How to Host a Success Party

I don’t know about you, but this summer went by so quick! It’s practically over and school time is almost upon on us. Our boys go back on the 15^th and then college here starts around the 23^rd. Did the summer go by as quickly for you? As we have summer draw to a close, I’d like to share a great idea to end the summer with a celebration of the moments that were created with the people you’ve met and/or shared with.

Of course, like any party, you got to plan out some details first.

• Who do you want to invite? How are you going to invite them (paper, digital, Facebook event, phone call, in person, email?)
• Where do you want to have your party (home, friend’s house, restaurant/café, event venue, attraction, public park)?
• What time do you want to have your party? Do you want to do a breakfast/brunch party, a weekend lunch or a week day dinner party?
• What kind of food do you want to have? Is there a food theme you want to have? *Remember to think about those with allergies!*
• What kind of drinks do you want to have? Coffee, tea, soda, alcoholic? *Remember to think of those who are underage and to drink responsibly!*
• What kind of food and drink supplies do you need? Will you be using your own plates and cups or will you be renting/buying? If casual, will you be using paper/disposable products?
• Do you want to have games there? If so, what kind and whose bringing them?
• Will you be decorating for the party? What kind of supplies do you need?

 

Of course once you got all that planned out (look at you party planner!), now its time to set it up. This time is also a great memory builder, so don’t feel like you have to do this alone! Ask for help? Take your planning list to the store to make sure that you get everything that you need and that you don’t run out of anything (or make a backup plan if you think you might!) If budgeting (I know, I said a bad word haha) is tight, ask your party goers to help out as best as they can. Perhaps they could bring a dish of their liking or could be given a type of dish (appetizer, main course finger food, main entrees, vegetable, dessert) or they could BYOB/BYOD – bring your own beer/bring your own drink. There’s no need to waste money on something that only 2 people out of all of your people coming might actually consume. You could also always ask someone to bring x amount of plates or x amount of cups too.

 

Depending on what kind of party you’re hosting (casual potluck with games on the side or more a formal sit down dinner party) depends on what you’ll actually do during your party. Since this is a success party AND a celebration party, participation will be the key.  Celebrating the moments made and sharing stories is the purpose of the party, but make sure the party is conductive to everyone who attends. You’ll probably have a Chatty Cathy and a Shy Susan in your mix, so make some guidelines (say everyone gets 5 minutes their first time around to share what they want to – have a timer on hand to enforce this) so that one particular person (or persons) don’t dominate the entire party. You also want to make sure that each person is able to share their successes fairly and without feeling pressured and/or rushed. While you’re celebrating everyone’s successes, tell each person AT least 1 thing you’re grateful for. Even if you don’t know that person or know them very well, still try to share something with them with gratitude. For example, if someone was on a European trip, you could always say that you are grateful that they were able to experience such a trip, that they had the time off, they have a great tan… you get the idea.

At the end of the party, don’t  forget to get contact info or get updated info. Nothing is as bad as creating awesome memories and then not being able to get ahold of someone afterwards. How are you going to be able to send out those awesome pics if you don’t have addresses or emails? Also, having information on hand will make it easier to continue making memories or able to meet up again to make more memories.

 

But what if I had a quiet summer?
Trust me, I get you. I’ve had a “quieter” summer than usual. I was working a lot and a lot of things happened to people this summer so I didn’t make a lot of memories. I haven’t even made it to the beach this year *Bad Jenn*. For those who are quieter (maybe you don’t like parties or you are sick at the time the party would be happening) or who had quieter summers, have a different type of success party. Perhaps host a digital version, say via Skype or Facebook. Share your successes, reach out to those who have meant something to you and digitally celebrate. Still a win win.

 

So the summer is almost over *sad panda*, but the memories made have no price tag attached to them. I would love to hear what successes and adventures you had this summer. Perhaps having a quiet summer is your success compared to  your usual long and chaotic summers. That’s a success in itself. I’d be happy to hear about it and would love to celebrate it with you.

Send me an email, tweet me, find me on Facebook on the Page or in the Shine Bright group, send me some pins. I’d love to see them

 

I hope that you head a great summer, that you had many successes and that you will continue to have many many more.

 

Shine Bright,

<3 Jenn