Do you ever get post-party blues? What should one do after hosting all these wonderful and creative parties? All the excitement is gone! The hard planning took forever, but the actual event flew right by and was over way too soon!
I propose that you create a party/event scrapbook to conserve all your previous party experiences. This is a great way to save all of your hard work and planning, and it enables you to share these party ideas with your friends as well.
While planning a party, make sure to save all of your party to-do lists, shopping lists, and the names of the places where you found all of your partyware, props, crafts & decorations. You might even want to journal about your party preparation and planning process as you go along. Save receipts, recipes, and websites.
Make sure to take pictures during the party and before the party begins! Capture the entire setup, all the decorations, and all the tables.
Insert all your journal entries, receipts, recipes, websites, tips you used, and pictures into your party scrapbook. Arrange all these items in order of time sequence.
Before you know it, you will have a book filled with all of the parties you have planned!
Create an RSVP card with a list of your and your guests’ ultimate favorite movies. Place a checkbox next to each movie, and invite them to vote by checking the box next the movie they would like to show at your party. The most voted upon movie will be the featured movie at your party.
Next, prepare a short movie clip/slideshow of old photos and home videos of you and your friends/guests to preview before the film begins!
DECORATIONS:
- Rent or borrow a projector so that you can display the movie across an entire wall just like a movie theater.
- Hang a Red velvet curtain from the ceiling above the wall upon which you will be displaying the movie. In order to do this, you can buy an adjustable friction curtain rod. Buy red velvet material and fold over the top edge of the curtain and sew it together, to create a pocket sleeve for the rod to go through; perhaps even get a golden rope to tie the curtain on one side.
- You can also use the velvet material to make a red carpet aisle runner in between the seats or buy one online
- Customize your own movie theater ‘Now Showing’ sign ( Sign 1 , Sign 2, or Sign 3)
- Hang up old vintage movie theater signs and life size cardboard cutouts of classic movie characters. You can find lots of these vintage type of decorations on ebay or on these sites:
Before you start brainstorming about your next event, you have to figure out the the perfect location for your fabulous party. You will need to figure out a few details:
• Budget: Your budget will help decide the location and other details of planning your party.
• Guest List: The amount of guests will determine the size of the space you require.
• Party Theme: If you are making a theme for your party, it is best to find a venue that will accommodate the look you seek.
Personalized Party Locations
When planning a party, keep in mind that you don’t have to stick with the space restrictions and rules that apply to formal venues like weddings. Pick sites that you have seen and loved. Try a park, old movie theater, wineries, your local club house, restaurants, a family member’s home, or the beach, to name just a few.
Unique Party Themes
As I described in one of my earlier posts, try a red party, or whatever color you love. Try a masquerade party, a Hawaiian theme, or a costume party. There are so many themes you can enjoy!
Stick with your budget. If your venue is a little pricey, try doing dome DIY projects to cut costs. That will help you afford your favorite venue.
When I was planning my wedding, I saw this beautiful cake. I knew it was the one I wanted – it would look beautiful after it got blinged out! I did a tasting and obtained a few quotes – the asking price was $600.00. Goodness, that’s a whole lot of money! Time for plan B. So I went to the local grocery store and gave them a picture of my inspiration. I ordered a cake from the grocery store for 80 people, even though we had 100 guests. This cut the price down by almost $300.00! I went to Costco, and bought a sheet cake for $20.00 to feed the rest of our guests. The local grocery store cake was just as tasty and my guests had no clue. For your next event, consult with your local grocery store baker; you would be surprised at how much you can save.
Whenever I am making an event, I love to plan ahead. I love to get my self organized so I can figure out all the details when it comes to the decor and yummy food.
Here’s a time line I like to follow:
2 weeks
Figure out the guest list and confirm
Decide on the type of menu
Decide on the decor and colors
Make a to-do list and a shopping list
1 week
Finalize to-do list and shopping list
Try a mock up (set up your table and see if it looks as you imagined it)
Few Days Before
Compete food shopping
Day before
Set up table and decor
Prep your foods
Few hours before dinner
Check table setting
Prepare finger foods
45 mins to 30 mins
Reheat appetizers
Light any candles
Serve drinks and appetizers as guest arrive
Reheat main meal
This easy time line helps me every time; it keeps me on task and allows me to enjoy my guests. I hope it can help you as well.
Go Genae, it’s your birthday!! Okay, so I just had my B day party. It was Fabulous!
The theme was a strict dress code: all-black. Of course, me being the diva that I am, I had to stand out, so I chose to wear RED. As for the decor, I wanted a club-feel. So I used black linen, and a variety of red centerpieces I made. I kept thinking to myself: I need a WOW factor… Then it hit me… up lights in red!! I used disposable china, so it looked beautiful, with a quick clean-up. The party looked just how I had imagined it, only better. For your next party, make it a theme: all-black, white, red, yellow; whatever your favorite color may be.
Cut the wire hanger into three or four long or short pieces, as determined by the size of your lamp
Take your push light and glue-gun it up inside the lamp. Glue your hanger pieces inside the lamp I found that using the cardboard of the hanger also helps keep the lamp steady on the vase. (Not bad for my first try!)
Inside the lamp:
Put your led light at the bottom of the vase with your pearl beads.
Fill the vase up with water and add flowers of your choice, or just add dye to your water.
Put on your lamp-shade and you have your plug-less lamp-shade!
Over the past several years, nuptials have undergone a revolutionary change. In a departure from the standards, rules and customs, weddings are now shifting toward the modern, daring and trendsetting.
Many people no longer want their big day to be bound by classic marital traditions . It’s THEIR day, after all, isn’t it? And why would the ceremony, which is supposed to represent a couple’s unique and special love for one another, follow the exact same protocol as the rites of every other couple? Shouldn’t each marriage celebration reflect the creativity and characteristics of the ones whose love we are celebrating?
On the other hand, there are some who disagree with this new approach. Their argument would be that a wedding isn’t just some expensive, fun party that you get to throw. They would suggest that there is something sacred about this special day: It’s the union of two souls. Tradition strengthens the meaning of the wedding day and its significance; you are connecting with your ancestry and sharing the same rituals that have been in effect for many millennia.
Which wedding do you prefer? Do you think there is something wrong with creating something drastically different than the standard conventional wedding? Or should weddings, in this new, modern, open-minded era, be liberated like just about everything else? I’d love to hear your opinions, and what kind of wedding you had – or are planning to have!
It’s time again for the new ‘Get Me Through the Brown Slush’ party!
This week, the party theme that is going to brighten up the winter gloom is the…
UNDER THE SEA PARTY!
Check It Out:
WHAT: Under The Sea
The goal of this party is to create a tropical summer haven, into which we can escape for a day. Now we can experience a little taste of what awaits us at the other end of this brown, slushy winter road!
The party should have as many bright and cheery colors as possible. This will help create a very warm and positive atmosphere.
- Buy an assortment of colorful flowers. Place them in clear vases and bowls. Lush, long stemmed flowers and tall vases will appear more tropical than your everyday fare.
- Sprinkle the bottom of the clear flower vases or plant bowls with water crystals or sand art.
- Fill with water.
- Add some inexpensive live fish to your centerpieces. You now have mini aquarium centerpieces for your tables!
- If the party is being held in a basement or room that has pillars, try to find fake plant vines. (If you have access to real vines, that’s even better!) Wrap them around the pillar.
- Download live footage of an aquarium and display it on the largest flat screen you own. (If you own a projector or can borrow one, you can have the aquarium video displayed across an entire wall of the party room!) If you plan to have dancing at the party, you can dim the lights. The colored lighting from the TV or projector will give off a cool aquarium-feel dance floor.
- Oyster and Lobster Fritters
- A Salad Bar will simulate a green, leafy ocean-plant environment. Choose salads that contain a variety of lettuce, and brightly colored fruits & veggies with tangy and sweet dressings.
DESSERT:
- Put out parfait bowls with a mix of sorbets: lemon, mango, pineapple, orange. Stick a key lime cookie in each scoop.
- Serve platters of fresh cut up pineapples, coconuts, mangoes, bananas, berries, figs, star apples, papayas, passion fruit.
- Try Smarty’s ice shooters for nice ice cold shots and a bright funky look!
- You can also set up assorted fountains, containing a spiked punch or pink lemonade! The fountains can also serve as a decorative prop for your water theme. You can even use a chocolate fountain and have fondue with assorted fruits!
Tip:
- If you are going for something a bit classier, then serve the appetizers with various wines.
I just had to share this next project! Once again, I used water pearls from Smarty, but this time I chose red. I decided I wanted to make a lamp centerpiece without a plug. I know, right? How neat! This is just a sneak peak; stayed tuned for my next post, and I will leave you with step-by-step instructions on how to make this awesome piece.
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