Thread: Tips on hosting a great party

Tweet

I know a lot of you have held parties for a lot of years. What would you say is the secret to hosting a great party? Any tips would be really appreciated by those of us who are newer to hosting :-)

Here you go!

Share your Halloween Party tips and tricks!

Make your party more personal, if its not at your home, take things from your home. welcome each guest as they enter weather or not you know them.

Plan--everything way ahead of time, food, drinks, games, seating, your costume, decorations, prizes, where people will put coats, where they will use the restroom--Everything!

Invite a good mix of people and tell them they can bring a friend

Make sure your decorations are sturdy and won't be in the way or hazardous in anyway. Decorate at the very least several days ahead of time so you can work out any kinks--our party is in the basement so I start decorating a month ahead of time.

Low lighting is best--it let's people feel a little more free to let loose and have a good time. Low lighting, but still enough light that people don't trip on things. I use a lot of string lighting--you can get sockets that screw into your overhead light fixtures or lamps so you can plug strings of lights into them, hang the lights from the ceiling or dangle them over lampshades, walls, etc.

Food--I like to stay simple with this because it is one way I can cut down on the work of a party--plus I am not really that much into cooking. Honestly I don't think most people go to a Halloween party for the food. I order trays of sandwiches, veggies, etc. from a local grocery story. It is fairly inexpensive and probably less then I would spend if I bought all the items to prepare food. I usually also do a cheese tray, and maybe a crockpot of something like pulled BBQ chicken or meatballs etc. I just do tons of Halloween candy spread around for a sweet treat instead of dessert--and people scarf it down like crazy!

Games are good--people seem to like to interact, but again I like to keep it simple so people don't have to figure out a lot of complicated rules--they just want to have fun and socialize. Tempt your fate or giving people so many gold coins and telling them to get as many coins as they can by a certain time--with no rules on how to get them have been the biggest hits at my parties and people don't seem to mind repeating them yearly as long as you change them up a bit.

I don't ask people to bring anything with the exception of if there is something special they like to drink. I tell them we will have beer, wine, and one kind of special drink. I figure that I am asking them to dress up and having to bring something like food gets too complicated.

I always have music that goes along with my theme--it plays in the background so people can socialize without screaming. Later in the evening their is a dance area set up where the music is louder. It is off in it's own little space so other people can still talk if they don't want to dance.

I try to give prizes that people can actually use--movie tickets, wine, glasses, lottery tickets, that kind of thing--one year walkie-talkies. Look for things you can use as prizes all year long--those items you see for 80% off that you already have but you hate to pass up because it such a deal--those kind of things make great prizes!

I always have great attendance, people start asking in June when the next Halloween party is. I pretty much go all out on the decorating--but more to set a mood of a place then having super elaborate electronic kind of props that so many talented people here do. My basement is unfinished and most people have no idea that it is not finished because I cover the walls, ceiling etc. in fabric, lights, scene setters, etc. I take garage sale finds and turn them into whatever to help set the mood. I think you need to play to your strengths when you have any kind of a party--so get really fancy with what you do best and keep the rest simple--you want to be able to enjoy your party too!

I had my first party last year and it was a great success! I think the best thing we did was kept the entire group of about 25 entertained together by playing a game that made people interact throughout the party. We did 2 or 3 games and everyone participated. We played Test your Fate and The Reaper game throughout the night and it was good because it keeps people interacting all night and it's spontaneous. The other thing was to have booze but don't focus the whole part around it. If everyone is slobbering drunk, bad things happen and even if the party is great...nobody will remember it in the morning. You certainly don't want people associating your party with .... OMG I was sooooo sick....or Did I REALLY do that! LOL!
I hope you have a fantastic party!
PS: Minshe is sooo right, plan, plan, plan!!!!

Some of our parties have gone better than others!
We had several family & friend bereavements over the last few years & this caused us some concern - however we adjusted the theme & went ahead!
We like to start early & always use the nearest Saturday night to Oct 31st - we have found 630pm - 11pm is good - although it misses out the witching hour most of our frinds are 50+ & a reltivly ealy start - early finish is appealing
We supply food & drink but always state on the invite to "bring what you expect to drink"!
The thing is folk drink quite a lot when they are hiding behind a mask & having fun, when you have 30 guest that is a lot of whine!!
Halloween partys can b e expensive, decorations, food & drink can really add up but the last thing you want is to under cater

We always have plenty of food, but for my Boo Bash this year, I am planning to have a food competition for the best spook presentation. I will let everyone know and it is optional. I hope it helps cut down some on me---at least in future years. We do an alcohol and non alcohol punch type drink and have plenty of sweet tea also. Everyone knows to bring their own Boos. Most drink beer so that is not a problem. We just ice it down. I have a pretty nice built in wet bar that we open, but it usually doesnt get hit too hard. Many of the women like Margaritas, so they bring the ingredients. I have plenty of things to fill in if necessary.

Plan, plan, plan

Planning is definitely a must! And always have good seating! I hate going to a party and having nowhere to sit/eat! I also get frustrated when the party is said to have food, and you get there and there are a few chips and cupcakes! I made chicken/tuna salad sandwiches, chips/guacamole, crackers, cupcakes, parfaits, and much more... all items that you can put on a plate and arent too messy to eat! I also had all of the items labeled so the guests know what is there to be had. You will find a picture of these in my album. We kept people outside to keep our carpet from being trashed! We also make sure and visit with all the guests and introduce the ones who dont already know each other! TOILET PAPER! I HATE going to a party and there is no paper on the roll and you have NO idea where to find more!!! That is all I can think of right now...

Yup planning...sending good invitations out. I try to put as much info as I can on them .. I only do a couple of games because mostly everybody wants to mingle. I also do Karaoke and that has been a big hit for yrs. Plenty of party foods. And remember mingle yourself. Decor is a big deal too, lots of people tell me they can't wait to see what new stuff ill have every yr..so I try to change stuff up, add a few new things every yr sometimes I take things out of the loop then add it again the next yr and I display things different ways so its not always the same. Don't forget to decorate the bathroom , my guests get a kick outta that. Put things out as early as possible ...there r some things u can't do until the day before or even the day of but get everything out as early as u can. Don't forget to take pics..I always forget myself.. I hope this helps .

Hope this helps : 13 Steps to throwing a wicKED Halloween Party