kit included with the game.
   • The Guitar Hero series is also a good one. This can be a game for one or two people depending on which expense you take. Like Rock Band, it uses its own guitar controllers to progress through the levels of the game.
   • Dance Dance Revolution completes this trio. It depends on which controllers you have for one or two players. Step on the music as indicated by the arrows on the screen. Even if only a few people participate, depending on which release you choose, it can provide great music.
6. Have plans to go through guest rules and safety. If the party is at your place, you might be able to let everyone know how it's going. Throw the coats in the bedroom and the basement is off limits, for example. If you feel nauseous, there is another toilet next to the first bedroom - don't throw up in the sink. Oh, and it takes a while for the toilet to flush.
   • If you are in a different location, you may need to remind everyone that they are acting responsibly. If they make too much noise and act too wildly, you could be kicked out or asked never to come back.
   • If you drink at your home, you have to decide how you want it to be. Are there also minors? Do you keep an eye on it yourself and take care of those who get too drunk? We will talk about this further in the next section.

Part 3 of 3: Making your party a success

1. Take pictures. Chances are you'll want to remember this party and brag about it on Facebook, Twitter, and whatever other social media platform you use, besides remembering it for years to come.So start taking pictures! Whether they are from a table full of macaroni (at a macaroni tasting, of course), from you and your dressed up friends, or your disco ball, everything is fine. Actually take pictures of everything.
   • If you're going all out, create a "photo booth" - a piece of the room all set up for taking pictures. Hang a piece of fabric as a background, decorate it any way you like, and set up a basket of things people can use for fun photos. It is also a good activity for bored guests.
2. Be super social. You probably have a lot of people at your party who don't know each other very well. In that case, you have to be the link and link them together. To make everyone feel comfortable (especially in the beginning) you need to flit from group to group, introduce everyone to each other and release the tension. When it starts to get really fun, you will see that people are making new friends thanks to you.
   • If this is a problem, consider playing a game that everyone is participating in. With Hints and also Do, Dare or Truth you always have success.
3. Clean in between. At a party it gets messy and fast too. In addition, it is often the case that people are not polite and clean in a party environment, especially if it is not their own home. Whether you're at home or in a public place, you might be the one who needs to keep the space a little tidy and clean. It doesn't have to be sparkling clean, but you certainly don't want to see mountains of rubbish growing on the tables.
   • Make sure that the waste and empty bottles and the like are in an open area. When it gets full, people are likely to pile it up until it becomes unmanageable, so work it out to keep it from being a mess all over the place later in the evening.
4. If your guests drink at your place, take their keys. The party is at your home and there is a donation? Then the guests are your responsibility. Take their keys at the start of the party, hide them in a bowl or something, and only return them when they are still sober at the end.
   • You can also designate someone as the key keeper so that you don't have all the responsibilities. If you know someone who doesn't drink on their own, you can ask them to do this for you - you should be paying attention to everything else already!
5. When your guests leave, give them a memento of the party. Whether it's leftover food, a cake or a present, it's nice for your guests to have something to take with them when they leave - and less mess for you to worry about. That way, everyone leaves with a piece of the party, feeling that they belonged and that it was fun.
   • Also, make sure to tag everyone in all your photos afterward. People will be reminded how much fun your party was and look forward to your next party. What will be the theme of the next party?

Tips

• Let people know about the party in advance! If people know about it a few weeks before the party, it gives them a chance to make sure they don't have anything else planned for that day.
• Make sure to talk to everyone and ask how they are doing so that everyone feels like they are getting enough attention. Nobody wants to sit alone all the time during the party.
• Always arrive at the party location 2.5 hours in advance to decorate, provide cake, drinks, food, music and the like.
• Always have an extra room in your house ready in case someone needs to stay overnight.
• If you have a smaller number of guests, consider an activity such as swimming, shopping, going to the cinema or bowling.
• Think of a theme. Try to choose something that suits the season and has an appealing name. Grab some decorations, conversation openings, or party presents that go with the theme. Invite people you like and / or know - inviting people to their status does nothing for the status or quality of your party.
• If there is a theme, put it on your invitations so that no one gets in the wrong costume or feels embarrassed.
• If the party is at your place and the music is going to be loud, warn your neighbors in advance and make sure there are no bells.
• Have at least one toilet available for the party guests. Make sure it is very clean and supplied with toilet paper, tissues, towels and soap. You don't want to run out in the middle of a party.
• If you invite dozens of people, you may not notice if one is uncomfortable in a corner. With a smaller party you can give everyone a little attention.
• As for the music, pick some new songs, your favorite songs, and some of the guests' favorites. That way everyone is happy.
• If someone is ashamed or alone, make them feel better, and maybe an idea, get some of your friends to have a spontaneous dance party and dance to the music, if you think they can that you act crazy every now and then.

Warnings

• Don't let guests invite friends without your permission.
• Let there be no drugs. You can be arrested and have problems with all parents.
• Avoid having people on your guest list who don't like other people.
• Don't invite someone who is negative; they can ruin your evening. Think about how your friends interact. Anyone being left out? Will they get annoyed at each other? Do your friends know each other? Are they social? Do they share common interests?
• If you are under 18, stay away from alcohol. You are punishable in public if you have alcohol with you. At home you can have problems with your own parents and those of your friends.