How do you make a party unforgettable?

[InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest]

We love having friends over and regularly entertain. We want to have a party this summer to get all our friends and family together since we haven't really had a proper get together since Covid started, and want it to be truly special. We will have caterers, a face painter, a magician, and a DJ. The party will be in our garden and there will be 40 to 50 of us. Dress code will be cocktail dresses and equivalent for the men.

Can I ask what you'd recommend to make this party extra special? Yes of course the people are what matters most but, besides that, what would you say makes a party really fun and one everyone will think back fondly to? We are in the UK, so hopefully the weather will cooperate - thank you!

No dress code. If I'm told what to wear I don't know. It makes me uncomfortable

Dress code is a bit pretentious/ bit like when people on come dine with me think they are fancy so make everyone dress “up”

A live band who play appropriate music depending on age of guests that could be 40’s tea dancing or 60’s “do the mash” type I find the reason for the party and catering for all food preferences/ needs helps people to feel welcome get the good vibe going

Have good friend turn up early to get vibe going

You can’t aim for an unforgettable party!

Actually, that’s not quite true. A party can be unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

But in your case, throwing money at gimmicks won’t get you what you’re looking for, I think. What makes a party unforgettable are the intangible things: the combination of people, the vibe, whether you’ve chosen a time when everyone is happy and ready to party. In every event you need good food and drink.

And yes, ditch the dress code. No way am I getting dressed up to go to someone’s house! It’s either very Surrey, or trying to be very Surrey.

Dress code to knock about in someone's garden?

No ta!

If you want to make your party truly unforgettable, have sex with someone unsuitable and make sure everyone else finds out.

If there's a fight as well, people will be talking about it for years!

*If you want to make your party truly unforgettable, have sex with someone unsuitable and make sure everyone else finds out.

If there's a fight as well, people will be talking about it for years*

Yep, that’s the truth.

Parties I’ve really enjoyed have been ones where lots of my friends were there and no one I didn’t like, or ones where I pulled.

Food, drink, music are important, but get the guest list right and the party will take off.

Fairy lights and all the rest of it are not the key ingredients.

Sounds wonderful but agree that cocktail dresses and lawns don’t really mix

I’d go festival type theme, get loads of comfy seating, lots of booze.

Sounds brilliant. Can I come?

Please ditch the cocktail dress code. For one you are asking people to spend money on an outfit which they may be cannot afford and secondly just don’t want to. I have no use for a cocktail dress so I am sure others will be the same. If it’s in the garden it should just be casual.

Plenty food and plenty drink should be offered and plenty for the kids to be entertained.

The best quality booze and food you can afford.

I always think the parties that are the least planned turn out the best. It seems so very organized, dress codes, magicians, face paints. It sounds stressful more than anything else.

Could you not consider something more casual? You don't have to entertain everyone all night to make it memorable.

If you want people other than show-offs to dance, you need the dance area to be very dimly lit and not set up like a stage in front of a seated audience.

You know your friends and family- do they like dressing up and posing? That kind of people would probably like the dress code, I wouldn’t! Just have plenty of food and drink. Enough chairs (been to so many evening wedding parties where you had to stand up all night and hated it!!). Music not too loud that you can’t talk to each other. Music that everyone will like. And just pray for good weather!

I'd rather there was someone like a quick sketch cartoonist going round doing flattering cartoon versions of people or something like that than a magician or face painting which sounds like a party for 5 year olds.

Went to a party where they did that & almost everyone wanted their cartoon to take home so it ended up running late.
Like those street artists who do it in tourist places so just quick sketches.
He started doing the family when guests were arriving & everyone went over to watch them then mostly asked if they could get one too.
Probably costs more than a magician though & it's only really going to work if you have the space for people to spread out.
Very much depends on what the people you are inviting like though.

The most unforgettable party I went to sadly went down in history as the one where had her way with _ in the guest bedroom & the result was triplets.

We throw a lot of parties and its really a combination of the right people (everyone gets on), food and booze and good music. You honestly don't need much else. Sorry, but yours just sounds too try hard and gimmicky. Magicians are shit (been to more kids parties with magicians than I care to). Dress code, especially fancy, puts too much pressure on people. Also, I'm assuming there will be kids there so really, to keep them entertained (and let parents relax a bit) you'll need plenty of outdoor toys, balls, games etc.

Invite Boris

Do your friends often go to cocktail parties? I’ve never been to one, so would have nothing to wear. I’m also imagining myself turning up to a friends small back garden wearing a cocktail dress and sitting on her garden furniture And passing dh a can of cider, feeling very out of place In my dress, but maybe I’ve got A different type of friends to you.

The best parties we’ve been to provide good food, drinks (although we Are always Happy to take a bottle), nice things to go in the drinks (Eg ice, fruit/berries), decent music.

I don’t think I’d be bothered about a magician or face painter. But again is that the done thing in your circle of friends, to have that kind of entertainment? How many of the 50 are children and what ages are they?

I’d run from the magician

I’d be pissed off if the face painter came at me

I’d want to wear whatever I was I the mood for

I’d love a decent DJ who played music of our 20’s and up. Ibiza 1991-2005 would be amazing.

I’d love seeing my mates - especially if there were some real Old Mateys there. Them that know where the bodies are buried and knew me when I was 20+ and BROUGHT the party!

I’d love meeting some new people. I’d LOVE this.

I’d love beanbags, blankets, fire pits and fairy lights (a chill out area basically - with a different, chilled playlist).

I’d love whatever food was served (chilli, pizza, fish & chip van, buffet - all good)

I’d bring a magnum of decent fizz, a bottle of gin, my dancing shoes and I’d stay till dawn.

I’d love someone else to skin up!

Oh! Thought the was a !!!

We had a second wedding last summer due to Covid and the main hit was a silent disco. We had three playlists going so people had a choice but anyone who didn’t want to dance/have music on could still chat and be heard.
It was something I knew I wanted but a lot of people were unsure beforehand. It was however a huge highlight and is still talked about a lot now.

Have it in the Pizza Express in Wokingham?

In my circle of friends games would be a big hit (werewolf, resistance, treasure hunt) but that might not be universally applicable.

Disagree about magician, I’ve been to a party where the magician was mind blowing, we were all screaming haha - definitely not cringe!

I like themed cocktail/drink stations - so an aperol spritz station with beautiful decorations of vines and oranges - or G&T station with all the various garnishes you could possibly have.

I think a live band (even just of two guys) who can do proper sing along cover tunes would be lots of fun.

Think theme should be “garden party” rather than cocktail? Bit more fun and relaxed if it’s outdoors.

Silent disco is a good call

Love the idea of a sketch artist! @Snugglepumpkin

Drop the dress code and provide plenty of food and drinks

Could you hire in posh porta loos?
Champagne and Lobster at midnight.