By Ope Olurankinse
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
everydaymatters@nigeriahorizon.com
June 26, 2008

Whether you rock the Jackie O sunglasses with your tube dress or the white linen shirt with your cargo shorts, make sure you hit up a summer party.

A summer party can be at your backyard, by the beach, or your roof top. The experience is the same in most cases.

Every summer, my friends and I usually find an excuse to throw a party. It may be that one of us recently purchased a Grill Master 2000, or a big boat is available. Whatever it is, we always have fun.

Having had years of throwing summer parties, I am happy to provide these handy tips to those trying it for the first time.

The first thing to decide upon is where to hold your party. Be sure to set the rules and make sure there is enough room for you and your guests.  It is poor etiquette if you don’t provide guest with proper directions to your exact location.

Once you’ve settled on a location, you should figure out a theme for your party and also organize the decorations and activities around that theme. For example, if you’re planning a 70s party; get people dressed in headbands, big hair, leg warmers, and play 70s music.

Send out invitations all at once to everyone on your list and if it’s an informal party, simply pick up the phone to spread the word. Let your guests know whether or not to bring dates or kids, that way you know how many people to expect and prepare for. It is also advisable to call anyone who doesn’t respond within a week.

Meanwhile, set a budget before you go shopping. Write down everything you want to have and estimate a reasonable cost next to it and when in doubt, overprice. Keep in mind that people will eat more at your party than they do at a restaurant. Do not buy anything that is not on the list unless it’s something you forgot. Avoid impulse buys.

Prepare for emergencies. For me, I don’t even want to think about rain when planning a party, however, when it’s huge and expensive, then I include a rain date. Renting a tent may be a good idea if light showers are in the forecast. Other emergencies may include injuries, and bee stings. Whatever happens, be ready to play hero.

Lastly, you must include music at your party to add to the festive mood. Depending on the size of your party, you may hire a DJ or bring out a portable CD player and an assortment of CDs. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy your summer.

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