Big parties don’t come around that often; and big events such as birthdays, engagements, or graduations are a great excuse to get everyone together. It’s also easier to pick from the myriad of restaurants and let the staff take care of everything instead of you worrying about catering, cleaning or having enough space for all your guests.
Here’s a party planning checklist to make sure you remember everything when planning your gathering.
Size and Location
Larger parties work well in restaurants and live music venues in Newcastle. Rent a space that is big enough for your party, and make sure your guests won’t feel stuffed into a room.
Pick a Date
People lead busy lives so make sure you tell people about your event a few weeks beforehand.
Make a Guest List
Decide how many people you are going to be inviting. For a sit-down dinner at a restaurant, you will be limited by how many people the restaurant can host. Make sure you have everyone’s contact details for the invitations.
Sending Invitations
While it used to be commonplace to post invitations, nowadays, many people send digital invites, emails, or even create Facebook event pages. Just be sure to specify an RSVP date so you can confirm numbers with the restaurant of your choice. The key points your invitation should include are:
- Date and time of the event
- Which of the restaurants and live music venues in Newcastle the party will be held at plus a map or link to an online map
- Indicate whether or not it’s okay to bring a partner
- Indicate whether or not there is a dress code such as semi-formal, casual or fancy dress
Choosing a Menu
Image by Emily C via Flickr
Depending on the restaurant you choose, you will need to decide on a buffet or sit-down menu or perhaps everyone will be able to choose from an a la carte menu.
If you will be choosing the menu, keep in mind that some of your guests may suffer from food allergies or have certain dietary requirements, so make it clear on your invitation that people need to specify such needs and they need to do so early so you can make the necessary arrangements.
Remember also to include non-alcoholic drinks for those people who don’t drink alcohol. It might be a good idea to have a taxi service or designated driver on hand to assist those who can’t drive home safely.
Also decide how the bill will be paid – will you settling the entire bill or will everyone be required to pay their own way or perhaps pay just for their own drinks? Remember to specify this on the invitation.
Identifying Guests
How many times have you attended a party and not known anyone? It can be especially awkward if you’re sitting in close proximity to other guests in the restaurant but there are a few things you can do to make it easy for guests to know each other.
To begin with, if you’ve created an online invite, it’s likely that the guests can see each other as they RSVP. This will help put names and faces to one another and that makes networking at the party much easier.
You could also have guests wear nametags so that newcomers to the group learn who other people are. The easiest thing to do is have everyone write their own names down as they arrive or you could print nametags before the party.
Decorating
When looking for restaurants and other venues to hold your party, find out if you’re allowed to decorate the venue, especially if the occasion is a wedding, christening or 21st birthday. Don’t go overboard though, remember your guests are coming to spend time with you – not judge your decorating abilities!
That’s it – planning a party in a restaurant is so easy. Relax and take time to visit with each guest and make them feel welcome. With everything taken care of and well planned, you’ll find everyone enjoying themselves and you’re bound to have a great time too.
