Festive Freedom:

Whilst planning a party is said to be stressful, it may be the case that we’re putting too much pressure on ourselves to cover every tiny detail, and annoying our guests in the process.

Whether you’re a stickler for a schedule, or want to keep an eye on what’s going on at all times, you could be sucking some of the fun out of your party without really knowing it - forcing guests to stick to your schedule of activities, including what time they eat, when they can take photos, and even when they can make their way to the dance floor.

With this in mind, we give you some great tips on how to create a more relaxed affair where your guests can participate when and with what they like.

Add fun activities that don’t need a timer

Whether you’re dealing with people who all know each other already, or are mixing two groups of friends that have never met, the usual ice-breaking games played at parties can get a little stale - and not everyone wants to play. Rather than the standard party games, why not consider a carnival style foyer, where guests can participate in different activities at their leisure. Whether you opt for fruit machine hire, snappy photobooths, or even caricaturists, your guests will be well into the party spirit before they even hit the main event.

Let them eat what and when they want

Whether you’re feeding the 500 or only have a small number of guests attending, forcing people to eat at a certain time is sure to cause issues with queues at the buffet table and at least a few guests that grumble about being hungry early on. Why not break with tradition and have the buffet open all through your event? That way, you’re unlikely to have guests falling out over the queue, and you can let those that only come for the cake enjoy not having to wait for it.

Make sure you have more than enough food for the guests you’re expecting, and if there’s food left over, why not provide party themed doggy bags for guests to take home? It could help you clear up a bit quicker too!

Dance ALL night

There’s no harm in having people on the dancefloor all night long if they want to be, and as long as you get a fantastic DJ, there’s no reason why people won’t hit the floor from the very beginning of your party to the very end. Obviously, your music choice will have to be eclectic in order to suit different tastes, or you could even get your guests to choose what goes on the playlist themselves by giving requests to the DJ - just ask them to steer clear of anything too controversial.

Self Service Bar or cocktail station

As long as you can trust your guests not to get too rowdy, why not let them serve their own drinks? You could have a cocktail station of ingredients and shakers all set up for them to make their own concoctions, or jugs of ready made juice and punch available to quench your guests’ thirst if you’d rather. There should be room for an icebox full of beers too - allowing you to cater for everyone’s taste.

When planning your next event, why not consider leaving the schedule more open, allowing your guests to explore the party at their own pace, and create some of their own fun in the meantime. You never know they may have more fun at your next party than they ever have before!