PARTY GAMES

Have a think about the last party you really enjoyed. The one you were talking about weeks after the event. For me it was a 21st birthday party. A fancy dress affair with free beer. It was a complete laugh and I didn’t get home till about 5am the next morning. Woudn’t it be great to host a party that people remembered and talked about
for months.

Party Games

There are many elements that go into creating a memorable party, some of them planned, some of them pure chance, but the one overall factor you should remember when planning your party is the comfort and enjoyment of your guests. Once you get that right the fun is sure to follow.

In this series of posts I will be offereing some tips and advice on the party games you should consider and how to introduce them. This is a huge topic in itself but I will try to cover as much ground as possible. Please feel free to e-mail any suggestions you may have or if you want a specific party game discussed.

Any Excuse
Don’t wait for a special occasion before you throw a party. Make an excuse and send the invitations. In fact the sillier the excuse the better. How about celebrating
national cheese day or captain Kirk’s birthday !

Guests
The most important ingredient for any party  is the guest list. Try and mix it up a bit. By that I mean include people who will be a bit different and add to the party atmosphere. Having a guest list solely made up of work colleagues could be a bit stale. Why not include some friends from a sports club or society.

Location
Most parties are hosted in a house but if you are opting for a different location have consideration for your guests. For example if you are organising a hen party don’t assume people will be willing to take trains, planes and automobiles to reach the party venue. There may also be people with mobility constraints so before booking a venue have a think as to whether people will be able to access it easily. You will soon know by the number of people who decline the invitation offering lame excuses but by that time it will be too late.

Food & Drink
There can be a tendancy to skimp a bit when it comes to food and drink. Your guests will notice when you have put effort into the refreshments. Something as simple as using nice serving dishes can make all the difference. At one party I attended the host had hired a cocktail specialist to make a set menu of cocktails for the first hour of the party. It made a huge difference and the cost was limitied by only having him there for a limited time. If you are not interested in food and cannot find your way around the kitchen buy  preprepared meals or hire help. There will be enough to organise and your guests will appreciate the thought you put into the preparartions.

Party Games
Even when everyone at the party knows each other there is room for a few games. Whether it is a series of ice breakers or some board games the choice of  appropriate games are a super enhancement for any party. For example at an outdoor party such as a BBQ simple games such as an egg and spoon race are enthusiastically welcomed by all. The important point to remember is that your guests should feel confortable with the games. There is no point expecting elderly relatives at a christening party to play truth or dare, be realsitic with the party games!

That sets the scene for the next series of posts about party games. I will be looking at specific games and how they can be used and if necessary adapted.

Tags: Party Games