Want to throw a party? But you don’t know what it entails to plan a party that turns out to be one that everyone enjoys — including your parents who have to organise it.

We need to be very practical while organising a party. We need to keep in mind that parties are meant to be fun … but they should be relaxing for everyone, so make sure it’s not organised on the nerves of others. Here are a few tips that would help you hold a successful bash during this vacation.

Take permission first

Always have a word with your family members before announcing a party among your friends. If your parents turn down your wish, try to understand their reason, after all they are the people who had introduced the concept of partying by celebrating your birthdays and other significant events of your life with fervour and enthusiasm.

Even if their reasons apparently do not make sense to you, come up with an understanding approach and discuss some alternate date, on which they might not have any problem. And if they still don’t agree to the idea, accept it and forget about the party because they would not turn down something you want without genuine reasons for doing so.

If the decision is in your favour, offer your full support in organising and preparing for the party. Since it’s your party, you will have to play the major role! Organise yourself dear, as the success of your party depends largely on you.

Make a list

Firstly, list down your perspective guests. Mark the ones that you expect will show up and then try to come up with the actual number of guests you expect. Only when the list is ready and approved by your parents, then ask your mum to give an invitation call to your friends’ mothers.

Never undermine the fact that till you are a kid, you are trusted because of the backing of your parents. Other parents agree to send their kids to your home because they have judged that you have a responsible family!

Select a theme

You can have a regular lunch, tea or dinner party or select a theme to make things more interesting. What the theme is and how far you are willing to take it depends on the kind of arrangements you are willing to do and the extra money you will be spending on it.

It is better to have a simple theme, like a colour code, or your favourite movie or game theme, but make sure it doesn’t require too much expense in terms of what the guests have to wear or how you will decorate your home/party room. If you need special expensive decoration and food items, it will cause a problem for your parents to manage and if you ask your friends to wear specific costume, it will become expensive for your friends’ parents to manage.

So plan things keeping the expenses in mind, but if you are creative enough, with lots of homemade decorations, you can have a superb themed party that everyone will enjoy.

The place to party

When all the invitees are finalised, plan where you will hold the party to accommodate all your friends. Is it supposed to be in the drawing room, lounge or the garden area (if you have one)? Discuss the venue with your mother as she is the mistress of your home and will have some useful suggestions.

Try to settle on an area that is suitable for every member of the family.

Deciding the menu

When having a party, we imagine everything according to our wishes, however, it is our parents who are actually playing the major role in arranging events for us so we should discuss everything with them.

Let your mother decide the menu, but you should also give your suggestions. Try to be selective and don’t have too many food items. You can also take cue from the parties you have attended, whether at your home or at others’ home. Remember what went wrong and what dishes are popular. And also give input about the likes and dislikes of your friends to your family to help in the final food selection.

Be a help

Now help your mum to jot down her work as far as the preparation and collection of the menu items are concerned. Your helpful attitude and words of gratitude will energise her.

Party day!

On the party day, be very active in getting the house ready. You can do a lot of things that would indeed please your parents. Help in the cleaning of your home. Mums are very finicky with such things, so be very careful with it. Clear up all unnecessary things so the house becomes neater and accommodates more people.

Help your mum with the selection of crockery and cutlery. You can use disposable ones if it is a casual gathering of friends so that mum won’t have to worry about dishwashing later on.

If dinner plates and glasses are used, it’s simply your responsibility to supervise things in a way that everything is safely used to avoid breakage. Remember, crockery is mum’s passion and she would get upset if you don’t care about her things!

When the party is over …

Now, when your party is over and your guests have returned to their homes happily, you are tired. But so is everyone else. The party was yours so it is also your responsibility to clean up the mess with your mum if you don’t have helpers at your home.

One last thing, when everything is done well, don’t you owe your parents some words of gratitude for arranging everything for you? So say some magic words to show how much you appreciate their efforts. Remember, it will mean a lot to them and you’ll be allowed to hold other parties in the future other parties to throw in the future.

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 23rd, 2016