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Perfect Parties by Nancy

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Help Choosing a Party Theme

Thursday, may 20, 2010

The party theme sets the tone for any celebration and guides the planning of the whole party, so it is important to decide on a theme early in the planning process. Several factors must be considered when selecting the theme for a party, including the guest of honour, the other guests and the location of the party.

Guest of Honour

If the celebration is for a specific person, consider the interests of the guest of honor when deciding on a theme. Take into account his/her occupation, interests and hobbies. Decide if any of the interests will serve as an appropriate theme for the party. You might even ask the guest of honour if they have a particular theme in mind for the party. Try to accommodate their desires to ensure they are pleased with the outcome of the party.

Other Guests

Consider the guests who will attend the party. Choose a theme for the party that is generally acceptable to the majority of the party guests. An over-the-top Vegas-themed party might be uncomfortable for conservative guests. A board-game party may create boredom if the guests are accustomed to something with a little more interaction. You also must find a balance between the guest of honour's interests and the general interests and personalities

of those on the guest list.

Age

Factor the average age of the guest list into the party-theme-selection process. Select a theme that is appropriate and interesting to the age range of the guests. Choose a theme that allows for a variety of activities if the ages of the guests are greatly varied. Examples of themes that can fit many age groups include a carnival theme, sports theme or a luau or tropical theme.

Party Venue

Determine how the party venue may influence the choice of party theme. Certain venues naturally convey a certain feeling that can be incorporated into the theme. A luau theme works well with a party held on a beach or tropical location. A park suggests a sports or game theme. If the party venue has been determined, consider the possibilities related to the venue when selecting the party theme.

Trends

Incorporate a current trend into the party theme if it is fitting. Consider current trends in parties, fashion and current events that may influence the guest of honour or the guests at the party. Popular television shows or movies offer a possibility for party themes. Also consider past trends from a particular decade or period in history that can often provide distinct ideas for the party planning.

Entertainment Value

Weigh the entertainment value of the party theme options. Certain themes offer more entertainment value and options for entertainment and decorations. Choose a theme that will be fun to plan and attend for both you and the guests. If your decision comes down to two or three themes, brainstorm the specific party details for each of them and pick the one with the best potential.

Though choosing the theme can by the fun part of party planning, it never hurts to ask the advice of a professional planner to make sure your idea is feasible and workable. Or if you are confident that your theme is suitable and will work, then ease your mind and hire a planner to make sure your party unfolds as you had dreamed it would. For peace of mind, a chance to enjoy the party you planned and the opportunity to look like a great host let a professional planner help you with the details.

Our Next Article Will Appear Thursday, June 3, 2010

How to Throw a Green - Themed Party

In honour of earth day, let’s add some green to your next party. Green is the thing this year with all of the media focus on organics, recycling and environmental consciousness. Why not celebrate that and everything else wonderful about going green? Green can be great for kids, adults, holidays, and of course, the environment.

Invitations set the tone for your event. Forget about traditional papers; instead choose invitations printed on recycled paper or non-tree fibers like cotton or bamboo. The other option is going electronic for this, meaning emails, setting up a website or facebook page, etc. This gets the word out to the people you need without costing a lot to your pocketbook or the environment. But remember, this is acceptable only for the less formal parties you are planning.

Decorations always set the tone for your guests when they walk into your party. Start with basics like table cloths, napkins, plates, silverware and cups; ditch the paper and Styrofoam. Then mix it up with a light bulb to shade the patio, and then add some in- season flowers, lanterns, candles, and simple centerpieces. Also consider soy-based candles—or plan your party early enough to capture natural light.

Select the food and drink for your party with your "green" theme in mind. Organic or home-grown is the way to go! Serve whole foods that come from local sources, like your farmer’s market, or even your own garden! There are some fantastic choices when it comes to organic wines, and exotic lemonades and other healthy and earth friendly beverages.

With a little planning and creativity it is easy to make your events earth-friendly and fun. If you are planning a Green Party the first step is to involve an experienced party planner to help with all the little details. If you have any comments please voice them to the right in our comments box.

Our Next Article will Appear May 20, 2010

Thursday April 8, 2010

Should I Hire an Event Planner??

In the past, many have thought that hiring an event planner was an extravagance only meant for the elite. After all, why spend money for something you could “do yourself”? Today, however, times have changed. The costs and complexity of planning any event, especially weddings, have many people turning to an event planner. An event professional not only saves time and emotional stress, but it can actually save money. This is possible because:

Professional event planners have already done this hundreds of times. They know the best vendors in the area that will best meet your vision and your budget. Therefore, it will take them far less time to gather the information you need to make your decisions.
What is your time worth?Do you have XX amount of hours per week to devote to planning your event? Think of it in dollars. How much do you make hourly at work? Now, multiply that with the mass amount of hours you need to spend researching, planning, and working to make your event happen. It adds up, and it will likely be a high enough figure to enlist someone else to plan your event, so you can spend those hours doing something else.
Emotional stress is impossible to escape when you’re planning an important event all on your own. You have to juggle a lot of balls, all at once, and keep everything else in your life going at the same pace. However, when you hire an event planner – they take all those balls from you, so you can focus on your job, your family, or whatever else you have going on. This means you’ll be calmer, more focused, and able to really enjoy the event when it finally arrives.

Why Choose Perfect Parties by Nancy?
Perfect Parties by Nancy is a different type of event planning company. We connect with our clients on a personal, individual basis. This connection allows us to truly understand your vision for your event, and once we understand your vision – we figure out how to make it a reality. At Perfect Parties by Nancy your ideas are important to us, and we listen to YOU. When you choose us you’ll be able to make intelligent, educated, and informed decisions throughout the entire process – and at the end, you’ll have the event you’ve dreamed about.

Check back Thursday, April 22 for our next article

Thursday April 1, 2010

Perfect Parties by Nancy is excited to announce it’s most recent page on our website: New & News. This section of the website will keep you informed of what is happening with Perfect Parties by Nancy. As well it will be updated biweekly on Thursdays with tips and tricks to make your next event easier.

From party/wedding planning tips to etiquette and trends, we will be offering valuable advice and ideas on how you can make your next event run smoother. Our new page will also include a comments section so you can leave your impressions or your suggestions for future postings. We look forward to sharing our knowledge with you and getting input on how we can better help make your event perfect.

Our first article will appear Thursday, April 8, 2010.