Throwing a party can be a blast for everyone included. It’s a great feeling to entertain guests and provide people with a wonderful time. However, hosting a party that no one has a good time at is never any fun for anyone.

If you’ve ever hosted a party that went less than well, you know what a terrible feeling it is to watch your guests not having a good time because they’re bored. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of ways you can add fun and excitement to your party to kick it up a few notches. One way you can guarantee your guests will be entertained at your party is by adding glow products.

Glow products have been wildly popular since they first hit the market and have been entertaining party guests for years. People just seem to have a special attraction to them. When buying accessories for your party, glow products will be sure to provide your guests with an allure that you simply will not get from other decorations. Also, perhaps one of the best features about them is the fact that they’re very inexpensive in relation to other party supplies. It’s difficult to find another novelty you’ll get more bang for your buck on.

Thick, six-inch glow sticks on strings are possibly the most common glow product people are accustomed to seeing. They generally come in a pack of ten glow-in-the-dark sticks that your guests will have a blast sporting as stylish accessories. These glow necklaces are perfect for dance parties or outdoor nighttime events. An entire crowd of people wearing different glow colours makes for an incredible effect, especially in darker settings.

The Bubble Saxophone is another fun glow product you may not have seen before. These novelties are specially made and glow in the dark, along with the bubbles you can blow out of them. Children go crazy over these bubble saxophones and think they are the coolest toys ever, which more than makes up for the price. Another amazing glow product that both kids and adults will get excited over is the Blue Light saber. This light saber looks so incredibly real, you’d think it came right out of a Star Wars movie. This is one item every sci-fi fan should have to appreciate for their very own.

Stocking your party full of glow products allows you to add fun and excitement to your event, even if you’re on a budget. You don’t have to spend a ton of money or buy over the top decorations to create a memorable experience for your guests – all you need to do is spend smart and purchase the right items. You can never go wrong with glow products and your guests will be entertained for the entire duration of your event. Try picking up several packages of glow sticks, glow bracelets, and some flashing cocktail glasses for some extra fun drinks your guests will love.

Be sure to check out Party Supplies Now for a huge selection of party supplies at discount prices!

Planning a menu for your party can be easy or difficult.  So, figuring out what kinds of foods you want to serve will help you decide if you want to hire a caterer or not.

• Caterer or do-it-yourself? Depending on your cooking and baking abilities, there are a few things you should consider, as well as the time that will be spent preparing the food.  If you are unsure of whether or not to prepare the food yourself, consider hiring a caterer, as they can take the pressure and unnecessary stress off of you.

• Don’t go overboard. If you decide to do everything yourself, select a simple menu that is easy to prepare and is not time-consuming.  Use quality ingredients to really make your guests’ mouths water. They will really appreciate this simple improvement in your food.

• Budgeting. Whatever foods you choose for your menu should be eye-appealing and ones that most guests will enjoy.  This can be accomplished even with a tight budget. Base the amount of food you purchase on the number of guests you’ll be having.

• Time:Food ratio. If you are having a lot of guests, do not plan on serving a full dinner. Some people will end up getting their food before others, and it just ends up being awkward.  It is best to go with food that can be served quickly and easily.

• Offer a variety. To appeal to all of your guests, have a variety of attractive dishes with different textures and flavours.  Some dishes may be more appealing than others, but all of your guests will be able to find something they’ll enjoy.  Make sure you can accommodate any guests with special diets or allergies before you draw up a menu.

• Ask for samples. If you decide to go with a caterer, ask for samples of what you’ll be serving, prior to hiring them.  Does the food look appealing and taste good? Make sure of this before making a decision.

• Food and clothing. Depending on whether you’re having a formal dinner or a BBQ, the food and party attire is going to vary.  Whatever kind of party you are throwing, it’s important to wear the appropriate kind of clothing and serve food that matches your theme.

• Party Supplies. After you have a head count of how many people will be attending, make sure you have enough tables, chairs, plates, napkins and other necessary items to accommodate them.  Any equipment or other items you plan to use should be clean and in good condition.

• Finger foods and snacks. It is a good idea to have a few snacks for your guests to nibble on when they arrive.  However, if you are doing a formal dinner and it’s late, they’ll fill up on them and miss out on the great food you’ve prepared.  Make sure you serve dinner promptly and you will avoid this problem.

• What types of drinks to serve. If you are having an adult party, it is a good idea to offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.  That being said, you should limit your mixed drinks to one or two options; you don’t want to wind up bartending your entire party.  Try not to serve alcohol at children’s parties, to avoid anything getting mixed up.

Throwing a cocktail party is an excellent way to show your friends a great time and have some fun. One of the great things about having a cocktail party is being able to experiment with many different types of foods. Finger foods and other small snack are always a cocktail party staple, so if a guest does not like a particular food, there are always a variety of other options they will have to choose from.

Once you’ve figured out what kind of food items you’ll be serving, it’s time to focus on the most important element of your cocktail party – the drinks themselves. If you’re looking to throw a classic cocktail party, you can never go wrong with Cosmopolitans and
Apple Martinis. These drinks have withstood the test of time, and are still the two most popular cocktails around.

If you plan on serving champagne, there are many bottles that have beautiful fruit notes to highlight them like raspberry, mango and passionfruit flavours. Try serving a variety of flavours for your guests to choose from. It’s fun for people to be able to sample an assortment of different drinks.
If you’ve hosted dozens of cocktail parties before or it’s your first time, these tips will be sure to help you in hosting a party that is a huge success.

1 – Make sure you have an assortment of different glasses to be able to accommodate all the different types of cocktails you want to serve. You should have a good supply of wine glasses, martini glasses, highball glasses and tumblers on hand. A good guideline to follow is to always have twice the number of cocktail glasses than your number of guests in stock.

2- Always be sure to have plenty of ice. This is a crucial item to be stocked up on,and one that is easy to run out of. Buy it in bulk and be sure to have several bags on hand for back up. There is nothing worse than a lukewarm cocktail!

3- If you are only intending to serve wine, it’s a good rule of thumb to average a bottle and a half per person and to have a good variety of both red and white wines. Although white is a more popular choice, red wine is beginning to become more popular at cocktail and dinner parties.

4- If you are unfamiliar with the basic necessities of stocking a bar, you’ll want to make sure you have several bottles of each of the following: vodka, whiskey, bourbon, tequila, vermouth, both light and dark rum, and gin.

5- Also, don’t forget to have several different mixers on hand! To cover the different tastes your guests will have, get plenty of OJ, tonic, soda, ginger ale, cranberry juice, tomato juice, and tabasco. Purchase 9 or 10 lemons and limes and a few bottles of olives for garnishes. If you want to add other garnishes to your drinks, try fresh fruits for your martinis and other cocktails, like raspberries, blueberries and orange slices.

If you’re looking for quality cocktail party supplies at great prices, visit Party Supplies Now for a wide selection of your favorite party items!

If you’re having an upcoming party or event, you’ll want to plan on how to make it a memorable and enjoyable experience for all of your guests. Pre-planning for your party is essential in making sure you’ll have everything you need ready. If you plan carefully, you won’t have any last-minute details to worry about and you can enjoy your party and your company entirely. You can host a party that is exactly the way you envisioned it by following a few of these simple tips.

Select a theme – There are a variety of themes you can choose for your party and you should always remember what kind of budget you have when selecting one. You should choose a theme that matches the season and type of occasion you’re celebrating. After you decide on a theme, pick 2-3 colours that match your theme, and use them in any decorations or accessories you purchase for your event. Bringing together your decorations, theme, and food will make everything more appealing and enjoyable for your guests.

Select the invitations – It is important to send out invitations for your party. Be sure to add RSVPs in your invitations so you can accurately assess the amount of food and beverages you’ll need. Include a deadline for the RSVP return date so you’ll know when to start getting in touch with people who didn’t reply. This also helps get an accurate count of the tables, chairs, and miscellaneous preparations that will accommodate your guests. Always include a few extra spots for anyone who did not RSVP and who you weren’t able to get in touch with. This way you’ll avoid not having enough food or seating arrangements for your guests.

Set the time – Anticipate when your party will start and how long it will run. Adding a time frame to your invitations will prepare your guests to stay for the entire party, and will also allow them to let you know ahead of time if they’ll need to leave early

Plan your menu – If you’re having a formal dinner party, you might want to think about hiring a caterer. Hiring a local caterer will let you focus your attention on your guests and will relieve the burden of having to cook for everyone. If you plan on doing everything yourself, prepare as much food as possible before the party and freeze it to make things easier. You can also make pastry doughs, salads, and other low maintenance foods and take them out of the refrigerator right before your party. Try to plan a menu that will not be extremely difficult for you to prepare. Your party will go much smoother if you aren’t worrying about how your food is going to taste.

Try to take at least a day before your party to prepare as much as possible so you aren’t running around at the last minute. Though party planning can be overwhelming at times, if you make a to-do list and follow it precisely, you’ll have everything running smoothly by the time your party starts and your guests will be sure to return for your next event.

Planning a party or event is generally a lot of fun for many people. But sometimes, hosting a great party for your guests can be difficult for someone on a tight budget. This can easily be accomplished if you take the time to pre-plan.  Take into account that these guidelines will apply to most events, but may not to every situation.

For people who want to avoid excessive spending, following these easy tips will help you figure out how to budget and save yourself some money.

• Budgeting – Plan a budget you can make a commitment to stick with. Whatever budget you come up with should cover your event costs and a fixed percentage for unforeseen expenditures.

• Organising – Purchase a notebook and binder or folder to record all of your info, supply receipts, and any kind of estimates for the party. Including Ziploc bags in your binder is a good idea for any smaller receipts or notes you’ll need.

• Visualise – Have an idea of exactly what tasks you need to accomplish and what items you’ll need for your event. Make a list and have photos of what you’ll need. Showing these things to retailers will help them to understand just what you’ll need for your party.

• Funds – To make money management easier, think about creating another bank account. It’s much easier to keep track of your finances if you have an account with a designated amount of money in it. This also helps to keep track of any checks you write for your event.

• Financial Contributions – Ask if there is anyone who would like to make a contribution before the event. Depositing this money into your separate account will help you calculate how much money you have to work with.

• Negotiating – Hosting your event during a time of year that isn’t busy will give you lots of room for negotiating prices. Many retailers expect people to negotiate, so instead of agreeing to the first price that’s quoted, offer the vendor a lower price.

• Purchase Items Online – This is an excellent way to save your time and money. Check out http://www.partysuppliesnow.com.au/ for the best party supply deals in Australia.

• Be Budget Smart – Take the total amount of money you have to spend on your event and divide it by the number of guests attending and you’ll get a good idea of the amount you can spend on food, drinks, and party favors for each person. Regularly keep track of your budget and adjust it as you need to.

• Use a Party Planner – Often times, hiring a party planner can be a great way to save money on your event. Many planners have networks of retailers they do business with that offer quality services at great prices. This will also relieve unnecessary pressure off of you and allow you to focus on other aspects of your event.

Once you start planning, always remember your goal and keep track of your budget as you strive to attain that goal. Extraordinary parties and events are not decided by how much money is spent in throwing them, but instead by the memories you create.

Guests might forget certain things about a party, but the food is something they’ll remember. If you have delicious food, the event will be enjoyable for your guests and they’ll leave remembering a fantastic party. When beginning to plan, selecting a caterer for your event will be a crucial decision to make. To find a caterer that will make your event one to remember, follow these simple steps:

• What type of caterer do you want – There are two types of caterers; ones that primarily deal with formal events (cocktails, full course dinners, and fine dining), and ones that primarily focus on informal events with a variety of dinner plans. It is essential that you decide what kind of caterer you’ll need before you start looking for one. Also keep in mind whether you will want buffet style or table service.
• What type of venue are you offering – Catering prices vary depending on how many people will be eating at your event. If you select a venue that does not provide a kitchen or prep area, your caterer will have to prepare everything ahead of time, and have it ready to set up on arrival. Caterers will generally charge an additional fee for this, as it requires additional work.
• Get creative – If money is tight, consider looking for a venue that offers in-house catering. Some venues offer catering that is prepared on location, at a discounted price.
• Get a list of estimates– To get a good idea of your catering service costs, call three or four of your local caterers for estimates. Many caterers will give you a quote based on the amount of people you’ll have attending.
• Consult with the caterers – Ask any potential caterers about their services, the average amount of events they book per day, and if they have the means to accommodate what you will need. If you’re looking to serve a specific meal to your guests, it is crucial that you tell this to a potential caterer when getting an estimate.
• Ask for samples – When meeting with the caterer for the first time, they should provide samples for you to try while you discuss your event. It is important to discuss what kind of ingredients they use and where they get their food. Also, any caterer should be able to provide substitutes for guests who are on diets or have allergies.
• Visit the caterer’s business – You might find that you can learn a good deal about a caterer by visiting them at their place of business. See how the staff interacts with each other and ask the caterer what kind of equipment will be used at your party. Some caterers may supply you with tablecloths, tables, candles, and other items for an additional fee.
• Ask for references – Have any potential candidates supply you with references and speak with anyone who has used their catering services in the past, before you make your decision.
• Estimates and Quotes – After you’ve thinned your search down to your top two choices, ask each caterer for a proposal that will cover what will be served, how many people will be included in their staff, and specifics on what services will be provided. The quote should include set up and clean up fees, as well as the hours they intend to work.
• Schedule your event – After you select your caterer, immediately book your event. Caterers have tight schedules and if you postpone booking your event, you might not be able to get the person you had originally wanted.

After selecting a caterer and establishing the menu, you can relax and focus your efforts on other event details to make it your ideal event.

Halter Neck

The style is appropriate for brides with good-sized busts, as it reduces the midriff by extending the torso. A variant of this type of neck is the high neckline. A halter neck opens up the shoulders, while a plunging neckline opens up the chest and neck regions even further.

Plunging Neckline

While this style does not look similar to the halter, it is more flexible in the sense that you have straps or sleeves attached to the shoulders, which gives them less exposure than the halter. This style reveals your neck and chest regions significantly. It is very suitable for brides with larger frames.

Strapless Gown

This variation completely opens up the shoulders, chest and neck. A very feminine, flattering style.

You can use either of the previously mentioned necklines, though other more intricate necklines (i.e. scooped or square neck) would need an internal support structure to hold its shape. The gown’s back is usually a small amount lower than the front. Without wearing straps, you can’t incorporate a deep plunge in the back, or it will fall right off.

Spaghetti Strap or Camisole

The only difference between this style and the strapless gown is that you can choose to wear a bodice with a deep plunging back. This is a striking style, as it accentuates your neck and chest. The contrast is that the subtle straps will show off your shoulders.

Empire Neckline

This style’s bodice stops just short of your bust line, where the skirt starts. This produces the impression of a much longer skirt, purely because it begins higher than the hips and waistline. Because of this reason, this style looks very flattering on pregnant brides.

Remarkably, when paired with a flared skirt, this looks the best on a bride with curves and a healthy bust line, as these will highlight a small waist.

There aren’t any limitations to the neckline you pair with this bodice.

Boat Neck

This is an extremely flattering style, and is even more appealing when coupled with lacy bell sleeves. The boat neck’s most prominent feature is the continuous seam across the shoulder line.

There are variations of this neckline; the most popular sets the neckline a bit lower than usual, with gathered fabric around the top.

Sweetheart

This neckline was extremely prevalent in the 80’s, and featured oversized, puffy sleeves. This must go with a bodice that has sleeves. This heart-shaped neckline projects a soft and innocent look. Younger or more conservative brides frequently choose the style.

Scooped or Square Neck

Both of these styles are comparable, the only difference being that the square neck is squared off and the scooped neck has a curved shape. These styles go nicely with a low neckline. The purpose of a scooped or square neck is to expose the chest and neck zones.

Sheer Neck

The sheer neck is an extension of the scooped or square neck, but with a sheer cover of material that is sewn on top of the dress, and is often times strapless.

Sleeves can also be worn with the style, with either sheer or solid cloth. This is a very visually pleasing style, although your choice of neckline and sleeve design would have to be very particular in order to be effective. Lengthier sleeves will almost always work better than shorter sleeves. A sheer boat neck is your best option when paired with sleeves.

Short sleeves will go best with a somewhat high, sheer neck with rounded edges. Capped sleeves do not generally go well with this style.

Who says adults can’t play games at their birthday parties? They’re an easy and fun way for your guests to enjoy themselves, not to mention a refreshing change of pace. Here are 10 great adult games that are sure to liven your next birthday bash:

1. SMALL CROC
Make teams of 5-6 people and form a line. Each team in the line will get a ball. The players will then keep the balls in place using only their backs and chests. Players are not allowed to touch the balls using their hands. The object is to run to the finish line as quickly as possible.

2. BALL PASS
Form two lines and divide into teams. The person in the front of the line for each team places a ball under his or her chin. He or she has to transfer the ball to the next person in line, without being able to use their hands. Each player is allowed to use any part of their body to pass the ball, but they can’t drop it. If the ball is dropped, the team must start over from the beginning. The team that gets the ball to the last person in line wins.

3. FIT FOR A LADY
Each woman takes a spool of ribbon and holds it in her hand. The men then grip the ribbon with their teeth and wrap it around the ladies without using their hands. The first guy who is successful in “dressing” the lady or whoever’s “dress” is the best, wins.

4. PEAS IN A POD
Sprinkle 20-30 peas on a few chairs or stools and put a bowl next to each. The players will then sit on their stools and try to move as many peas as possible into the bowls without using their hands. The player who gets the most peas in their bowl wins.

5. SIMON SAYS APPLE
Guests divide into pairs and place an apple between their foreheads. A leader is chosen to give directions: “Take two steps to the right!”, “Take three steps to the left!”, “Crouch!”, “Jump!”, and so on. The pairs follow the instructions. If they drop the apple, the pair is eliminated. Last pair standing wins.

6. BALLOON POP
Each guy sits with a balloon on his lap. The ladies then have to sit on their partner’s knees to get the balloon to pop. The couple that does this the quickest wins.

7. EVENING WEAR
The host asks two couples to participate in the game. He or she suggests that they fashion an evening dress. Players will only be allowed to use newspaper, pins and scissors. Guests will then vote on the winner.

8. REAL MAN
Divide into teams of one man and one woman. The guy who ties a kerchief around their lady’s neck while only using one hand will then earned the title of “The Real Man.”

9. EGG SHIMMY
Divide all of the guests and partners. Each team places and egg in between their backs, or a bit lower. The objective is to get the egg to the floor without breaking it. The first successful couple to do so wins. Instead of an egg, you can use a small ball. In this case, the couples would need to get the ball to the ground without letting it roll.

10. THE BLIND CLOTHESPIN
The play this game, divide into teams of two. One player will be blindfolded and the other player will have clothespins put on different areas of their clothing. At the hosts command, the blindfolded player will have to take all of the clothespins off of their partner. The first couple to get all of the clothespins off wins.

As an incentive, purchase a bunch of party favours and hand them out to all the winners as prizes.

If you know a special adult that has an upcoming birthday, celebrate it by hosting a themed birthday party. Throwing a successful party for an adult is simple – just use your own happy memories of birthday parties you had when you were young. Even grown people love birthday cake, party games, decorations and great food. These are just a few adult b-day celebration ideas to help get you started.

Adult Birthday Party Ideas – Theme Suggestions

Who says you’re too old to have a blast at a themed birthday party? While there is a good chance that the Guest of Honor has gotten too big for her afterschool tea parties or that he’s lost interest in his favourite childhood superhero, there are plenty of fun themed celebrations that are great for adults. Simple-to-host adult themed parties include:

• Poker or card themed parties
• Country associated parties, like a Japanese theme
• Sports-related parties
• Outback parties
• Adult pirate parties
• Masquerade ball costume parties
• Beach or pool parties
• Adult sleepover parties, like a camping night
• Landmark celebrations, like 30th, 40th, etc.

Adult Birthday Party Ideas – Adult Birthday Party Games

To throw a well put together bash, coordinate games that go along with the party theme. For an outback party, for instance, you can play different games with boomerangs and have a safari themed adult scavenger hunt. When hosting an over-the-hill bash, have your guests race with walkers or have a relay race with bedpans. Or maybe you can incorporate a few childhood games like the old egg on the spoon relay, three-legged races and water balloon tosses.

Whatever your theme may be, there are a few items you’ll need to make sure you have at your disposal, before the fun begins.

Here is an easy checklist for your birthday party supplies:

• Invites: Send them out two to three weeks prior to your party. Make sure you inform your guests of the reason for celebration, and include the theme for the party.
• Decorations: Hand-picked décor adds a festive touch to any fete. Stock up on extra tape, twine, markers, ribbons or bows, and make sure you have a pair of scissors and a stepladder handy.
• Snacks and beverages: Clear some room in your freezer for frozen goods before you go on a grocery run. Buy plenty of mixers (like juices and sodas), alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic beverages. If your freezer has an automatic ice maker, bag all of your ice prior to your party so you don’t have to make an emergency run.
• Paper goods: Get ready for extra guests in your bathroom by stocking up on your supply of toilet paper. For kitchenware, buy enough supplies to average two plates and three napkins or paper towels per guest.
• Party favours: Making little bags of party favours that the guests can take home with them is a great way to prolong the fun. Try to buy favours that go together with your theme, or pick up some everyday items that your guests will be able to put to good use.
• Party games: Purchase or hand make any party supplies or props you’ll need for games you will be playing well prior to your event.
• Flashlights: Make sure you have several of these on hand, as well as a pack of new batteries, for any outdoor games you might be playing at night.
• Party Tunes: Make a mixed CD of music that compliments your party’s theme, or create a list of songs that people will love to dance to.

By following a few of these guidelines, you’ll be sure to throw a birthday celebration that will be just as much fun as you remember having when you were a kid!

Be sure to visit www.partysuppliesnow.com.au for the best selections and prices on party supplies.

The 10 Rules of Wedding Toasting

1. Anticipate speaking for around one to four minutes. No one wants to hear an impossibly lengthy toast that covers every event that has happened since you’ve been friends. When it comes to wedding toasts, even brief toasts will suffice if you come off as passionate and sincere.

2. Look around to make sure everyone’s glass is full before you start. You or the MC might want to ask the guests to top off their drinks, as toasting is about to begin. Afterwards, give the guests 3 to 5 minutes to complete this task.

3. Stand if you are giving the toast (sit if you are receiving one) and use your right hand to hold the glass when you toast. After you’ve finished toasting, it’s traditional for everyone to clink their glasses together before taking a sip.

4. Begin your speech with something personal. The story of how the bride and groom met each other is a great way to start. Using humor or reading a quote is also a good way to begin.

5. Always use discretion by being tasteful with your humor. While cracking jokes about the bride and groom maybe the type of amusement you’re seeking, making too much fun may not go over well with your audience.

6. Use your normal speaking voice, and try not to make forced hand gestures or speak in a different accent. Your audience will want to listen to your own thoughts, not sit through something dramatic. Remember that you were picked to be you, not somebody else.

7. Take the time to do some practice toasts. It’s never a good idea to “wing it” unless you’ve made a lot of public speeches.

8. As you make your toast, look around the room at your audience. Making eye contact is a characteristic that a good speaker always possesses.

9. Enunciate your words and try not to rush. Make sure to take your time and breathe in deeply, because if you rush your words, no one will be able to understand you clearly.

10. Last but not least, end your toast with a well-wishing, congrats, or cheers.

Don’t Make These Top 5 Mistakes

1. Consuming over one drink to calm anxiety before your speech. This might sound like a good idea, but aside from relaxing your nerves, overindulging in alcohol can also hinder you from talking clearly and obstruct your perception of what may be suitable speech material.

2. Profanity and/or exaggerating the truth.

3. Making an apology for being a sub par speaker – Never say you’re sorry for being bad at making speeches, and don’t admit that you didn’t want to give a speech, either. This is a rule for any speech and all instances, not weddings alone.

4. Bringing up previous girlfriends, prior marriages, or former relationships. Not only could this possibly embarrass someone, but it is not appropriate at a wedding. You can, however, bring this up at a stag party.

5. Racy or inappropriate stories about the married couple that don’t have a PG rating. Remember that grandparents, and potentially children, will be listening to your speech. Speak on topics that are suitable for all ages in the audience.

Now that you have these guidelines to follow, here’s to wishing that your next toast is a big success!