The Basics of Party Planning

People, place, food, entertainment and budget. These are the key areas to consider when planning the perfect party.  Every party is different and perhaps the biggest influence on a party's style is the occasion. What is being celebrated? Is it a birthday? A baby shower? A graduation celebration? Or perhaps simply a Saturday night? Once the occasion has been established, you will have a better idea of what is required for the event, and the planning can really begin.

Budget
After establishing the occasion for your party, the next step is to consider your budget. Are you planning on using decorations or putting on a buffet? Also, are you providing the beer or requesting that your guests bring there own. The answers to these questions will depend on your occasion but need to be considered when budgeting for your party.

People
You need to decide on a guest list for your party, you might choose to make a public announcement and let anybody come,  or maybe you'd prefer to choose your guest more carefully and invite your nearest and dearest. If you are using invitations, why not design your own and make them as unique as your party is going to be.

Place
A party's setting plays a big role in how a night can pan out. You could go for the traditional house party, which means you save more money but also means that you have to careful that nothing gets broken (not to mention the cleaning up you have to do the day after!) Or maybe you would prefer to book a room at a club, bar or country house. Although this can sometimes be expensive, a change of setting can add an extra dimension to any event.

Food
In terms of party food there is only one rule – make sure there is something for everyone. Are there any vegetarians invited to your party? If so, is there food available for them to eat? Also, will you be preparing a buffet or a sit down meal. Again, this will all depend on the occasion and the guest list.

Entertainment
The most important aspect of any party is the entertainment. Usually, this is dictated by the music but it is still important to establish whether or not you intend to hire a DJ or simply plug your iPod into some speakers. Both are good options with their own benefits – DJs will have a better sound system, iPods are cheaper.