Party Planning – Bark.com Blog

Our very own Kai Feller turned another year older last weekend. So, of course, we decided to have a party!

Kai’s very much a “work hard, play hard” kind of guy, and we knew we’d have to pull out all the stops for his birthday – but with over 60,000 professionals at our fingertips, finding the right local pros to help us was easy.

In fact, we had such a great time we decided to put together this quick guide to throwing a last minute party for when you’re next organising an event for your friend, colleague or spouse.

Kick the night off with luxury cocktails

Hiring a skilled bartender or mixologist is an easy way to get the conversation flowing freely at your party and keep your guests supplied with a range of delicious drinks all night long.

They’re the ultimate ice breaker. So whether you like a rich, smoky Old Fashioned, or prefer the zesty freshness of a mojito – place a bartending Bark today to find great cocktail waiters for your next party.

Make sure the food is out of this world

Whether you want simple finger food for your guests to munch on between drinks, or a hearty buffet to line their stomachs – great food is an essential ingredient at any party.

In the end, we decided to ask our favourite personal chef to provide the canapés, and drafted in an outside catering company to cook up a succulent hog roast for later on.

With thousands of registered catering professionals, sorting the perfect food for your party is easy with Bark. Place a request today to get quotes from local caterers fast and free.

‘Wow’ your guests with a close-up magician

We found award-winning sleight of hand artist Adam Keisner by placing a last minute magicians Bark, and were blown away by his supernatural powers.

Inviting a close-up magician to surprise your guests might not be the first thing you think of when planning a party, but it should be! We were guessing how he did it long after he’d gone home for the night.

From illusionists, to escape artists, street magicians and more – place a magicians Bark today to find master magicians in your area.

Now you’re ready for karaoke!

Once the party’s in full swing, it’s time for the main event – and since it was Kai’s birthday, we thought we’d try something a little different.

We found Marvel Booths by placing a karaoke hire Bark, and they delivered a karaoke machine packed with hits right to our front door.

Before long the whole party was belting out the likes of Bohemian Rhapsody and Living On A Prayer at the top of their lungs, making it far and away the best buy of the evening.

Finally, get someone else to do the cleaning

Waking up the morning after a big party, the last thing you want is to spend ages cleaning up beer bottles and scrubbing carpet stains. But, luckily, with Bark you do have to.

Place a house cleaning Bark today to find a local cleaner to handle your post-party tidy up. Then, while they’re taking out the trash and doing the dishes, you can start planning your next big night out!

Throwing the perfect party is no piece of cake. Pull it off and your friends will be singing your praises for months after the event. But with so many things to consider, it can be tough to know where to begin.

To help you get started, we spoke with Dez Events founder, Deborah Granville. After more than 15 years in corporate and charity events, Deborah literally wrote the book on party planning – so it’s safe to say she knows a thing or two about throwing a great party to really “wow” your guests.

So what do you need to consider when planning your party? Well, according to Deborah, you should start by asking yourself three crucial questions – why, when and where?

“Are you having this party because you feel you should?” she says. “Or do you really want to have it because you want your friends and family around you, and you want to do things that make you and your guests happy?”

*Deborah Granville planning one of her legendary parties*

She adds: “If you know why you are having it and what you want to achieve, all the planning will flow naturally.”

It’s also important to consider if your party will clash with any other events. As Deborah says, you don’t really want to be competing with the Champion’s League final, or the season finale of Game of Thrones.

Finally, you need to make sure your venue is suitable for all your guests – so think about where it is, how people will get to it, and whether it needs disabled access or parking.

Deborah says: “There are so many amazing venues in the UK, from fancy ballrooms to under-the-arches plain spaces, so whatever your taste and budget, you’ll be able to find something to suit.”

“Just remember that an empty, ‘dry hire’ space won’t necessarily be cheaper, as it may not have the on-site facilities you need,” she adds. “And don’t forget to haggle!”

Time to get the party started

Once you’ve got your venue, you’re ready to sort out the entertainment. If you want your guests to come away having had a fabulous time it’s best to focus on what they’ll enjoy, as well as what you want.

“If some of your guests don’t know each other, help them to mingle by providing some entertainment,” Deborah suggests. “A magician, a balloon artist, or contortionist – something they can ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at together.”

Simple ideas like these should break the ice and help your guests start to relax. Then, once everyone’s loosened up a little, it’s time to really get the party started.

“A live band interspersed with a DJ is always a winning combo,” says Deborah. “But always make sure you prep them with the songs you want and, sometimes more importantly, those you don’t. (Birdy Song, anyone?)

“Music is so important, because it has the power to relax as well as to energise, so having a good DJ – or even your own playlist – can make or break a party.”

And if you really want to impress…

Setting a theme can be a great way to ensure your party stands out from the many others your guests will be invited to this year and, done well, it can add a real touch of class to your event.

“Some people love themes, as once they’ve picked one, everything else falls into place,” explains Deborah. “Others don’t really know what theme, if any, they want, but as they start to think about the things they want at the party, a theme evolves.

“Here are two to get you started: A Hollywood glam theme, with soft feathers, floral detailing and pewter candelabras, where guests go to town on their outfits. Or, for something a little more pared down, a festival theme, with trestle tables and benches, wooden signs and flowers in mason jars – and ask guests to wear their wellies!”

If you do go with a festival theme, Deborah says an ice cream tricycle is a wonderful way to serve a delicious dessert and is a visual treat which helps to create that vintage atmosphere.

Or, if you’re looking for something a little classier, try letting your guests customize their Champagne cocktails with fruit purees, lavender sprigs, citrus twists and flavoured ice cubes they can spoon into their glasses.

Of course, if you really want your party to stand out from the crowd…

Why not ask our pros to help?

While planning your own event can be a lot of fun, it takes time and organisation to pull all elements of a successful party together. That’s why, for larger events, many people prefer to draft in a professional – and that’s where Bark comes in.

Whatever event planning services you need – from DJs, to marquee hire and more – we can help. Simply click the link below to place your Bark today, and we’ll find you local party planners ready to help throw the party of your dreams.

Tag: Party Planning

The Bark guide to planning a last minute party