Throwing a party? Here’s how to make sure your guests will have a great time

Everyone loves to attend great parties, but not everyone knows how to actually plan one. You probably know someone who always throws the most incredible parties out there that have people talking for ages, but you simply can’t pinpoint what exactly makes them better than all the others. If you want to be just like that someone and host events that will make everyone wonder if you’re a professional party planner, you must learn how to master the art of party planning. Your friends will surely appreciate it.

The thing is that throwing a killer party is as much about organizing as it is about having a vision and knowing how to translate it into a reality. You don’t have to spend a fortune or invite celebrities to keep your guests entertained. It’s all about mixing the right elements and creating an amazing atmosphere. If you want to know how to achieve that, we’ll let you in on some secrets and give you a few tips to help you plan a party like a pro.

Create a motley crowd

The more, the merrier! This saying was probably made famous by partygoers. Of course, you can have tons of fun with just a few friends, but that sounds more like a casual get-together than an actual party. It’s obvious that more people means more fun, but if you don’t have the means to throw a party for the whole neighborhood, which is totally understandable, at least try to mix the guests a little. Besides your regulars, try to invite people from different categories, backgrounds and generations. Don’t be afraid it will get awkward if your guests don’t know each other. Variety is what will keep things interesting. So, go ahead and invite your neighbors, co-workers, relatives or acquaintances to create a lively crowd of people.

Keep them busy

Most people would be thrilled to act as a little helpers at a party. It makes them feel more integrated and involved, and it also gives them the opportunity to interact with the other guests. You don’t have to exaggerate with assigning roles though. Your guests are there to have fun, not to replace the catering service. It’s enough to give some small tasks to those with whom you are closer to, like meeting other people, showing them around etc. It’s a great way to break the ice and get everyone talking to everyone.

Music sets the tone

Is it even a party if there’s no music? We think not. A good playlist is the salt and pepper of any party, as it ties everything together and creates the right mood. If you have the budget, then hiring a professional DJ or a band can take everything to another level and relieve you of an extra pressure. But if that’s not an option, you can still manage on your own. Just make sure to create a lively playlist, including as many genres as possible, from urban music to rock, pop, country or latino. You can even ask guests to bring their own playlists and play them one after another.

Food and drinks all around

A party is not the right place to practice moderation, because celebration and frugality don’t go well together. In fact, now’s the perfect time for excesses, so make sure you have plenty of delicious food for all your guests. Ideally, you would also have an open bar and let everyone decide what and how much they will drink. If you don’t want to spend all your time in the kitchen while the others are having fun, you can hire a catering service or at least try to prepare some food in advance.

Plan a few surprises

Everybody loves a good surprise…or more. It’s wouldn’t hurt to bring an element of originality, because nothing is more boring than going to a party where you can predict everything from beginning till the end. Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten track and do things your way. After all, a party is about having fun, not about following rules. You can create a quirky menu with foods from different cuisines around the world, have a wine tasting, set up a photo booth or anything you can think of – and your guests can’t.

Plan some fun activities

There’s no better way to animate a party than by throwing some fun activities in the mix. It’s up to you to keep your guests entertained, so plan as many activities as possible to make sure there’s no chance for them to get bored. You can never go wrong with classic activities like charades, trivia or never have I ever games. You can even transform your party into a live show with some improv games or karaoke sessions. Even the most unenthusiastic guests will be temped to join in on the fun.

Cynthia Madison is a young blogger and economics and marketing graduate. She writes about home, lifestyle and family topics and is a senior contributor to popular niche publications.