How To Make A Party Rock (top tips)

Sarah B
Jun 21, 2016
3 min read

When I started House of Bainbridge, just over 6 months ago, I had no clear idea which direction it was going to take, I just knew I wanted to do something that was creative and that I enjoyed. I put on a dozen different hats and set to work on a business plan, a brand and delivering an event management and catering service all at once. Not recommended and all still work in progress! I've learnt loads and I now have a defining rule when I plan a party, 'make each guest feel special, create a 'wow' reaction, make it look effortless'. I have a checklist that I run through with each client, it's working so I thought I'd share.....

1. Don't leave guests hanging at the door

It sounds obvious but...If you've invited more than 30 guests to your home its unlikely you're going to be able to answer the door, welcome them properly, receive any gifts graciously, take their coats and show them to the drinks without becoming a little harassed (especially as they all arrive at once). We often hire someone specifically to welcome guests, run a cloakroom & set up a gift table.

2. Make it easy for them to navigate your event

Transform your home into a venue. Guests are far less reserved and more relaxed if they understand the flow of the event. Little touches like signage, printed menus at the table, 'Bar' lights in the bar area and drinks descriptions on the bar top, all create a 'just get stuck in and enjoy' atmosphere.

3. Throw a cocktail into the beer & prosecco mix

Offering a cocktail on arrival never fails. If you're doing a self serve bar pitchers of Mojito or Dark and Stormy work well. If you have a bar man make it simple & fast (Kia Royal or Bellini) as no-one wants to wait too long for their first drink.

4. Make sure the first canapé is really wow

The first bite is usually the most remembered! Don't make it bland, it needs a kick. Make it pretty and present it in a quirky way. The most common opening canapé is smoked salmon as it works so well with bubbles, we add horseradish & tabasco to ours to give it extra 'oomph'. Always present on a platter evenly spaced with the topping (dill or caviar) uniformly placed. Make sure your smooth canapés don't slip by using slate, wood, or covering china with salad leaves or herbs.

5. Dress the table beautifully

Linen, candles, flowers, runners, silverware, place names, napkin holders. It doesn't need to cost a fortune just think it through sparkly, vintage, fiesta or formal. A beautifully dressed table makes the food taste better.

6. Lighting, lighting lighting

This was one of my first big lessons, we've invested in lighting and have some fab suppliers. Lighting can set a mood, create an area, send a message and ultimately transform your home & garden into a venue for your celebration.

7. Consider all eventualities

Preparation prior to a party prevents any stress on the day. Pre-warn the neighbours with a letter if there's going to loud music in the garden and let them know when the music will go off. Work out an area for smokers and provide ashtray's, create a chill out room for kids/ teenagers where they can go watch a movie.

8. Music from the onset

Prepare a playlist, think it through, music to arrive to, music to eat to, music to dance to & music to wind it down to.

9. Flowers

Flowers bring everything to life. They don't need to be big elaborate arrangements, a few blooms in the downstairs loo, single stems on the dining table, a bunch of hydrangers on the bar. Match the vases if you can - we use anything from glitter covered jam jars, to tinned tomato tins and disco balls.

10. Photography & props

Don't forget the pictures, we often bring a bag of props with us and work the room around 10.00ish when everyone has had a few drinks and is happy to partake. We make bespoke speech bubble signs, wigs, hats, glasses. Even if you don't pay for professional photography the props make the best selfies & social media shots.

11. Add something a little odd

We've done everything from a model dressed in a champagne glass skirt, a giant vodka luge, frozen cocktail shots and a candy floss machine...