Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Shirley's party advice part 6 - don't be afraid to interrupt us!

999 replies

Tinkerisdead · 09/06/2013 17:06

Okay, this is shirley's party advice part 6. Shirley ducked out a while ago and you'll notice us chatting about all kinds of stuff whilst we wait for party planners to barge in.

So, don't lurk, jump in and chat. We'll give you any advice on parties from costumes to cakes....

OP posts:
Blatherskite · 04/08/2013 08:23

4th out of 4 for that one cake Stealth - picked by Delia for another! Everyone has an off day now and again.

We can do adults parties onedev what sort of thing did you fancy doing? Dinner party? Something at home? Hiring somewhere?

onedev · 04/08/2013 08:49

I've already arranged a room in a local hotel & have booked a singer (I heard him at Xmas time & he was brill but now I'm not sure if its a bit OTT or just a bit naff to have him) followed by a DJ. The hotel will do food but so far thats it.

I probably just need to decorate the room & organise a cake but really not sure - what else could / should I do? What would make people enjoy themselves? Likely there'll be between 80-100 people although I haven't done invitations yet - still need to do those too!

Blatherskite · 04/08/2013 09:40

jetstar There are two ways to halve a cake neatly ime - 1) If it's a loose bottomed tin, put the cake back in it's tin, put something underneath the loose bottom to lift the cake by the height you want to make your cut at and then use the top of the tin to help you gquide the knife. 2) My chosen option, buy one of these It also helps for getting a nice, level top.

Blatherskite · 04/08/2013 09:46

onedev The singer sounds lovely. If you enjoyed him then it is likely that your guests will too so it's certainly not naff.

My Mum has hired a hotel reception room for her upcoming birthday and I think organising a party like that is a lot like organising a wedding reception - especially for a wedding anniversary. Is it buffet food or a sit down meal you're having? Maybe look at getting some flowers for the tables and/or some balloons. You could even go the whole hog and make some little favours? Maybe include on your invitation, a request for some music suggestions so that there is something everyone likes? Maybe ask everyone what the first dance at their wedding was or a song that is special to them so that you can have them played and get everyone in a romantic mood. My sister did this at her wedding reception and it went down really well. Start the disco set with your first song, followed maybe by your parents and then let the DJ play the others in an order that flows.

stealthsquiggle · 04/08/2013 17:58

onedev - it sounds fun. We spent the money on ourselves for our 10tg anniversary (dumped small DS on my parents and went away for a couple of days) but we are more likely to forget our 20th completely on current form - PIL delivered a card today and we both remembered anniversary is tomorrow (18th).

If you want to have an excuse to go to town without it being naff, I would definitely consider a theme of some sort. I can't think of a good one right now though Sad.

onedev · 04/08/2013 18:53

Thanks both - it is a buffet rather than sit down meal. It feels v much like organising a wedding evening do when really I just wanted an excuse to have a big party & I'm not 40 for a while yet so thought our 10th was a good excuse!!

Not sure if I'm making too much of it & I also stress loads when I organise anything so no idea why I've done this to myself Grin

I was thinking of having the colours similar to what our colour scheme was on the day (as most of the guests were there although doubt they'd remember what we had at the time!).

Favours sound like a great idea but what would I have & I'm not crafty so would have to buy them! At our wedding we had miniature bottles of Irish whiskey (I'm Irish & got married in England) & sugared almonds so nothing too extravagant.

Thanks again as its nice to be able to talk about it here as my DH isn't too bothered (happy with whatever & going along with it as I wanted it really!) & don't want to bore anyone else with it!

onedev · 04/08/2013 18:54

Thanks both - it is a buffet rather than sit down meal. It feels v much like organising a wedding evening do when really I just wanted an excuse to have a big party & I'm not 40 for a while yet so thought our 10th was a good excuse!!

Not sure if I'm making too much of it & I also stress loads when I organise anything so no idea why I've done this to myself Grin

I was thinking of having the colours similar to what our colour scheme was on the day (as most of the guests were there although doubt they'd remember what we had at the time!).

Favours sound like a great idea but what would I have & I'm not crafty so would have to buy them! At our wedding we had miniature bottles of Irish whiskey (I'm Irish & got married in England) & sugared almonds so nothing too extravagant.

Thanks again as its nice to be able to talk about it here as my DH isn't too bothered (happy with whatever & going along with it as I wanted it really!) & don't want to bore anyone else with it!

onedev · 04/08/2013 18:54

Sorry, don't know why that posted twice!

jetstar · 04/08/2013 22:25

Thanks Blathers both good ideas!!

Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 05/08/2013 06:25

Onedev - ten years anniversary is tin so i'd use that as your theme. So use washed out tins and punch out heart shapes with holes and use them as lanterns/tealight holders through the room. Or get s selection of tins and fill with flowers. Doing your own flowers is mega easy(i think ive got some on my profile?) just use florists foam so that if they knock over they dont spill and the flowers stay put.

If you go with tin you can buy little tin buckets to fill with sweets or use silver as a colour theme to pull it all together more. People will have enough fun so long as theres plenty of food and drink and their not left waiting for it.

tin can vases, decorate with raffia, ribbon or coloured washi tape

tin can lantern tutorial

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 05/08/2013 06:31

cheap mini silver buckets or other colours..fill with choc coins? Jelly beans? Or sugared almonds again?

Blathers i missed you. Text me i need you to go to crazy junk shop place

Stealth nothing for the cake - its an outrage what was the theme/criteria could you have missed the mark or something?! He's a lovely little bear

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 05/08/2013 06:32

We can give you more ideas if you do go with tin ...

OP posts:
NonsenseTalker · 05/08/2013 08:38

Cake. Do I bake a deep one and hope that a- it rises properly and b- I can actually slice it in half.
Or do I make layers as was my original plan? My tins are 3" deep so is that too deep to do layers? And now I'm being told that it must have 3 layers??
I'm scared....... Sad

Blatherskite · 05/08/2013 08:52

Layers. Thinner cakes are easier to get right imo

NonsenseTalker · 05/08/2013 09:23

Thank you and exactly what I was thinking. The deep tins will be ok?

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 09:37

Deep tins will be fine.

Why must it have 3 layers? Confused

NonsenseTalker · 05/08/2013 10:21

I don't know!!! I was told that 'celebration cakes are 3 layers' end of.

It's in the oven!!! Oh my gosh I am so terrified and excited!! I've never made a cake so huge (10") or so important!!
It curdled like #*@! Even though I added flour after the eggs but was fine after folding in the flour. Just hope I didn't over mix....

I have an hour until I know what's happened eeeeeeek!!!

Incidentally, I copied someone else and doubled the quantity for 10" and even using two tins its a lot of cake. So even if it doesn't rise, I may be able to salvage two layers anyway.
But let's not think like that!!

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 11:02

I am sure it will be fine

Baker Ross came through Grin - code B32C gives 15% off all arts and crafts, which included everything on my list for DD's party - so it's ordered - and will probably turn up when we are away, but never mind eh.

NonsenseTalker · 05/08/2013 11:09

Oh good, that took them long enough. You should ask them for a loyalty card type of thing!

They're out!! They're cooked (perhaps slightly over cooked but there is a syrup to pour over them) and they've even risen!! Hurrah!!!!

So do I push my luck and bake the 7" later today?
If so, do I freeze them just for tomorrow or do I bring my schedule forward? So bake today, fill and ice Wednesday (or even Tuesday) and apply decorations Wednesday/Thursday?

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 11:19

I didn't have the nerve to ask them for discount based on recommendations Grin. If I had time (ha ha) I would start a blog and try and generate some income to subsidise the party obsession that way - but the FT job does tend to get in the way...

I wouldn't bother freezing them, TBH. Let them get properly cold, then put them in a tin / wrap them well and they will be fine. Before you level them off you might want to chill them in the fridge - cake cuts better (neater) when it is cold.

NonsenseTalker · 05/08/2013 11:24

Thanks for that. I'm learning so much!

I don't have a job but I still couldn't find the time! Hats off to you

pinkpetrol · 05/08/2013 17:16

Hello all, could i please have some help with a fairies and el ves party that my soon to be 5 daughter wants to have. I can find lots of fairy stuff but not much elf/boy friendly stuff. Also i am thinking i will run it myself rather than get an entertainer . Any help would be much appreciated

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 17:46

It has to be elves, does it? I get the logic, but I think elves could be quite hard to sell to some 5yo boys who will just see them as fairies Smile. Fairies can be combined with pirates reasonably legitimately, thanks to Peter Pan....

Blatherskite · 05/08/2013 18:16

There's a Cbeebies program with an elf as a main character isn't there? Ben and Holly? I'm sure there will be party stuff connected to that which might be adaptable.

Feeling all proud of myself right now. Super-crafty Sister who makes beautiful, wonderful things just sent me a text to ask where I got the crayons for DD's birthday bags. She'd been looking but couldn't find any with paper wraps on like mine had. I told her I'd made the wraps myself and she said she'd assumed they were professionally done :)

Blatherskite · 05/08/2013 18:19

Ben and Holly party things I love the butterfly straws!