3 tips from a-list celebrity parties
With the Met Gala coming up, that means celebrity pre-parties, after-parties and a whole lot of watch parties. Whether you’re watching or not, the celebrities always cue the latest trends that those of us (who are only invited to watch parties) adopt and incorporate in our fashion, hairstyles, décor and even party styles.
From Queen B to Jeremy Scott to The Kardashians, they have all thrown fabulous parties that made headlines this year. Let’s take a look at 3 things they did right that we can all take a cue from to elevate our next soiree.
{1} Keep Your Guest List to a Minimum like Beyonce & Jay-Z’s Annual Oscars Party
Take a cue from the Queen herself, Beyoncé, and her husband Jay-Z – keep the guest list small. For the second year in a row, the couple hosted the most anticipated event surrounding the Oscars, an exclusive after party. No press, no cameras, no fans. The couple kept their guest list tight and secretive to allow for their nearest and dearest A-list celebrity friends (like Rihanna, J-Lo and A. Rod, John and Chrissy, and Katy Perry) to feel comfortable letting their hair down and partying worry-free like the rest of us all night long.
While most of us don’t have the budgets to spend on lavish gold drapery and caviar by the gallon, there are still ways that we can make our guests feel special. When the weather gets warmer, we’re always tempted to throw big backyard BBQs or rooftop parties (for the city dwellers). Everyone has been taking cover from the polar vortex and cold winds, so naturally, we are excited to finally see everyone again. While this is great for some events, hosting a more intimate gathering to reconnect with your closest friends is always a great alternative to switch things up.
Trim down to a smaller guest list and find a few simple ways to personalize the experience to make your guests feel particularly special that evening, rather than just part of the crowd. Try one of these 3 ways:
Ditch the group text: Start with a personal text instead of a group text. Add a simple agenda (Ex. 6pm drinks + apps, 7pm dinner, 8pm card games). It feels like you have actually put together a plan for a fun night with friends, rather than just saying, “ I’m inviting a few people over to my place.”
Quick Tip: Individual texts will make people feel more compelled to give an accurate RSVP response! That way you can have a better idea of the guest count as you plan the personalized details of the party.
Say my name, say my name (card). Long gone are the days of only using name cards at formal events like weddings. You can incorporate fun, easy ways to personalize items at this more intimate soiree. Try adding names on top of printed menus for dinner parties or tag wrapped food items like candy boxes for more casual parties.
Can I grab you a drink? Chances are you’ll likely purchase a variety of drinks when hosting a party. With this smaller group of 8-10 guests, you probably know them quite well. Take five minutes to think about what each of your friends typically orders for a drink at dinner. Then, plan ahead to set their favorite drink at their spot on the table next to their name card. They will really appreciate this small gesture and the effort you put in to making them feel catered to for the night.
{2} Add a theme and GO ALL OUT like Jeremy Scott’s The Sims x Moschino party at Coachella
As always, Jeremy Scott, the well-known Creative Director of high fashion brand Moschino, wows crowds with imaginative projects that push the boundaries of pop culture and fashion. At The Sims x Moschino desert party at Coachella, the innovative designer went all out with the “green diamond” plastered throughout the party. With tasty burgers and ice cream sandwiches on the menu to a giant slide, it was a scene straight out of the game.
Again, while all of us haven’t been to the hottest celeb parties, we’ve all been to Halloween parties and Ugly Sweater parties. There is always that one person who doesn’t dress up. Whether they don’t dress up for fear of looking silly or completely miss the memo, it can dampen the vibe. It’s always more fun when everyone participates, so take the lead as the host with setting the tone for your guests. Share teasers of your costume (i.e. Just bought a blonde wig and bullet belt for the West World themed party – can’t wait to see all of your outfits!). This helps your guests feel like they “aren’t the only one” and encourages others to participate with you.
As you begin to develop your decoration and food list, start by doing a little research, get some Pinterest inspo and explore Google for ideas and hacks that might come in handy for your theme. I always like to put together my “dream list” first, then set my budget and pare it down from there. I find that this helps encourage me to find good deals on ‘must have’ items that I want, rather than cutting them from the list immediately because they aren’t in budget. Whether you go to the Target $1 section or purchase boutique décor, you want to ensure that your guests feel immersed in the theme, so grab items to hang, to spread out, food accents and something that can be the statement piece for the party!
{3} Try a Non-Traditional Location like Kylie and Khloe’s Recent Shindig
Celebrity sisters Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian chose a roller-skating rink to throw a surprise party for Kylie’s assistant. Simple décor, a disco ball and good tunes might just be all you need to have a great time.
The go-to party location is typically your apartment or maybe even a restaurant. Usually, it’s the most convenient thing to do. But! Think back to when you were a kid and remember all of the fun places you wanted to go to for your birthday. These actually double as really great inspiration for an alternative to the same old apartment setting for ‘having a few people over.’
Everyone loves a good ‘throwback’ and your local arcade center, darts hall or bowling alley might be just that! It’s refreshing to get out of your comfort zone, dust off those skills you haven’t used in a while and have fun outside of your apartment or a bar.
Quick Tip: Remember neon nights? Check to see if the bowling alley has any special night rates or group discounts.
Since it’s a party, consider blocking off private time at these spaces or reserving a group table at the facility. You can also plan ahead to have a food order brought out when guests arrive or inquire about drink packages for a group. A change of scene might seem daunting at first, but it will be refreshing to shake up the go-to ‘drinks and apps’ scenario!