7 Tips For Hosting A Party Or A Long Weekend Celebration
Ah, long weekends, don't you just love them? They give you the chance to throw a house party or hang out with your favourite people. Plus, you get an extra day to chill after all the fun. If you're planning on hosting a long weekend house party, you've come to the right place because we have curated top tips to help ensure your event is a success. Cheers to the long weekend house parties and the good times ahead!
Hosting a Party: 7 Tips for a Stellar Celebration
1. Let the season guide you
Let the season set the vibe for your get-together party, from the food to the cocktail recipes to the music. For warm weather occasions, try decorating your space with bright colours and tropical flowers or plants, like Bird of Paradise or hibiscus, and serving classic cocktails like Margaritas or Mojitos. If the weather is on the chilly side, dig out the cosy cushions and blankets and serve warm sips like Hot Buttered Rum, tequila, or a whisky Hot Toddy.
2. Enjoy the extra prep time
As you’re hosting a party on a long weekend, enjoy the extra time to marinade, slow cook lay the decorations, pre-batch your cocktails, or prepare all your garnishes the day or night before. That way you can relax and enjoy more time with your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
3. Set up a DIY cocktail station
If a laid-back approach is more your vibe, try putting together a little cocktail station with different drinks, mixers, and garnishes so everyone can make their own signature drinks. It's such a fun way to get everyone involved at your get-together party!
4. Make it a brunch party
Why not host a brunch party? Everyone loves a good brunch. It's the ultimate meal that combines the best of both breakfast and lunch and is a great excuse to eat your weight in pastries. You'll, of course, need to make sure all dietary requirements are covered so the vegans, gluten-free and dairy-free people in your crew have the best time too.
You could even try setting up a self-serve bar and putting on a buffet brunch party, so your guests can customise their own brunch. Serve things like smoked salmon, bagels, soft-boiled eggs, pancakes, avocado and (of course) all the pastries.
For drinks, try mixing up classic brunch cocktails like a Bloody Mary or squeeze fresh orange juice for Mimosas. Coffee cocktails like Flat White Martinis are also sure to please.
5. Choose a theme for your get-together party
Try giving your long-weekend celebration a theme to make it more special. Think about what's happening in the world or in your life that makes this party unique. Are you celebrating a milestone like a birthday or an anniversary, or is there a big sporting event like the World Cup or Wimbledon taking over right now? Or maybe you're just looking for an excuse to get together with friends and family.
A favourite theme of ours is a Mexican feast, featuring quesadillas, huevos rancheros, and chilaquiles. As for the drinks, Margaritas or Tequila Pina Coladas would be great pairings.
If you're blessed with good weather, try going for a tropical theme. There are lots of cocktails you can choose from, like an easy rum punch or a spiced Mojito. It's a great excuse to fire up the BBQ and get the party sizzling.
6. Keep the good vibes flowing
Apart from the obvious food and drink, the entertainment can really make or break the success of a house party. Here are a few ideas for nailing the vibe:
Line up the tunes - Make a playlist beforehand that works well in the background. You could even ask your guests to add to the playlist ahead of the party. As the food and drinks start to flow, try matching the energy in the room with more upbeat tunes.
Set up a DIY craft station - Add more fun to your get-together party, by setting up a table with things like paint, markers, and glitter, and let your guests create their own decorations or even a group mural that you can treasure as a memento from the day. It's a great way to keep everyone entertained and get their creative juices flowing.
Bring out the games - Set up different games like cornhole, giant Jenga, or even a classic game of charades. Your guests will love getting competitive and having some good old-fashioned fun.
7. Make it personal
If you’re hosting a special occasion, like a birthday party or anniversary, why not try incorporating your guest(s) of honour’s favourite colours? Or create a theme around their hobby or passion; so say they are big art lovers you could use paintbrushes or art boxes as part of the decorating or have a painting competition. Another idea is to make a cocktail menu that’s based all around their favourite drinks, or you could even invent a unique cocktail named after them using their go-to spirit.
