Help me sort out this party venue tomorrow

[househunthappening]

DS1's first birthday party tomorrow, was supposed to have a bbq on the garden but rain has put a dampener on that. My FIL is involved in a local football team and suggested we use their new clubhouse which he said was nice as it's only a year old. I agreed and we've just been there to suss it out this afternoon.

It's awful. It's really low, hardly any windows and just feels really naff. Outside there are skips of rubbish, stacks of concrete blocks from the next door housing development and it just feels a bit unfinished. I've got 40 people coming and I've put on loads of effort so I'm a bit disappointed (I know how lame this sounds).

So, ideas to spruce the place up. I've got loads of lovely fabric bunting I can put up around the edge (if I can work out how to attach it), plenty of normal blue and white balloons, plus some of those confetti balloons and some foil number 1 balloons if I can find the time to get them blown up with helium in the morning. Have got blue disposable table covering and I thought I could cut some big hydrangea heads from the garden for the tables in the morning.

Any other ideas gratefully received and hopefully I'll feel a bit better about it!

How is the lighting in the room? Blue hues can be a bit dulling, can you brighten the room in any way, especially if the windows are rubbish? Maybe white table covers to reflect light back up too?

Are there any fencing panels near or around the skips? Heras fencing usually lurks where blocks and skips are to be found! Detail a few people off to put fencing up around the skips and junk and cover it all up a bit or at least separate it off so it looks like less of a building site and more welcoming.

Think you have it covered - just pull the focus into the room rather than out and it will be lovely, I'm sure!

If it is raining then people will be dashing in. Make the entrance obvious so quick to spot from the car with balloons or such.

Balloons, streamers at the gate of entrance and along the path if there is one (if no fence to tie them to, weighted helium ones would look great... do loads they could all take one home with them) to the door... focus on getting them in!

The lighting is that awful strip lighting which is just so unforgiving in any room. Good idea about the white tablecloth though, I've bought blue but the shop I got it from isn't far from the football club so I could go back and get some white and see if it looks better.

I just thought that I've got loads of fairy lights in the Christmas stuff so I've sent DH up in the loft to get them down. I always think fairly lights give a nice feel to a room.

Don't think we can do much with fencing outside but good idea and we'll have another look tomorrow when the car park is empty.

I've got a brightly coloured play tent, ball pool and tunnel so I'll take that for the babies to play in. Should brighten things a bit.

Luckily I have caterers for about 100 people so hopefully people will remember the food rather than the venue.

Fairy lights are a great idea, I love the light they give off too. Get family to bring more if you think you need them! 😁

Also, the kids stuff sounds like good fun, nice and bright!

Music?

I did spy a CD player in the corner and DS has some nice nursery rhyme cds I could put on as a bit of background noise, nothing too loud as it's not a massive room but it might make it inviting.

I also saw a bubble machine in Morrisons today and I need to go there in the morning to pick up the bread rolls and helium if I'm doing that so maybe I'll get that.

I don't know where you are but it's supposed to be really windy here tomorrow. You're likely to lose any outdoor decorations.

Fairy lights are great but won't show up under full strip lights. Could you just have one lot of strip lights on and make up the rest of the light with fairy lights and lamps from home? Guess it depends on the size of the room.

can strip lights be decorated? I’ve seen them with fringes hanging down...

Don't over think it. People will be dashing in through the rain, not to get wet, then will be there to see you / other family and will not be inspecting minute detail of the decor. You're lucky to get a venue at such short notice and everyone knows the original plan was BBQ in your garden, so this is a last minute change.

Bearing in mind your son won't notice the music, put on great summery music that you like. Music makes a huge difference to atmosphere so a good bit of George Ezra or whatever will really cheer things up.