Fun ideas for house party needed please.................

[Sparkler]

Got some friends coming over for an evening for drinks and a small buffet in a few weeks' time. It's something I've meant to do over the years and have now, at last, been brave and sorted something out!! I'm a bit of a worrier when it comes to entertaining hence me taking so long to arrange it. Want to make sure that everyone is enjoying themselves but want to try and relax myself. IYKWIM
I was just trying to think of ideas on how to keep the evening running smoothly. My basic plan was just to have plenty of drinks, lots of food to nibble on throughout the evening, music playing with the intention of possibly having a few games on the Wii/bit of a boogie in the lounge depending on how the wine flows lol!
I was just wondering if there's anything people have done/bought to make their evenings work well, eg silly games/gadgets etc.
TIA

[Sparkler]

....or even if you may have seen/done at someone elses party that you thought was fun/or a good idea.

[pasturesnew]

All sounds good. Good idea to get some nibbles laid out before people arrive, also drinks in ice bucket or whatever so you don't have to keep disappearing into the kitchen etc.

If you are all good mates you probably don't need much in the way of games but the Wii always seems to go down well.

[LissyGlitter]

That plan sounds brilliant - what kind of people are coming? Are they young/old/mixed, bohemian/straight-laced/academic/political, where do you know them from?

I have always found that some kind of fire (if you can bear the worry of it getting out of control) tends to make people use the garden even in the depths of winter and provides a focal point for the shyer men. We used to have one of those bins with holes in that we burned scrap wood in at parties, or a barbeque is always popular.

My parents tend to run simple games at their parties (shit the nail, daft magic tricks, that one where you take turns to pick up a box with your mouth), but there tends to be much wider age ranges (from children up to the elderly). My parties tend to involve somebody strumming a guitar and leading a singalong with people playing along on various improvised instruments.

Cocktails are always good-will it be a bring a bottle affair? In which case, mixers and daft cheesy cocktail accessories as well as a cocktail mixing book always go down well.

Also start making ice about a week early. You can never have too much ice. Also make sure to provide some half decent non-alcoholic drinks, if you can't drink for whatever reason you quickly get sick of lemonade!

Fancy dress is a good icebreaker, as long as people don't take it too seriously. I like to give the party a purpose, look up on the internet if it is the anniversary of something and slightly theme stuff towards that. Don't go OTT though, it's just as an icebreaker for people who don't already know each other to get talking.

I tend to make a playlist on the computer and try and keep people away from it, although my mates tend to be music geeks and all are either DJs or think they are, so each try to take over the music and it becomes a pain in the bum.

What kind of size of party are we talking?

[Sparkler]

Mostly couples, they are friends I have made through the children over the years and their husbands. They are a fun bunch of people but nice with it and not overly loud. Definitely need to find some good music to play - 80's stuff has already been requested by a friend who is desperate to have a good night without the kids around her feet for a few hours!!! She'll be first on the dance floor I reckon!!

[Sparkler]

I'm not really interested in organising party games as such - was just think of getting hold of some gadgets etc just to make talking points really. I think there will be about 15 or so of us.

[Sparkler]

I went to a party last year and they had some of these......
www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/inflatable-cowboy-fancy-dress-costume.html
They were fab and such a laugh!!!

[Sparkler]

Sorry try again

www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/inflatable-cowboy-fancy-dress-costume.html

[EmmyLou]

I took a pack of 'famous faces' masks to my friends 40th recently - they were a real ice breaker, especially when the blokes took a liking to wearing the Audrey Hepburn one. They're about £15 from Pedlars website, I think, or maybe Cox and Cox.

The pack included half faces of Marilyn Munroe, Clint Eastwood, Audrey Hepburn, David Bowie as Aladdin Sane etc. Good value entertainment and we got some really weird photos too...

[Sparkler]

Thanks EmmyLou. I'll look into those.

[dogonpoints]

singstar. I've done that at a get together and it is fun fun fun

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

My friend did pass the parcel with grown up sweeties wrapped in the layers (fancy chocolates, mini chocolate liquers, that kind if thing) and a prize which I can't remember as I did not win either time!

We did them once the drinks had flowed and it was great fun!

Lighting is key imo at parties/gatherings, they can make the entire atmosphere and whether party games/gadgets are taken as meant. My friend is OTT with fairy lights around the house when she has guests including in the toilets! Different colours, soft and ambient.

I think pass the parcel without the atmosphere she had set already would have bombed but it was actually a lot of fun She did some other silly games but I cannot remember what they were !

[janeite]

Sorry Lissy but pmsl at 'shit the nail'

[janeite]

Sparkler - I think your plan as described in the OP sounds great.

Now for the important stuff - what are you going to EAT?