From live music to theme-based decor and karaoke to poker, New Year’s Eve house parties have turned into a creative affair with the hosts taking an extra step to make it a memorable affair for their family and friends.
With the clock ticking down to the New Year, MetroPlus chats with hosts and party planners for tips and tricks to make house parties festive and memorable.
Brunches, birthdays, baby showers — Abhisha Gothi has hosted them all. Passionate about crafting, Abhisha started her creative management boutique called ‘Party Box’ two years ago after she hosted a baby shower for a friend. “After that, I started enjoying the whole experience of creating innovative themes and craft-based decors for house parties for different occasions,” says Abhisha, who has a team of 11 assisting her.
Decor
Abhisha feels a good theme and proper décor go a long way to make house parties memorable. “New Years Eve parties are all about celebrations and raising a toast to the good times. The ‘Good Old Memories’ theme may be apt for the occasion. Pictures can be printed and gas helium foil balloons like gold, silver, black can be used for the interior décor. Also a screen can be put in the house where slideshow of photos can go on. You can play old songs or simply keep an old gramophone for the décor,” she says. Neon parties and bling affair are some themes that are snazzy and peppy for New Year’s Eve.
Abhisha recommends the house party hosts to have a plan for when the clock strikes midnight. Figure out in advance how you want to mark the moment. Will you turn on the TV and watch the ball drop? Or do your own countdown? “Sky lanterns with smiley stickers can be a different way to mark the moment at midnight,” she adds.
Quick fixes
Sonal Sarda has thrown enough parties to know what is likely to go wrong. “Two things that are of great importance in house parties are constant cleaning up while the party is on and ensuring that the guests get back home safely. Things go crazy on the roads, especially on the Beach Road, on New Year’s Eve. If I am the host, I take the responsibility of my guests so that they reach home safely,” she says.
For Sonal, the aesthetics of a house party, décor and presentation of food are something she doesn’t compromise on. “Your party has to be attractive. And you can add a creative touch with simple methods. For instance, pick up empty bottles, do metallic spray paints on them and hang it in a corner,” she says. No party happens without music. There may be guests who are not in a chatty mood; music works really well on such occasions, she adds.
Sonal explains that there are many quick ways for creative presentation of food. Her tips: Make cocktail sticks of olive, pineapple and cheese and prick them into a cabbage. Make ice cubes by adding a piece of fruit in it so that the drink looks attractive when you add the ice cubes. Plonk the French fries in shot glasses. It shouldn’t just be the guests who have fun, Sonal says; the details and execution should be fun for the host too. “When people come to your house, they will remember you for these extra efforts,” she adds
Themes
Theme party planner Paridhi Agarwal says that house parties should have a mix of activity, music and fun themes. “Film-based theme parties are a hit. For instance, one can have a theme of the recently released film ‘Frozen’,” says Paridhi, who has been running her party planning venture ‘Party Pitaara’ that mainly focuses on kids parties. With the ‘DDLJ’ theme flashing across the collective memory of people, it can be another fun option too. A sure shot formula for house parties, Paridhi says, is the Karaoke nights. “Rent a karaoke machine for the night and play guests favourite tunes; best singer wins! Dance-based activities like ‘dance freeze’ add to the fun,” she adds.
Nothing seems to be hotter nowadays than the concept of photo booths, she says. You can make up your own by setting up an area for your guests to mug for the camera. Hang a sheet for a backdrop and have a bin of props for your friends to use.
Her parties also include a stack of board games – so there are Taboo, Pictionary, Jenga and Guesstures – all adding extra doses of fun leading to a memorable night.
“I love a reason to celebrate. To me, there is no such thing as too large a party or too small a reason to have one! And space is never a constraint,” says the perpetual party planner.
Tips
Clear the main party area. Remove all obstacles except sitting space.
Don’t send out invitations on Whatsapp or Facebook. Make personal calls.
Put up a menu that doesn’t require elaborate preparations.
You can also get a home chef for food preparations.
Where to buy
Party Hunters store has a good option for house parties
Mira Collections
Partymanao.com
Waqao.com
