• The occasion: When you look at the occasion of reason for the party, does everything coincide with it. Are there enough tables and chairs for all the guests? What about the atmosphere? What time of year is the party being held? Is it in the heat of summer or the cold of winter? These are all factors to consider.
• The menu: What about the menu? Is it right according to what you are planning? Is the food according to what type of party it is? For instance, you wouldn't want to have Halloween cookies on the 4th of July. So you need to know what the party is for and the reason for the party.
• The decor: What about the furnishings? Do the tables have the right cloths on them for the type of party being held? Are the chairs covered appropriately? Is the right china being used? What about the crystal? You wouldn't want to get out your best china and glasses for an outside barbeque. Also, the napkins have to match the atmosphere as well.
No matter what party or event it is, the primary goal is to satisfy the guests, since they are the ones who will benefit from the experience.
The first step is calling a caterer. Then the caterer takes some information down over the phone and makes an appointment to see you. The caterer will be concerned about the following situations:
• What is the date of the event?
• What type of event is it - social or professional?
• What kind of budget are you looking at?
• Do you have a count of how many guests will be at your event?
• Have you decided on what theme or venue you want for your party or event?
These are the primary questions. He/she may ask for more. That may occur at your interview time. When the appointment time comes to discuss the party or event with the caterer, this is when you want to talk about all things you want for it. Whatever you do, don't think about budget only. You have to let the caterer know exactly what you want, and give him as much detailed information as possible. After you give him all the details including your budget, he/she will work up a proposal for you. Before this happens though, the caterer may ask you a number of questions beyond the common ones. Such questions are:
• What is your guest's favorite food?
• What type of function does your guests like the most - formal or informal?
• When you have the event, how many people are you expecting? Do you like small or large groups?
• What location is the most prevalent for you and your guests?
These kinds of questions are usually asked when you are somewhat limited in your spending. So now the caterer knows your likes and dislikes, where you want the party, how many will be there and who will be there, the time of the party, and the food that will be served, he can come up with an itemized bill that you can hopefully agree on. From here the caterer will make all the preparations for the big day to come. They will ensure you that everything will be ready and on time for the event. When the day arrives, they will take care of decorating every aspects of the room, including the tables and chairs. They will also dish out the food, serve people, and clean up after the party is over.
• Party Pop: Party Pop is an online directory that lists caterers in every state in the union. All you have to do is know where the party will be held, go to that state, and look for someone who strikes your fancy. To reach Party Pops, just go to http://www.partypop.com/Categories/Catering.html.
• Melons: If you are looking for a company who can do it all for you and reasonably, contact Melons. They are specialists at catering and event planning. They know how to get the job done. Check them out at http://www.melonscatering.com/.
• Catering by Windows: For all the right ingredients you can get a full service catering, party planning, and event management service in one place. Want to know more about this fantastic company? Just go here http://www.catering.com/.
• Taste Catering: Taste Catering will provide catering of whatever event you are going to do. They are winners of the 2004 Best Caterer award by San Francisco Magazine, so they must be doing something right. To check them out go to http://www.tastecatering.com/.
• Backyard Stargazing Sleepover Party: Most kids love this, especially the girls. You would have them sitting outside in a comfortable position where they can view the sky at night. This would have to be done in the summertime because winter would be too cold to do this.
• Little Princess Party: Here's a great theme for the little girl. Why not let the girl fantasize being a princess for a day. It is kind of cute and makes the girl happy and fulfills their wishes and dreams. Even if it is just a day.
• Kids' Sports Party: This is great for the boys. You can have as the theme for basketball, football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, golf, badminton, hockey, and others. All you have to do is find out what your son's favorite sport is and plan around that as the theme. Your kid will love it.
• Rugrats Party: Here is a theme that is famous for both boys and girls. Rugrats are known around the world and have quite a following among children. You may find this theme to be very enjoyable for your youngsters.
Here are some common themes you may find that people throw for their kid's birthday party:
• Backyard Stargazing Sleepover Party: If you are having a party during the summer, this would be the best theme you could have. Why waste a perfectly good night when you could fix your kids up and put them outside so they can gaze at the starry sky. They can imagine themselves traveling through space as they count each star. After the kids have had their meal, desert, and other refreshments, you can plan this activity so they can get the most out of it. As for the decorations and food: just cover the table with black cloth place silver star confetti on it. This way you can make some kind of solar system out of it. You can also place rocket ship models on the table as well. As for the food: the main thing is to have some kind of drink available since it will be hot out. Since astronauts drank Tang while out in space, you should serve this to your children. This will put them into the right frame of mind. Everything you prepare, make it look like moon rocks or rockets. You could even make small sandwiches and have them shaped like stars, the moon, or the sun.
• Little Princess Party: If you have a little girl at home and it is her birthday, why not give her a treat and make her feel special, even if it is for one day, by throwing a little princess party. You can treat her just like a little princess. To prepare for this party, and you are having it at your place, you will need to decorate your home as a castle. This means placing streamers and balloons strategically throughout the house. Also make sure to cover the chairs with a swatch of pink fabric. Finish it off with a large bow across the back of the chair. Place a yellow tablecloth on the table and cover with pink napkins. Make sure to serve sandwiches in the shape of hearts and top all deserts with chocolate covered strawberries. Server pink lemonade as the beverage.
• Kids' Sports Party: If you have a boy with a birthday, you can have as a theme sports. You can hold the event outdoors if at all possible. If you will have the party at your house, you can decorate the house based on your son's favorite sport or team. You can get balloons that highlight his favorite players. You can even hang signs around the house to make him feel like he is actually at a ball field. For example, for bathroom you could have a sign that says "Locker Room" or "Restroom". You can also set up a special booth for first aid including band-aids, bandages, hydrogen peroxide, a water cooler, and more. As for food and drink: have the kids drink Gatorade, since most commercials show sports figures drinking the stuff. Also make sandwiches and deserts that resemble footballs, baseballs, or whatever the sport may be.
• Rugrats Party: This is an easy one to do. Everything will be around the theme of Rugrats. So all you have to do is go to a store that carries party supplies and you'll see a whole section for Rugrats. Go there and get everything you will need including the table settings, covers for chairs, food, decorations, etc.
• Kids Parties Connection: This company carries all kinds of party supplies no matter the kind of party you want. You just choose the party or theme and they'll recommend what is best. Here is the site: http://www.kidsparties.com/.
• Amazing Moms: Amazing Moms will delight you with a variety of party supplies to fit nearly every type of budget and theme. Just go to http://www.amazingmoms.com/index.htm and see if they can help you.
• The Party Supplies Mall: This place has everything. You name it they have it. Just go to http://www.partysuppliesmall.com/ and see what spectacular party supplies they have available.
• Birthday Direct: Birthday Direct has many party supplies for the themes you need most. Just choose the theme or occasion and they'll show you what is best to have. Just go to http://birthdaydirect.com/.
• Koala Banana: This place will cater to your next child's birthday. All you do is contact the company and they will make arrangements for you. If you want the party at their location, they can arrange it. Just contact them for further details at http://www.koalabanana.com/.
• The Hollywood Caricaturist: If you are looking for a special type of entertainment, give this company a call or email. They specialize in caricatures and drawing people with a theme according to each person's choice. Check them out at http://www.aaacaricatureart.com/.
• Total Entertainment: Is a professional entertainment company that specializes in providing all kinds of entertainment activities for your child's birthday party. From moonwalks to clowns, these guys can deliver it all. Go to http://www.partypop.com/Vendors/4053497.htm to read more about what they do.
• Preparing the home: In order to entertain in your home or place, you must prepare it for the type of party you are looking to engage in. This could be any type of any theme. There are steps you must take to make sure your home or apartment is ready to take on the atmosphere of an event.
• Safety factors: When you entertain in your home, you have to be concerned about safety. There are factors to consider before you decide on doing any type of entertaining in your home or apartment. There are several tips that work really well when applied.
• Ordering supplies: Even when you decide on what day and time to hold any type of gathering, you must order the supplies for the party. If you don't already have some company in mind, this could be a tedious endeavor for you. You need at your fingertips a list of companies you can count on to deliver the goods when you need them.
If you are not sure about the way to prepare your home or apartment for entertaining, why not take a night school course and learn how it is done. There are courses that will teach you how to do it, and will take you step-by-step through the process.
Here are some areas of the home that homeowners and apartment dwellers looked into when entertaining in their home:
• Clutter: Is there too much clutter in all the rooms. Although you may not allow your guest to enter into certain rooms, you still may not want every room to look like it's in shambles. Take time to clean each room and put things away as they should be. You'll be happier for yourself when you actually see how clean your house or apartment can be.
• Empty space: Do you have enough empty space around, or is every space occupied by something, especially something that doesn't really need to be there. Your best bet would be to make sure you have enough space in your place for your guests to sit, but not so much you disrupt your own living quarters. There has to be balance.
• Bare walls: You may want to hang some pictures on any bare walls just to give each room the fullest it needs. After all, your guests wouldn't want you to come into their home and see bare walls. So make sure your home or apartment is pleasing enough for them to come to and sit in.
Next to consider is what type of party you want to have. When you have researched different themes and have come up with a theme or two, it is time to implement one or the other. The best way to prepare your home for your party theme is to do the following:
• Invitees: After you have decided on the theme of your party, you will need to figure out who you will invite to your party. You can't invite everyone so you'll have to try to be selective.
• Select party supplies: You will have to order your supplies and party favors for the party. Make sure to order these things ahead of time so they come to you on time.
• Entertainment: When it comes to entertainment, there are so many choices. Your best bet would be to find what your guests like the most and try to appease them as best you can.
• Food: Make sure to plan for food. Your guests will not come over if you do not have food. Make sure ahead of time what they like and don't like. This way you won't disappoint them.
In the meantime, remember that entertaining your home for friends and family is a good way to brighten up their day and make them feel good about being there. Here is a list of what to look out for when entertaining in the home:
• Trees: Are you having a Christmas party or some other kind of party where a tree may be involved? If so, is it a fresh tree? If the limbs or needles on the tree are not fresh, you run the risk of fires. Therefore, if it is fresh, keep it in a base holder and water it at all times. Also make sure the tree is a safe distance from the fireplace, radiator, space heater, or any place else that is hot.
• Light strings: If you are using light strings to brighten up the occasion, make sure that it has the UL mark on it. This mark means the product has been tested by the UL engineers for risk of fire, shock hazard, and other hazards. Even if it has this label on it, you still must use commonsense when using light strings or anything dealing with electricity.
• Electrical decorations: Before you use any electrical decorations make sure you test them. Check for cracked sockets, frayed or broken wires, and loose connections within the sockets. Because if any of these conditions exist, you are looking for a possible short which could lead to a fire.
• Switch off: Whatever you decide to use for your entertaining, make sure you turn off any electrical decorations or light strings if you leave home, or before you go to bed for that matters. This will prevent overheating and a fire hazard.
• Alarms: The biggest prevent against fires and smoke is to have smoke alarms and detectors installed in your home. They can be lifesavers so make sure you have them installed. Also make sure to have a fire extinguisher available. This is also important in case of a fire.
• It's My Mitzvah: This company handles all kinds of party supplies for whatever kind of party you are planning to run. They have so much to offer. Go to http://www.itsmymitzvah.com/ to see if they have what you are looking for.
• Home Decorators: This company does cater to home entertainment besides offering general home or apartment decorating tips. Go check them out and see if they have what you want: http://www.homedecorators.com/.
• The Classic Table: You're talking about a selection; The Classic Table has everything and anything you want. They have things from drink supplies, to kitchen sets. They carry all kinds of themes. Just go here to find out more: http://www.theclassictable.com/.
• Style at Home: This website has everything you want to know about decorating the home including a helpful guide and supplies as well. You can't go wrong with this company. Go here for more info: http://www.styleathome.com/StyleAtHome/client/en/today/home.asp.
