How to Plan a Valentine's Party
or Wedding
Susan Dunn, sdunn@susandunn.cc,
The EQ Coach
http://www.susandunn.cc
 First decision: date and time.
Your best shot for getting lots of guests is to pick a not-prime time. Try something the
Saturday before Valentine’s Day, for instance, or Sunday, the day after. Also an
off-time, such as brunch or lunch instead of cocktail or evening party. Check to make sure
"key players" can come. Also a time when you’ll have the week before to do
the work.
Send your guest a
Save The Date Card
Guest List
Write down whom you want to invite and take a count. This determines everything from cost
to venue to refreshments.
Where will you have it?
Your home? A romantic outdoor patio restaurant? A restaurant with a fireplace and
strolling violinist? The recreation room at your apartment complex? If you’re going to rent,
call ahead and find out how many people they can accommodate, if the place is available
that day, how much it will cost, what’s included in the rental fee, and what other
services are available. If you’re renting a place, go there and talk to the catering
decorator, walk around and take a tour. Questions will occur to you that might not
otherwise:
Can you bring your own food and drinks?
Order invitations as soon as you have the date, time and place
selected. Ordering Invitations online
saves time.
What about decorating? Again ordering online saves you time and
fuel...you don't have to run from store to store to find what you need.
For convenience check out these
Valentine's Day Decorations for parties and weddings
Are there separate fees for room rental, security, maintenance, waiters, insurance, etc.?
How’s the parking and public transportation. This can make a big difference in
your guests desire to come, for instance on a rainy night.
What’s the theme?
Well, Valentine’s, but romantic? Options might include
Candy Hearts, Party
Hearts,
Betty Boop, Light-hearted, Formal, Casual. Choose your
theme and then plan your
Invitations,
Tableware,
Decorations,
Party favors,
Valentine's Banners, and music.
Schedule of Party "Events".
Plan a time for mingling, with drinks and hors d’oeuvres before a dinner –
that’s how people "warm up"
If you’re having honorary speeches, toasts, or some such (20 minutes is plenty of time to
allot for this), allow time afterwards, because the conversation will be primed
Provide
Romantic background music or according to the tone of your
event –
Big Band Music,
Broadway Music,
Cocktail "Jazz" Music, rock band, romantic piano, harp, etc.
Now coordinate what you’ve decided on so far: time, place, theme and cost.
Here are some adjustments you can make:
Hard liquor, mixed drinks are expensive. If you’re having lots of people, switch to
beer and wine, or make an alcoholic punch or
Martini and Cocktails.
To cut costs, try something thematic like a bottle of Valentine wine, that is, from the
Valentine Vineyards, in Southern Mendocino County. The labels on the
bottle are cool for a Valentine’s Wedding! www.valentinevineyards.com/oh.html
You can buy party trays at Sam’s or at Local Fancy Catering Boutique. Making them is probably going to cost more than Sam’s, but it has it’s
virtues, caterers can be very pricey, but then there’s no work for you to do.
Try Super Suppers or other convenient kitchen alternative where you stop
in and pick up the food you've ordered.
Ordering a decorated cake is a good way to handle dessert for a crowd. It brings
everyone around, is festive, and easy to manage. If you are up to baking
these supplies will help -
Heart Cake Pan,
Heart Candy Mold,
Heart Cookie Stamp,
Hugging Hearts Baking Cups,
Mini Hearts Baking Cups,
Party Music can be live (more expensive) or your radio or CDs
(no cost).
Will you want to hire someone to clean the day? The day of the party to serve and clean
up? Both? (Be sure and check out his/her uniform. You could provide a cute Valentine’s
apron for her or chefs apron for him.)
Need a bartender? Also check on his uniform. You don’t want any surprises.
Arrange for photography – stills, candid shots, videos, a professional photographer?
Decorations – floral arrangements are the most expensive, but they can sure dress
up a table. Make your own
Topiary Hearts Trees or use ready made
Party
Hearts Centerpiece or
Valentine Party Kit
You can go to a party store and look around according to your theme, if
you’re going with paper goods shop online for
Candy Hearts Partyware,
Agatha Hearts, or
Party
Hearts tableware. If you have your own china, crystal, etc. start polishing them up.
If you want to purchase permanent tableware or favors, visit a store like Tuesday Morning and see
what they have. (Tip: Shop right after holidays, buy things on sale, and be ready for the
next year.) Look at Plum Party for
Valentine dishes. Don't forget the novelty items like
Hot Lips Toilet Paper or fanciful
Valentine's Day borders and trim,
Valentine Party Favors
Elegant doesn’t have to be more expensive
People instinctively cut back when the goods are pricey, i.e., if you serve Beluga Prime
from Caviarteria in New York (price $750/lb.), your guests won’t be expecting to make
a meal of it, and who can eat more than a dab of caviar anyway? If you’re providing
Krug Clos du Menil from Sherry-Lehmann in New York ($1,400 a case), no one’s going to
be chugalugging it. Tell them it’s Kobe beef (up to $500/lb.) and they’ll be too
horrified to ask for seconds. Make Julia’s Child classic chocolate cake, all of
1" high, and one small sliver suffices even the pickiest eater. It’s richer even
than a Starbuck’s brownie. These things titillate your senses other than raw hunger
and so are very satisfying in another sort of way. Have a classic piano in the background,
and people naturally move into refined slow-motion. But if these aren't in
your budget try these
Gourmet Delights,
Sweets,
Chocolate, Cookies and Handmade Candies from Plum Party.
However, if you’ve got bins of queso dip and tortilla chips, everyone will have
that no-holds-barred approach to the buffet table. If JC and the Sunshine Bang are
cranking it out, well all impulses are on "go"! Include some gourmet
treats;
dried soups, salsa, sauces, or seasoning packets.
Brunches are quite economical! Call those pancakes crepes – no, really,
it’s a separate recipe and divine, serve a light fruit punch or Bloody
Mary’s, some bacon and sausage, a light salad … won’t cost much at all.
I recommend Julia Child’s crepe recipe, and definitely the flaming
orange crepes. They nearly put your tongue to sleep, and again, these
things are so "rich," no one wants more than a taste. A little trick
thrifty hostesses learn!
Entertainment
Live entertainment adds a really special note to a home party. Local talent is probably
available that isn’t expensive. Check with universities, colleges, high schools, and
churches – the choral directors, the music or dance department. Check the yellow
pages. There may be several children’s dance groups, and they are always charming,
because children can do no wrong, entertainment wise. Check the ballet and tap schools and
see if you have a boys’ choir. If these don't work for you just pull
out the CD player and try a
Party Music CD,
Cocktail Party CD or
Broadway Music CD
Plan your own entertainment with
Hot Lips Pinata or
Valentine Wrap some
Valentine Party favors and give to each guest.
Make decisions and book it. Also get a babysitter for the kids – or send them all
over to your sister’s with a sitter over there. Book your hair and nails. Send out
the invitations. (Want to do something cute
online? Try these classic
Valentine's as Invitations. Put all your
"details" in a notebook. Start cleaning, cooking ahead, getting glasses out,
freezing, and cleaning the farther corners of the house.
The little touches
Now have some fun. Look on the Internet for things like
Valentine Candles and
Valentine Soap for your guest room, and a
Valentine wreath for your door, and maybe a heart-shaped
doormat. These are little touches you CAN add, not things you MUST
have...like
Valentine Confetti,
Heart Beads or
Double Heart Balloon Weight with
Heart-Shaped Balloons
If it’s in your home, always have something hot to serve that’s in the oven
as the guests arrive and smells divine. Use
Candy Hearts Floating Candles to create a fun mood.
Tip: Always use candlelight if you can.
It hides a multitude of "sins," i.e., dust bunnies and carpet stains, and sets a
gentle ambience. These
Sweetheart Valentine's Day Candles give a nice glow.
If you want a good turnout, do your PR work. Talk up the party with friends as you see
them, mail out
Save The Date cards in advance or give them a call to see if they got their
Party invitation. Drop a hint about the Clos
du Menil, or the Big Band.
That should get you started.
©Susan Dunn, MA, certified Emotional Intelligence
coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . Offering individual coaching, employee programs, distance
learning, The EQ Learning Lab™, a the EQ eBook Library –
http://www.webstrategies.cc/ebooklibrary.html . Want to become a certified Emotional
Intelligence Coach. Go here – http://www.eqcoach.net . Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for
FREE eZine. For daily tips on EQ, send blank email to
EQ4U-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
|
A Sweet Treat
Save the Date Postcards
Party
Hearts Valentine Pattern
Celebrate Love! This Party Hearts pattern is not only good for
Valentine's Day but for any celebration where Hearts are the theme.
Party
Hearts Plates,
Tablecover,
Cups
Party
Hearts Centerpiece
Candy Hearts Partyware
Blushing
Pink
Blushing
Plates
Blushing
Beverage Napkins
Blushing
Luncheon Napkins
Blushing
9oz Cups
Blushing
Invitations
Valentine Party Kit
Sweetheart Theme Partyware
Sweet Hearts Theme
Valentine's Hearts Napkins
Valentine's Party Items
Valentine's Day Crossword
Valentine's Day Decorations
Valentine's Day Party Invitation
Solid Red Party Supplies
Red
10 1-4" Plates
Red
7" Plates 20
Red
Beverage Napkins
Red
Dinner Napkins
Red
Tablecover
Red
Plastic Forks
Red
Plastic Knives
Red
Plastic Spoons
Valentine's Day Decorations
Heart
Shaped Beads
Hearts Around! Tie this around a napkin or wear this 48"
heart necklace. Great for Valentines Day.
Red
Glow Hearts
Give Me Your Heart Glow heart has a peel-off back. Just
squeeze to activate, and then stick them on. Certainly, glow hearts are great for a
Valentines Day theme
Red
Wrist Streamers
Red wrist streamer, will accent your party from disco to
Valentine's.
Red
Rave Sticks
Crazy Glow Rave Sticks! A sure hit!
Hearts
Door Cover
Beautiful Entrance! Decorate the door way with this white
flowers and hearts 7' door cover
Diamond Ring Napkin Rings
and Shimmer Cocktail Napkins
Deluxe
Red Boas
Red Hot Boa! Decorate your guests and party with color. Use
this red 6' deluxe turkey feather boa.
Deluxe
Pink Boas
Hot Pink Boa!
Decorate with this 6' pink deluxe turkey feather boa.
Pink
Boa
Spice Up Your Party! Accent your party with this 60" pink
boas or dress up your guests.
Red
Beads
Color It Red! 7.5mm 33" red beads are great to use when
red is your decorating color.
Pink
Glow Necklaces
A Pink Glow! Give your party a pink hue with our 50 pack of
pink glow necklaces. Use alone or mix with our other solid colors for a great night time
look. Great for decorating.
Pink
Glow Light Bracelet
Great Pink Glow!
Light Up your party with 8" Pink Bracelets for Napkin Rings or Party Favors
Blinking
Pink Beads
Blinking Beads! All your favorite colors in this blinking
necklace. Long lasting batteries included.
Pink
Candle Set
Great Favor! 2.5" votives are packed in a beautiful clear
box and wrapped with a bow. Each votive is trimmed with pink stars.
Pink
Inflatable Chair
Clear
Inflatable Chair
Flowers on her Chair! Adult size 36" x 36"
inflatable chairs are made of heavy plastic. The pink chair covered in daisys creates a
nice party atmosphere inside or out.
Let your guest know where the party is at with these
Valentine Party Banners
Two
Hearts As One
Lovable
Hearts
Personalized Favors
Custom
Red CD Case
Custom
Red Neck Wallet
Custom
Glass Heart Box
Glass
Heart Box
Custom
Candle In Tin
Valentine's Paper Goods
|
