We’ve all been there at some point: a tiring week with all the deadlines and work-related stress building up. Before we know it, the weekend just flies by and it’s the start of another week. If you have nothing to do on the weekend, why not throw a party? Instead of moping around waiting for another Monday to come, why not de-stress and have a fun, party-filled weekend?
Sure, reading a book, playing a video game, watching a movie, and all that stuff can be fun, but a party just hits differently. If throwing a party might seem too much for you, we got you covered. Here are some of the essentials to throw a party for you and your friends:
Table of Contents
Planning Beforehand
Sadly, a great party is planned and not just some overnight decision. Ideally, you should plan a big party three weeks in advance. However, if it’s just for a few people, then a week or even three days is enough. For a big party, you’ll need all your free time, especially if you’re the only one prepping for it.
The Guests
A party of one simply isn’t a party. Of course, a great party needs to have great people in it. You can invite over some family members, friends, acquaintances, etc. When planning your guest list, you should always expect a 70-80% turnout. Let’s face it; not everyone may be able to come to your party.
Time
You can invite everyone you want anywhere you like, but no one will come if you don’t choose the right time. Thankfully, you can expect that there’ll be many people who are accessible on the weekends. Depending on your guests, the right time for a weekend party to start would be around 6-8 PM or 7-9 PM.
Venue
Now you have the date, time, and people, it’s time to choose the venue. If you have space in your house, such as an open yard or a swimming pool in the back, then you have one of the best venues for a party. If you’re going to book a place, make sure to check the available dates beforehand. Whichever venue you pick, make sure alcohol and all the other fun stuff are allowed.
Drinks and the Occasional Smoke
Speaking of fun stuff, alcohol and the occasional smoke are some things an awesome party should have. Although some might want to leave out this stuff, be open to those who want it. Since recreational marijuana is allowed in most states, it’s to be expected at any social gathering, especially if a lot of young people are coming.
A great party isn’t supposed to be boring. A great party should have drinks, bottles, a one hitter here or there, etc. Don’t worry about it; a party is where you should relax and enjoy the company of your friends and family, not where you play police and uphold the law.
Food
Aside from the drinks and smoking, a party should always have good food. If you’re starting around dinner time, make sure you have filling food to serve. You can opt for catering services or just wing it with easy-to-cook party food.
We’re not saying that you should lay out an elegant banquet, but your guests will appreciate a good meal while the party is going on. If a party starts a bit late, you can get finger foods such as chips, shrimp cocktail, bbq skewers, buffalo wings, chicken wings, etc., for your guests.
Music
What’s the difference between a meeting and a party? Music. A party that doesn’t have the tunes isn’t a party. Your guests will love to dance and drink to the tunes at your party. Of course, choose an upbeat playlist that’ll excite the crowd. You wouldn’t want to dance to Ave Maria or Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion’s “The Prayer,” wouldn’t you? If you have the money to splurge, getting a DJ or even a band to manage the tunes at your party would also be cool.
Entertainment
The music has to die down at some point, so to keep the festive feeling going, it’s best you have fun activities or other sources of entertainment. You could play Cards Against Humanity, belt your feelings out with karaoke, play Mexican train, trivia, or charades; there’s just no shortage of fun you can dish out at your party.
Takeaway
With the essentials mentioned above, you’re on your way to throwing one of the best weekend parties ever. Your guests will simply ask “When’s the next party?”