Life is all about the moments. Studies upon studies have shown what many of us already intuitively know to be true: That experiences and memories are more valuable that material goods or money. That’s why, when we are given the chance to plan a party, we want it to be as fun and as memorable as possible. Whether it’s our child’s birthday party, spouse’s retirement party, or an anniversary bash, you should make your next party a great one.
That’s easier said than done, though. Planning parties can be stressful, and it’s easy to see why event planners are always so stressed out. For us non-professionals and mere mortals, planning a party can end up feeling like something that we just want to get over with. You don’t have to give in. Instead, lower your stress levels and enhance your party with these great party life hacks:
The simple secret of party planning
Ask any great party planner how to lower your stress levels and get a better party, and they’re likely to tell you pretty much the same exact thing: Plan early and start soon. The more time that you take to plan out your party, the more time that you’ll have to nail every detail and, crucially, overcome the unexpected obstacles that are sure to crop up along the way.
While you’re planning, stay organized. Keep information in one spot, and maintain a spreadsheet or checklist to make sure that you’re not doing conflicting things or repeating the same tasks multiple times. As Murphy’s Law states: whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Planning will take more time than you think it will, so get moving!
Location, location, location
Perhaps the most important decision about your party is also one of the most basic: Where is it? Your party’s location will change everything about the feel of the event and your priorities as you plan it.
Moving your party to a restaurant, bar, or resort can take a lot of pressure off of you. Experts who run one casino known as a “site for shore eyes” say vacationers and locals alike turn to their facilities for events. Just be sure to contact the establishment you’re thinking of if you are planning to bring a big group. On the other hand, you may decide that your party is best kept in your own home. That’s fine, too.
Rent it, don’t buy it
There are some things that it makes sense to buy. Your house, for instance: You’ll gain a valuable asset, stop having to pay rent, and so on. If you ski a lot, you should rent skis instead of buying them. You should buy (or lease) your car instead of renting from Hertz every time you go to work. Just use common-sense in as many cases as you can.
What about a dunk tank or photo booth? Unlike your house or your car, these are not valuable assets that you are likely to use every day. It’s pretty unlikely that you are going to use a dunk tank so often that, after the hundreth rental, you’ll be saying, “I wish I’d bought that!”
You can really improve your party with over-the-top games and goodies if you rent big-time party equipment that you’d never choose to buy. Particularly for kids’ parties, these additions can be massive hits say experts who offer photo booth rentals and other party-related rentals on New York’s Long Island.
What makes the perfect party? That’s hard to say, and everyone’s answer will be different. We do know, however, that if you plan early, stay organized, pick a great location, and add great and memorable party games or installations, you’ll be on the right track.
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