By Kacey Bradley
If you're throwing a party, why not make it one your guests will never forget? Sure, you've got the food, music and games for the evening all planned out, but it's the little details that really make or break any event. Here are eight things you should be sure to include at your next shindig.
1. Give It a Theme
A fun theme adds an extra layer of excitement to any party. In addition to bringing everyone together and giving them something to celebrate, the right one will make your event much more enjoyable and unique. Some ideas for interesting themes include decades, movies, music, colors or food. You could also take it a step further and give guests a goal, such as a murder mystery party, roast battle or scavenger hunt.
2. Provide Elevated Surfaces for Dancing
Did someone say dancing? Encourage your friends and families to really put their moves on display by providing plenty of elevated surfaces for them to get down on. The more tabletops, tall chairs and makeshift stages, the better! Crank up the music and challenge the two best dancers in your group to get the party started.
3. Serve a Signature Drink
Nothing brings people together like alcohol — especially a signature drink of the night. If your event has a theme, get creative by serving up a signature drink and naming it something that aligns with the celebration. You could even take it a step further by making a guessing game out of the ingredients, and then award a prize to the first person to guess the recipe correctly.
4. Use Lighting to Create an Ambiance
Lighting that's too bright or too dark is a surefire way of making a party just a little bit weird. If you have lots of table or floor lamps in your home or event space, use white light shades to create a warm glow in the room. This type of lampshade will prevent your lighting from being too overbearing and make your guests feel more comfortable and relaxed instead.
If your event is partially or completely outdoors, LED string lights are an excellent lighting option to set the mood when the sun goes down.
5. Consider the Flow of Your Furniture
Sometimes, your home or apartment may not already be set up in an ideal party layout. You'll need plenty of open spaces for traffic flow and mingling, as well as plenty of places for people to sit and converse. Don't be afraid to rearrange your furniture so the layout better suits a large group — at least in the main area where people will be hanging out.
6. Add Some Humor
If the people you invited to your party have a good sense of humor — which, if they're your friends, hopefully they do — infuse a little bit of comedy into your evening. Scatter funny signs, decorations and more throughout the house for them to slowly discover as the night goes on. The bathroom is one place where the jokes pretty much write themselves.
7. Throw in an Element of Surprise
Do you have a surprise guest who could show up to catch everyone off guard? What about a special food that everyone will love? Surprising your guests will make them remember your party and truly live in the moment while they're there. Another surprise element could be a game or activity for people to participate in, or perhaps even a competition of some sort.
8. Give Out Party Favors
Who said goodie bags are just for kids? Nothing makes guests remember your awesome party like a bunch of presents to go home with. Fill some bags with party favors like snacks, candy, booze, small games or whatever else you think your friends might enjoy. It doesn't have to be anything huge or expensive, but just a small gesture to thank your guests and encourage them to come to any future parties you might have.
Get Creative to Make Your Party Memorable
You know the people on your invite list better than anyone, so think about the kind of party details that would make their night. Will they appreciate it if you surprise them with a fun activity to do, or would they prefer more seating than usual for conversation? Consider adding in the eight details on this list to make your next party even better than the last.
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!
Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!