With the festive period around the corner, we are focusing on how to prepare for a fun party where your guests will be high-spirits and brimming with enthusiasm.
HALT
As a rule, HALT should be at the forefront of your mind when preparing to keep your guests enthralled and engaged at your party. This acronym is key. Don’t let your guests get too:
- Hungry
- Alone (lonely)
- Tired/bored
If your guests are kept fed, there is plenty of communication and nobody is being left out, and there is enough entertainment to stop your guests feeling bored or drowsy, you are on to a winner.
Make a Decision About Alcohol
Being clear about the alcohol situation is important. Make sure you clearly outline in your invitations whether guests are expected to bring their own booze, you will provide the booze, or whether you are going to have a sober party.
If you want to have a sober party, make it clear to your guests that alcohol and drugs will not be welcome but invite them to bring their favorite non-alcoholic drink. You can even get creative and make it into a tasting contest. For something similar to the real thing, there are also plenty of alcohol free wine options to enjoy.
Focus on the Food
The letter H of our HALT acronym is: Hungry. Your guests should be well-fed, therefore, one of the keys to keeping everyone happy is to serve some creative and delicious food at your get together. You can provide an assortment of snack foods, or one big meal, but make sure there is enough for everyone.
If you don’t have the time to make something or aren’t comfortable cooking for a large group, make the event a potluck and have everyone bring a dish to the party. Not only is this a great way to try loads of new food, it saves you the stress of cooking.
Be Selective with Your Invite List
One of your core objectives is to stop anybody feeling alone or left out of the fun. Therefore, you should give your guest list some thought. If it is in an intimate setting with only a few people, give some thought to who might get along and invite those with similar interests.
Similarly, if you are having a sober party, think about who might really enjoy a happy vibe without booze and who might not thrive in that environment.
Set the Mood
If you want an uplifting, happy vibe, you need to create a happy mood. There are many ways to do this, and most will depend on what type of party you are hosting. However, soft, fuzzy throws can induce peace and tranquility. Soul, funk and disco music will help guests relax.
Lighting can also play a major part in setting the mood. Soft lights will help people relax. If you are holding the event outside and the moon is in its largest cycle, moonlight is also an effective way to throw a soft glow over your get-together. x
