Daily Party Dish

Boo Mitzvah! A Halloween Theme Bar Mitzvah

Happy Halloween from everyone here at Party411.com!  We love a great Halloween party and were thrilled to see our friends over at Mitzvah Market featuring a Halloween theme Bar Mitzvah today.  What a fun and unusual theme!  We hope you enjoy it as much as we did -

See all the pictures from the Boo Mitzvah!

Sweet 16 Car Crazy: Games and Activities

One of our favorite Sweet 16 parties is our Car Crazy Party. Because 16 is the legal driving age in most states, having a Car themed Sweet 16 is almost too perfect.

With any party we're big believers in theme activities for the guests! Here are five of our favorite Car Crazy Sweet 16 party activities:

1. "Driver's License Photo Booth" - Just set up a digital camera, a stool and sheet for the background in a quiet corner. As your guests arrive have someone take a picture doing a "fun" drivers license picture. During the party someone can print out the photos and put them in those small acrylic picture keychains (check Walmart). Lay them out on a table for guests to grab on the way out...an activity and party favor all in one!
2. Racing Games - If you can set up Mario Cart on the TV you can have a tournament! Or have guests race radio controlled cars. If you have radio controlled cars make sure you have a defined course! You don’t want grandma tripping on a car.
3. Obstacle Course - To bring in the car theme set up car tires and have everyone jump through them. Or weave in and out of traffic cones carrying an egg on a spoon.
   
4. "Red Light, Green Light" - A great group game. Get the adults involved in this one too!
5. Driving Trivia - For something low key you can do a trivia sheet where you have to identify little known traffic signs. (This is also a good way to test which friends your child will be allowed to drive with.)

If you have any great car inspired games or activity please share in the comments below.

• Sweet 16 Planning Guide from Party411
• Car Crazy Sweet 16
• Sweet 16 Games and Activities

To Hire Or Not To Hire, That Is The Question!

You’re about to plan your upcoming big event; whether it's a B’nai Mitzvah, graduation, retirement, and you’re not sure where to turn or what to do.  Join the club.  As many events as I’ve planned over the last, um, forever, I’m always doing something new or something different and end up sourcing vendors I’ve never used before for things I’ve never done before.  First place I go?  The internet, of course.

Wow, that internet is amazing…PartyPop, Gigmasters, ClevelandDJs.net, I’ll Take Your Pictures.com (just kidding)—you search, you find.  But, buyer beware.  Unless you have references, you are taking your chances. 
   
Some years ago, a client of mine hired a caterer I had never used.  I told her I was worried; I begged her to think again; I think I even got down on one knee.  To no avail.  As the set up progressed and the caterer didn’t come, the client assured me this caterer knew what they were doing and would be at the temple in plenty of time.  That’s a no.  They never showed.  I called and called but the line was busy, and I soon suspected and confirmed the phone was off the hook.  I had an hour (or was it 45 minutes?) during the service to find food for 150 guests. I finally found a bakery that would stay open and at least give me pastry.  I sped there; I helped bag and box; I sped back.  She kissed me, she hugged me, but never again (I hope). 

So, the first piece of advice I have for you is to remember that word of mouth is the best way to find a vendor, a party room or venue, hotel rooms and, yes, even your event planner.  If you decide to use an event planner, let them do the leg work (most of us have vendors who are tried and true); if you’re not, call your friends and find out who they have used or know about; ask the other vendors who they might suggest and who they have worked with in the past.  And get a contract.  And after you sign it, make sure the vendor executes the contract as well. 

Why make sure you have a contract?  Here’s an example.  I can’t tell you how many times clients of mine reserved a room at one of the many facilities in town that have multiple event spaces and months or even days before the event, they are told the venue has another client for the room they thought they had reserved.  Did that client have a bigger budget?  Did that client have more guests? Who knows?  But in the meantime, my clients were moved to different locations within the space and had no recourse because the space wasn’t confirmed in the contract, and oh, by the way, they signed the contract but never received back an executed contract.   The moral of the story?  You can never have too much detail.   How many photos do you get for the price you are paying?  How long will the DJ play?  How many breaks will the band take?  Will every kid get a wax hand to take home or will the vendor run out of time? 

I don’t mean to scare you.  Most mitzvahs, graduations and retirements come off without a hitch.  Just make sure you reserve the most important vendors first (your space, your DJ, your photographer) since, as you know, there are multiple events each weekend.  And then relax.  It will all fall into place.

One last thing.  When using any vendor, make sure you have the total price “out the door,” and there are no surprises.  Little things like delivery, installation, after hours tear down can really add up.  And those rented chafing dishes can really get expensive!   That’s if the caterer shows up!

• Party Planning Ideas from Party411.com
• Bar and Bat Mitzvah Ideas
• Graduation Ideas
  

Outdoor Graduation Party Ideas

I think you need to give your graduate credit. I think they planned it on purpose, graduating from school right at the beginning of summer. An outdoor party combined with a graduation celebration is just meant to be!

Here are a few of our favorite Outdoor Graduation Party Ideas:

The Cookout – The old American summer standby. Go the traditional route with hot dogs and hamburgers or switch it up with a taco bar (a Party411 favorite!). Grab the crockpot, cook up a batch of taco meat and put out all the fixins and you are good to go. (You’ll want to set a time to eat, as the tomatoes, lettuce and cheese won’t appreciate being out in the heat all day.)

If you wanted a little twist to the Cookout you could “Roast” your graduate. How do you do this? Roast kabobs, veggies, marshmallows and then the graduate. Even if you didn’t roast the graduate this would be a deliciously entertaining graduation party!

A Pool Party – Your graduate along with friends and family will love having a pool party to celebrate. Open up the pool, tell your guests to bring their swim trunks (and a towel) and their floaties if they still need them. Add even more fun to your party by providing a Slip N Slide for all to enjoy. (You might want to have a camera handy.) Even provide water balloons. If you do have balloons designate a dry zone, nobody wants to see grandma’s reaction if her hair gets wet.

Party in the Park – Do you live near a great park or beach? Consider renting it out for your party. There is usually a pavilion which makes setting up easier. If there is an open field guests will play games themselves, whether it is baseball, football, bocce or volleyball there will be a pickup game.

Is there an outdoor graduation party you attended that was out of this world? Share it in the comments section below. Congrats to the graduate and we hope you enjoy your outdoor graduation party!

• Graduation Party Ideas from Party411.com
• Graduation Pool Party Ideas
• Graduation Sports Theme Ideas
  
• 2012 Graduation Announcements
• 2012 Personalized Graduation Invitations

TGIGS: Thank Goodness It's Graduation Season

Now, let's get down to invitation basics!!!

Well, it's time to start thinking about graduation and creating an invitation to remember.  And it's especially important that your guests remember a) that you are graduating; and b) that they should attend your graduation party (no guests-no fun!).

Consider thinking outside the box by starting with the invitation.  Many people use school colors-either the school they left or the school they are off to in the Fall.  Easy and acceptable but sometimes we want more.

We suggest you theme your party and write an invitation to match. Use one of our caricatures where you can include any and everything about yourself.  Or come up with something creative on your own:

• Listing the top 11 Reasons to attend [my] Graduation (it is 2011 after all)
• Using song titles to create the wording (between Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Black Eyed Peas you should be able to come up with something)
• Choose a graduation theme and talk the talk (Into golf?  Use phrases like "graduation is a lot more than par for the course" and go from there)  
• No graduation theme?  You can still be creative (e.g., for a party with no theme you can use fun bold letters and fun colors and just say: CAP + GOWN = GRADUATION as large as you can with the rest to follow)

Feel free to call us for help with your theme, your invitation, your décor and even your menu-and congrats to the Class of 2011.

• Graduation Party Ideas from Party411.com
• Graduation Planning Checklist
• 2011 Graduation Announcements
• 2011 Personalized Graduation Invitations
• 2011 Graduation Gift Ideas
• Graduation Etiquette

December Graduation Parties

I teach at a local university and am very aware of the work and effort necessary to get a degree. (Trust me, they earn their degree.) So I always feel bad for those students that graduate in December.  A December graduation is every bit as meaningful as one in the spring. My students are just as excited and just as proud of their accomplishment.

But they never seem to have a graduation party. Like December birthdays these very special occasions seem to get swallowed up by the holidays.

We here at Party411 say, Don’t Let It Happen!!! This is our official reminder to celebrate the occasion. The graduate deserves a celebration on par with the spring graduations.  No matter what your graduate says they will appreciate the celebration. 

Be proud of your graduate and reward them with a December graduation party!

• Graduation Party Ideas from Party411.com
• Open House Graduation Party
• What's Hot for Graduation?
• 7 Tips for Graduation Thank You Notes
  

7 Tips for Graduation Thank You Notes

 

To all of the new graduates out there, congrats! (For all of those who have not yet graduated or thrown their party, check out our graduation party ideas for all your graduation party needs!)  Back to the graduates; we hate to burst your bubble but you are not done. You have to write your thank you notes. I know these are painful, but frankly it’s something that has to be done.  So I want to share some tips I picked up through my experience both writing and commiserating with my buds.

1. Make a list. I know this sounds simple, but make a list of exactly what you received and from whom.  When opening gifts your floor will turn into a collage of wrapping paper and gift certificates and presents.
2. Start writing quickly.  Nobody expects a thank you within a day, but nobody wants to wait 6 months for a thank you.  This is a common courtesy, and you are a graduate now, which means you’re responsible.
3. Don’t use cookie cutter messages.  Your guests spent a lot of time thinking about a gift for you. Do the same in your response.
4. And continuing from 3, write from the heart.  I was surprised to see some of my thank you notes on display when I went to visit.  Your guests will appreciate and enjoy your honesty.  It will also avoid an awkward situation if you use cookie cutter responses.
5. If you received a gift certificate and do not know what you are going to use it for, don’t lie.  Be honest and say you are not sure what you plan on using it for. When you do use the gift card though, a simple call or email to let them know would be a nice touch. If you do know, by all means let them know.  They will love knowing what their gift was used on.
6. You have a list, set an order.  I know this sounds terrible, but it’s probably more important that the grandparents receive a thank you before Joe from down the street. 
7. Also keep in mind; these thank yous are going to be time consuming. So set a few hours aside each day to get them done in a timely manner.  This will keep your mind fresh which will lead to better, more thoughtful thank you notes.

We are not going to lie, writing thank you notes, and a lot of them, is challenging. But it is something which must be done.  Your guests were gracious enough to give you a gift; you should be gracious as well.  If you are getting stuck remember: you are a graduate, and congratulations.

What to Wear to a Bar or Bat Mitzvah

 

Our Social Media Expert here at Party411, Brian, stopped into my office this morning to ask me to write a blog post about what to wear at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah and to specifically focus on what the family invited should wear.  I thought this was a great idea and said I would be happy to write a post.  Then I learned that Brian was just invited to his cousin's Bat Mitzvah and doesn't know what to wear.  I guess even our staff at Party411.com needs help from time to time!  So, this one is for Brian.

Starting with the service, you can assume you need to wear something a bit more formal.  That means a suit for the guys (sorry Brian) and a suit or skirt/dress for the ladies.  You're at Temple, so keep that in mind and dress appropriately.

The party is a different story.  A party held immediately after the service usually means that people will stay in the same clothes they wore at the service.  The immediate family may change into "party clothes" but the guests won't need to change.

Take a look at the invitation and the dress code (hopefully) listed and the party location when determining what to wear to the party.  For example, casual at a country club may really mean khakis for men (no jeans) and a fun evening outfit for the women.  However, casual at a sports complex means jeans and comfortable.  If you see, "dressy", "evening attire", or "festive attire", this means you should take your outfit up a notch.  Dresses and suits are appropriate or ties without jackets for men.  "Formal" or "black tie", of course mean the sky's the limit - cocktail dresses and tuxedos!

If you're at a loss, you can always ask the celebrant's family for a suggestion about what's appropriate to wear. 

Good luck, Brian.  Post pictures after the big day.

Amy

LOST Season Finale Party

 

Did you know that LOST was in its final season? Of course you did. (Even if you lived under a rock you knew.)  You’ve spent the last six seasons living on everything these characters did. Heck you even picked sides and debated with your friends.  In fact, every week you marked your calendar because you knew something special could happen. Don’t you think you should give LOST a Seinfeld-esque send off?  We here at Party411 think you should.

In fact we think you should have a LOST series finale party.  We figured you’ve spent six seasons watching and debating so why not make this last episode special?  We had a lot of fun with this LOST party and we know you’ll enjoy it.  Take your LOST viewing experience to another level on May 23rd.

LOST is on the same level as Seinfeld, Friends, MASH and Cheers. (Some would argue that it’s much better than any of those shows. It's debatable)  Either way, we think the LOST sendoff should at least be on the same level, if not greater.  It’s up to you to make that happen, can you handle it?

Take me to the LOST Season Finale Party

Graduation Activity - Scavenger Hunt

 

Graduation is around the corner for most of you. You are going to want to have a party but need an activity, one that is safe and enjoyable for all parties. Consider a photo scavenger hunt for the graduate and their friends.  This is a safe way for the graduate and company to go out and have fun while reliving all of their past school experiences.  Make sure they know there is a prize for the winner so there is more of an incentive to go out and compete with vigor.

What should be part of the scavenger hunt?

1. Every school sign. You went to more than one school in your 12 years, get pictures at all of the school signs.
2. Playgrounds. Your graduate was mad when they took away recess, so get them all back on the swings. They will love having a “reason” to play on all of the equipment.
3. First Job. McDonalds? Burger King? Blockbuster? Your child worked there, give them the opportunity to return and capture the moment.
4. Rec League All Stars.  Your graduate was an all star all the way back in the 6th grade, so give them a football and a reason to get back on the field.  Ask for action shots, so you they can pretend to be the best of the best.
5. Late Night Hang Out. Every town has one, the one place that is open 24/7 and is the coolest place ever. (For me, Dunkin’ Donuts.)  Send them back, in the daytime, so they have a different perspective on their hang out.

You might want to use a personalized graduation camera to capture all of the action.  One of the major benefits of the photo scavenger hunt is the ability for the graduate to show off their exploits.  There will be nothing but good memories associated with the hunt and your graduate will be glad they participated.