When your birthday deserves more than a restaurant table…
PLANNING A CELEBRATION? SIX THINGS YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU THOUGHT ABOUT EARLY
When you’re planning a big celebration, it’s usually the fun bits that come to mind first – the cake, the decorations, what you’re wearing and what music will be on the playlist. But sometimes, it’s the less glamorous things that can make a huge difference, so here’s our rundown on six things worth thinking about before the celebrations begin…
guest numbers before choosing the space
Sounds obvious, right?
But people often fall in love with a room before working out how many people they’re actually inviting.
An intimate dinner for 20 feels very different to a party for 80, and you definitely want to avoid booking a space that’s too small or too large for your numbers.
Before you start looking at venues, put together a rough guest list. It doesn’t need to be final, but an estimated number will make it much easier to find a space that fits your celebration.
what do you actually want the celebration to feel like?
Before you start choosing decorations or looking at menus, think about the kind of celebration you actually want.
Are you picturing everyone gathered around the table for a long, relaxed dinner? Are people drifting between food, drinks and the outdoors on a sunny afternoon? Or, by 9pm, do you want the tables pushed back, the music turned up and everyone on the dancefloor?
There’s no wrong answer here, but deciding on the feeling you want makes every other decision a lot easier, and will help you figure out whether you need a private dining room or a larger party venue.
it's not just what's on the menu
When it comes to food, it’s easy to jump straight into choosing dishes, but it’s worth giving food a little extra thought.
Do you want everyone sitting down together for a proper meal, or would you rather guests could mingle, chat and help themselves throughout the celebration?
Food can dictate more of the day than you might think. A sit-down meal can give the celebration more of a sense of occasion, while a buffet or grazing table creates something much more relaxed and sociable. Afternoon tea can be perfect for a daytime celebration where the focus is on catching up and spending time together.
It’s also worth thinking about who’s coming – different ages, dietary requirements and the length of the event can all influence what works best.
what do you actually want the celebration to feel like?
If your guest list includes children, it’s worth thinking about them early on too. A beautiful room is great, but is there enough space for little ones to move around? Somewhere outside for a run around or a few garden games if the weather is nice? Does the venue provide high chairs, and are there food options that will work for younger guests too?
Even the timing of the celebration can make a difference. A leisurely sit-down meal might work perfectly for adults, but not necessarily for a table full of five-year-olds…or their exhausted parents!
A little extra space and flexibility can make the day much easier for families and more enjoyable for everyone.
the little logistics that no one gets excited about
It’s not the glamorous part of party planning, but it’s definitely the stuff your guests will notice if it hasn’t been thought about properly!
We’re talking about a venue with plenty of parking, good accessibility (including for older guests), outdoor spaces for people to get some fresh air, a place where gifts, cards or a cake will go, somewhere to enjoy an arrival drink before sitting down for food, and if people are travelling from further away, options for where they can stay afterwards.
These are the details that feel small individually, but when considered at the early stages of planning, make the event feel effortless.
who's actually running the party?
You’ve booked your venue, chosen the food and invited your guests. Brilliant.
But who’s meeting the band when they arrive? Who’s making sure the cake comes out at the right time? Who’s answering the inevitable “where do you want us to put this?” question from the balloon company? Who’s setting the tables and clearing away at the end of the night?
Ideally…not you! And definitely not the person whose birthday you’re supposed to be celebrating!
It’s worth asking potential venues how much support you’ll actually receive in the lead-up to your event and on the day itself, because having an experienced events team on hand to coordinate the details means you can stop watching the clock and actually enjoy the celebration you’ve spent all that time planning!
Want to see what your celebration could look like at Moddershall Oaks? Explore our private event spaces and celebration options below!
