The thought of planning a last-minute event - whether it's an office party, an exhibition opening or a child's birthday - can send even the most seasoned party organizer into cold, panicked sweats.
It's absolutely understandable why the idea of putting together a party at short notice is terrifying: if you're left in charge of the logistics, you want the event to go well. If it doesn't, it'll reflect badly on you or your company's image. Finding an appropriate venue, getting the invites out on time, hunting down a decent DJ and getting the catering sorted are just a few things you'll be thinking about, and with a short deadline looming over you, it can all feel a bit too much.
However, while planning well ahead of the party is absolutely recommended in specific situations (like a wedding), there is a certain kind of magic - a sense of ultimate freedom - about the spontaneity of impromptu events and showing your guests a great time without spending months on prepping.
For example, if your company reached a new milestone or won an award that you're particularly proud of, you might want to celebrate the occasion and thank your staff. Or perhaps life just got a little too busy and you simply had no time to plan your partner's surprise birthday party. Whatever the case, there absolutely is no need to panic: mastering the skill of spontaneous event planning is easier than you think.
Here are four things to keep in mind that will help reduce your stress and maximise your event's success:
1. Forget postal invites and get creative with digital
As much as we may love snail mail, it's not the way to go if you need to get your guests to confirm attendance and are tight on time. Thanks to handy apps like Evite, you can send personal invites to your guests directly to their phone. Simple, easy, and perfect for impromptu invites.
2. Be your own DJ
Music is integral to setting the tone and atmosphere of any party, but you needn't hire a DJ to do the job. Spend an hour or two on Spotify and create your very own dream playlist - or search through hundreds of existing ones - hire some speaks, plug in your laptop and you're good to go! Same applies to booze. Get your guests to bring their favourite bottle of an exotic liquor and you're guaranteed to have a very fun night... just make sure to stock up on the aspirin for the following day.
3. Hire furniture, heaters and more super easily online
If you find yourself lacking in non-negotiable essentials like tables, chairs, heaters, speakers or air conditioners for your event, it's easy to go into a full-on panic mode. Thankfully, platforms like Rentuu.com can supply you with virtually everything you need at very short notice. Plus, it's extremely easy to use and you needn't fill out lengthy forms or send email requests to get the job done. What more could you ask for?
4. Enlist friends or professionals to help
If you find yourself buckling under the pressure, don't be shy and ask for help! There's no shame in admitting that you need a pair (or two) of extra hands to get you through the planning process. You'll find reputable event planning companies galore to choose from, or, better yet - ask a friend for help! It'll be double the fun.
