Picture the scene, it’s been a while since you and your friends have been together and you’ve decided to throw an event at your home to get the band back together again. But this isn’t just any event you’re throwing, you’ve decided to make a statement and host a luxury event to mark the occasion.
Forget about sourcing the finest china in all the land and sparkling diamonds, a luxury event doesn’t need a big budget and isn’t any more complicated than your regular celebration. However, planning is key to make sure your party elements blend together to give your guests that VIP feeling.
Here’s our six simple steps in planning an unforgettable event at home.
1 - Pin down your theme
All event planning needs to start somewhere and we recommend getting your theme set in stone first and the rest will all fall into place from there.
Here’s some straight-forward themes that we love:
Great Gatsby: Step back to the 1920s Prohibition Era fuelled by opulence, glamour and prestige.
Masquerade: A night of mystique awaits as a parade of masked guests descend for a night of carnival charm.
Greek Chic: Bring the warmth of the Mediterranean with an event drawing inspiration from a Greek garden donned in olive branches, candles and twinkling lights.
Winter Wonderland: Transport your guests to a glittering escape of icy blues and whites where the vibe is far from frosty.
Party Like a Parisian: It’s time for a sophisticated soiree serving the best of French elegance and fashion with a party influenced by the romantic capital of the world.
2 - Focus on the detail
When planning any event, it’s all about crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s of every detail to make your guests feel like royalty.
Invites are a nice touch to create a bit of buzz and give your event that exclusive feel. We recommend keeping a bit of mystery by sharing only key details like date, time, venue, dress code and leave your invitees to join the dots. Don’t worry about paying for a designer to create your invites, you can search a whole range of ready-to-use design templates on Canva - some of which are free to use!
For the event itself, if you’re planning a sit down dinner for your event, name cards, place settings and table centres all tied to your theme help pull everything together.
3 - Pair the perfect food and drinks
Let’s face it, you can put in all the focus on theme, entertainment and finishing touches but if you drop the ball on your catering, that’s what your guests will remember. When it comes to your food and drinks, we of course have you covered.
At Hudsons, we pride ourselves on providing unforgettable experiences that stay with our clients forever. We have been delivering events since the 1980s, and believe us when we say we've seen it all. No request is too lavish or too tame; we strive to help clients bring their events to life.
Whether it’s a banquet, BBQ, canapés or a drinks reception, our expert team will craft your dream event through our Hudsons at Home service. With our Executive Chef (and former Scottish Female Chef of the Year) Ann Milne behind your menu, you’re most certainly well catered for with her meticulous attention to detail and culinary flair.
4 - Stepping in
You have your theme, menu and guest list all sorted and everything appears to be set for your event - but don’t forget about your arrival proceedings.
Get that A-lister experience started from the minute your guests arrive and think about what happens after you greet them at the door. Where are you putting their coats? Are you serving arrival drinks? Will canapés be served? Whatever your plan, make sure you have it all mapped out ahead of time to make the arrival process seamless.
With lots of moving parts to keep in mind, we can offer an events manager and front of house staff to manage your home event from start to finish. No need to worry about serving food or topping up glasses, our team takes the load so you can enjoy your event with your guests.
5 - Entertainment
The guests have arrived (mostly on time) and your event is well underway, now let’s talk entertainment. The art of conversation only gets you so far, so best make sure you have some entertainment in store to cover all bases.
Firstly, music. Whether it’s blasting out loud for all to hear or subtly playing in the background, your music playlist is vital in setting the atmosphere for your gathering. With luxury on the mind, we recommend a playlist with a mix of smooth jazz and acoustic covers. We’re big fans of classical covers and this playlist will go down a treat with your guests (especially if they’re Bridgerton fans).
Some parties don’t need them, but if your invitees are from different friend groups and meeting for the first time, a game or two are helpful in breaking the ice. Games like ‘The Name Game’, ‘Charades’ and ‘Two Truths, One Lie’ are some straightforward activities destined to get some laughs.
If you’ve got a little more time to spare, a murder mystery game is always an easy win in occupying your guests and getting everyone involved. If that sounds like it will fit the bill, a murder mystery lends itself well for being your overall event theme (and a killer night in).
6 - Parting gifts
So you’ve made it to the end of the night. Your guests are happy, bellies are full and memories have been made, but where you’ve enjoyed the company of your guests, you’re most definitely ready for them to go home.
But don’t let the vibe get zapped by being swiftly shooed out the door, hand out some gift bags and send your guests on their merry way. These don’t have to break the bank and can be filled with little tokens like chocolates, miniature drinks or handcrafted gifts - whatever you decide to give out, your guests will appreciate the thought.
We’re ready to help you host the ultimate house party
And with that you have all your essential points to consider when planning your luxury event at home. If you’d like to add the expertise of Hudsons to your next event, get in touch and start crafting your unforgettable at home experience.
Oh and our final bit of advice before signing off… Do the clear-up before you go to bed. You’ll thank yourself in the morning.
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