Party Preparation
[ 11 August 2007 ]
I’ve been running around all day, buying & making things in preparation for my party tonight. It’s my first one in Melbourne, in celebration of my Cosmopolitan column! Of course, we’re going to drink cosmopolitans, so I am now the proud owner of a silver shaker, as well as one of those weird measuring things.
Other purchases:
Fresh flowers (purple tulips & hot pink gerberas)
I baked a huge batch of cupcakes this morning (chocolate with purple rose-flavoured icing)
12 martini glasses (I think mine all got smashed when we moved country)
Party food (little pies, sausage rolls etc.!)
Candles
Some nice fabric as a makeshift tablecloth
I’m really looking forward to putting on my party frock (even though I don’t know what I’m going to wear), watching the sun go down & bringing the iCiNG Bowl alive with fairy lights, candles & music.
What are your best party preparation tips? (Other than a stiff drink half an hour beforehand?!)
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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You can’t really have too much food (any leftovers will make for a fun breakfast the next day!). I like to have a good balance of purchased & homemade goodies. If you live in a culture where people will bring food to parties, never turn an offer down!
[Today I’ve been busting my butt making 18 necklaces by tying Pascall Fruit Burst lollies together with gift ribbon. They’re for my 5-yr-olds’ Knights&Dragons party tomorrow. We’re toasting marshmallows on a fire and staging an elaborate Grail-quest treasure hunt involving popping balloons to get the clues, and needing a password to enter the treasure chamber . . . ]
oh i’m having a party soon too!! yay i love parties!!
my best tip? just be your own fabulous self!! how can THAT go wrong??
Do we get party pics once you’re done? ;)
lol never knock that stiff drink per-party. its bloody vital!
other than that i recommend being v. choosy about your music. (if there is music… c’mon there has to be music!) You want to keep everyone happy but you also don’t want to comepletely sell -out your own taste in music.
another thing that is pretty much vital at any good parties i’ve been to (or had. Shhh don’t tell mum!)is making sure everyone has a proper way home. Have that organised in advance if possible or even on call. God knows theres always one who gets too tipsy and spolis the party.
Tomorrow my entire family (this is over 30 people.) and various family friends are all coming over for a ‘Fun Day’. It’s the day before my cousin (and close friends) mehndi (the pre-wedding celebration party for gals, which is traditional in south asian culture). So tomorrow everyone is wearing their brightest and best Shalwar Kameez (traditional indian dress which is totally glam and comes in literally every conceviable colour combination under the rainbow). To prep we are making sure the giant barbecue is working by testing it out, making sure all the pink and orange balloons, confetti, and tablecloths are here and ready to set out…and of course going out and ensuring we have every possible matching piece of jewelry set out with our clothing. I’m wearing a BRIGHT orange and brown number with handmade beadwork around the neck and hem, and rocking some pretty fly giant orange rings and necklaces!
I had a delicious martini the other day that was called Fuzzy Peach (the restaurant’s drink menu was called Adult Candy!) It was made with peach schnapps, peach vodka, and orange juice. You can also add ground ice to make it into a frozen cocktail. You should try it, it’s really yummy!
I was just starting to plan a party in my head for sometime next week when I read this!!! Me and my friends are getting our A-level results next week (eeek!) so I’m planning a little get together, hopefully in celebration of our results!!! Enjoy your party!! I’m sure it will be amazing!
My party tips are:
I’m big on variety – maybe to the point of party planning madness!
I think these are essential tips:
Good quality booze. I don’t drink a lot, but I like everyone to be able to make what they want. My signature drink is a Kir Royale – champagne/prosecco with Cassis. Pretty pink and bubbly
Calm music, a place to put coats and bags, not too bright lighting. I also hate paper plates and plastic glasses so I use disposable bamboo plates and invested in about 50 inexpensive (less than $2US) wine glasses.
Savory – cucmber rounds with Boursin cheese piped on was a big hit, as was hummus. Plus, they are easy to throw out at the last minute since I always run out of time. I think anything is good as long as you can eat it in a bite and use one hand.
Sweet – The easiest dessert that folks freak about is a chocolate pavlova. I use Nigella Lawson’s recipe and put it out with a bowl of homemade whipped creme and raspberries. Also really really easy with a great result.
Try to stay out of the kitchen!
Luv
Poochie
http://shoedaydreams.blogspot.com/
I am a total sinatra fan.
if its a pretty quiet fun party i totally suggest:
Sinatra
Elvis
Nat King Cole
and some crazy techno/trance.
basically stuff people can drown out if they want to or can listen to while talking to other people.
As for a party outfit,
-MAKE SURE YOU DONT MIND GETTING IT DIRTY.
this is allways ALLWAYS difficult
but you being the hostess, are bound to have to pick up people’s carelessness.
-Not too skimpy
it will give the wrong impression to your guests and it would suck.
I wish you all the best and have a lovely lovely time m’dear!! =D
One thing I’m just starting to plan is having parties with a theme. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but when we have people over, it is so spur-of-the-moment, there is not time to plan. I did manage to have a shot party once where I opened my liquor cabinet, found some mixers/flavors, and opened my book of shot recipes. It was fun for all of us to look for shots in the book, then go through my cabinet to see if we could make them. Some were great, some were horrible, but we laughed all night.
My first “themed” party will be “Una Tostada a La Habana” (A Toast to Havana). My brother will make Cuban sandwiches smothered in criollo and I’ll have traditional and citrus mojitos. There are a few other treats I’ll try to have around.
I’m not sure how I’m decorating as of yet (I still have research to do), but the final touch is everyone has to dress up (as elaborately as they wish) to represent the positive spirit of Cuba. My husband, who HATES dressing up, will be Ernest Hemingway who lived in Cuba for 20 years.
Definetly have some chocolate at hand while decorating, it gives you an enegry boost.
Have some of my friends come over before the party so that we can dress up and have a little pre-party for ourselves.
And the last one, make sure there are at least 4 vodka bottles at hand n_n (my parties are always full of vodka :P).
I’ve always wanted to throw a party ! I wish I had some help for you.
Hi! I’ve never posted before, but I’ve been reading for awhile and I really love your blog! Good luck with your party!
I’ve been lurking about, reading your blog for a little while, and I’m very glad you posted this as I’m having a little 18th birthday party next week, so it’s good to read everyone’s tips and ideas. Hope yours goes well!
Make sure you have good music to get ready to, so that you get in the mood!
I couldn’t find your Cosmo in the international section at the station :( Not even last month’s copy! But I did see a magazine called “GALA” in that section…
Retro lollies always go down a treat, I usually fill a bowl full of whiz fizz, redskins, milk duds – you get the drift. Usually when people discover them they get big smiles on their faces because they remember being kids again. But another bonus is that if no-one eats them, the bowl is yours, all yours, for your next video night.
My friend Anthony has always thrown the silliest parties.
They’re always held in the basement of his house and for past parties he’s had an Alice in Wonderland theme and a coal mining theme.
They’re not taken seriously at all. In fact, it’s done in a delightful satirical way. The theme only extends to him drawing little signs and pictures and taping them in various places. For example, the coal mining theme included little signs pointing you to the basement. And on the bathroom door was a little drawn sign that said “Lil’ Miner’s Room” and right on the toilet it said “Drop your nuggets here!”
He’s a wonderful boy, really.
Nadine — The Knights&Dragons party sounds fantastic! Your boy is very lucky to have a mother like you :>
the Grey — I didn’t take a SINGLE picture. Not even of my outfit! Pffttt! Though I can tell you that I was wearing a turquoise cardigan & a long black skirt, with my hair teased up & a dark pink flower in it. & I had crystals next to my eye!
Zainab — Wow, awesome! I hope you have a magnificent time, that sounds like so much fun.
Poochie — I don’t drink a lot either, but I agree that people need to have choices. Last night was pretty good in that my boyfriend was in charge of drinks (he was making cosmopolitans like his life depended on it!) but we had other options too. Great tips though! & your cucumber rounds with Boursin cheese sound AMAZING.
Bexxx — Thank you sweetie!
tee tee — Your Cuban party will be incredible! Your husband is very good to dress up ;>
Erinshea — Hello, & thank you!
Vicki — Oh, good luck for your 18th! I wrote a book on throwing a party if you need any extra help — it’s available in the shop link at the top of the page ;>
Eternity — Ooh, Gala magazine eh? Sounds exciting!
JakJak — In keeping with that, I’ve got a few cupcakes left over from yesterday which are about to become my breakfast/lunch/dinner for the next little while… !
sarah frost — Haha, that is so funny :D
Your party sounds delightful—I’m jealous!
Tips? Well, nothing screams “fab hostess” better than high heels…but you’ve probably thought of that already. I also like putting out little dishes of funny childhood candies that make people squeal & reminisce (jelly beans, gummy animals, nonpareils, dum-dum lollipops…). [Oops, I see JakJak beat me to this tip!] Congrats on the Cosmo column & hope everything goes smashingly!
And how on earth do you make purple rose-flavored icing?? Recipe pls pls!
I’m having my 18th birthday party today! I obsess every year over a theme and it usually turns out wonderfully. This year is dead celebrities. I had such a difficult time picking out my costume but I finally settled on Judy Garland. Last year my theme was the 1940’s and we had pinup girls and swing dancing.
In short, themed parties make the best parties.
Rachy Rach — Oh, it’s really easy! 125 grams of butter (or margarine in my case, I like to make my cupcakes as animal-free as possible), about 11 cups of icing sugar (aieeee), 2 tablespoons of vanilla soy milk & about 3 drops of rosewater essence. Beat it to death, then pipe it on ;D Really the thing to make sure of is that there is enough icing sugar, if there isn’t the icing is too liquid & doesn’t set properly.
niki — Happy birthday! Have an amazing party! I hope you get lots of kisses.
ELEVEN cups? Or are you joking?