The Ultimate Party Planning Guide for Drinkers

It’s 5 o’ clock somewhere right? If you like celebrations and enjoy having a drink here and there with friends, you’re our favourite type of person. With that being said, we’d like to give you a warm welcome to the ultimate party planning guide for drinkers! Planning parties are not for the weak-spirited and requires lots of preparation. If you’re planning a party and want to impress your guests with the best drinks and treats, Norman Goodfellows has got you covered.

In this useful guide, we will provide you with clever tips and tricks for planning the perfect party that will leave your guests talking about it for weeks to come. As your trusted beverage supplier, we will also provide recommendations for the best alcohol and party treats for your event. So, who's ready to throw the best party out there?

How to Plan a Party

Every party planner or event organiser knows just how overwhelming planning a party can really be. You have to make sure the venue is booked, invitations are sent out, drinks are ordered and the list goes on. To be sure you don’t drop any balls, we’ve put together a user-friendly and party-planner-approved step-by-step guide to help you plan your event with ease. From choosing a theme to creating a checklist, we’ve got you covered.

Step 1: Set up a budget

Before you start planning your party, it's important to set a budget you can stick to. This will help you determine how much you can spend on things like venue, food, and drinks without overspending.

Step 2: Choose a theme

Choosing a theme can make your party more uniform and fun. Consider a seasonal theme or something that aligns with your interests or hobbies, such as a “hobby-themed” party or a “dress as your favourite superhero” themed party.

Step 3: Create a guest list

Make a list of everyone you want to invite to your party, this can be partners, family members, friends etc.  This will help you determine how much food and drink to buy.

Step 4: Choose a venue

If you're hosting your party at home, make sure your space can accommodate your guests. If you're hosting at a venue, consider location, size, and amenities. You would also need to secure the venue by making a booking, which could require a deposit.

Step 5: Send out invitations

How can you guests know you’re throwing a party without being invited? Send out invitations at least 2-3 weeks in advance to give your guests enough time to plan.

Step 6: Plan the menu

Great parties have great food and drinks. Consider the dietary needs and preferences of your guests when planning the menu. Don't forget to include non-alcoholic options for designated drivers and non-drinkers.

A party checklist is essential to ensure you don't forget any important details. And with all that goes into planning a party, you want to make sure you think of everything. We'll provide you with a downloadable checklist that you can use to stay organised and on top of your party planning.

We know that budget is the overall deciding factor on the type and size of party that you want to throw, and we believe that it’s better to know more than less. We'll provide you with party-saving tips on how to set a budget and stick to it, without compromising on the quality of your party.

The theme of your party adds a fun and exciting element to it. It doesn’t have to be complicated, something even a “neon colours-only” party is a challenge for your guests to live up to. We'll also provide you with ideas for themes that will impress your guests and create a memorable experience.

How to Buy Alcohol for a Party

No party is complete without a variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and we've got you sorted. We won’t just leave you in the dark to fend for yourself, we take it upon ourselves to provide you with recommendations for the best alcohol for parties, including all sorts of wine, spirits, beer, and other beverages.

So, there is a simple formula that you can use to determine more or less how much alcohol you should buy for your party.

(Number of guests x hours of event) x 2 = how many ounces of alcohol to buy

Again, this is just an estimated calculation and you don’t have to follow this if you don’t want to.

There are many ways to cater alcohol at your party, including mobile bars, bartenders and self-serve. The tricky part might include the actual serving sizes and which garnishes are ideal, and that’s where we come in. We'll provide you with re-usable tips for calculating how much alcohol to buy for your party and how to cater alcohol for your event, including serving sizes and garnishes.

Fun Alcohol Ideas for Parties

Alcohol and fun go together like tequila and lemon; it’s just the best pairing. And what better way to liven up your party than by serving alcoholic party treats? We get that not everyone can come up with creative ideas on the spot, but Norman Goodfellows was made for this sort of thing. We’ll handle the alcohol, while you have all the fun! Cocktails, punches, shots and drinking games are just some of the bubbling ideas we will provide you with tips on.

If you have guests that don’t drink, don’t let them miss out on the fun! Not sure how to include them in the games? When it comes to the punches, cocktails and shots, just omit the alcohol. Have a separate punch bowl for the non-drinkers and substitute shots with a different non-alcoholic beverage. That way - both parties can still enjoy your party!

You can’t forget about the food. Pairing drinks with party snacks and treats can actually enhance the overall dining experience for your guests. Here are our top tips for pairing drinks with snacks:

• Match the flavours of your drinks with the snacks.
• Avoid pairing strong-flavoured snacks with overpowering drinks.
• Pair salty snacks with sweet or fruity drinks.
• Try to align your snacks and drinks with your party’s theme.
• Ask your guests for their preferences to find out their dietary preferences.

Party Planning Guide

Want to become the life of the party? You need to earn your bragging rights by throwing only the best party ever. The atmosphere of your party dictates whether or not your guests will have a great time or not. Follow these tips for creating an epic party atmosphere:

• Select a playlist that suits the theme or mood of your party. You could also hire a DJ or use music streaming services.
• Set up a dance floor and use string lights, LED dance floor panels or even a fun disco ball.
• Decorate your party according to the theme, this includes the use of props, banners, tablecloths and more to get the vibe right.
• Keep your guests entertained. Have a karaoke studio or photobooth to keep the good energy flowing.
• Make sure there is plenty of seating for your guests so they don’t stand all day or night.

Now that you know the ins and outs of creating the right party atmosphere, we highly recommend that you throw party games and activities too. Here are our favourites:

• Beer pong is always a winner at parties. Set up a beer pong table with cups filled with beer on each end.
• Drinking card games involve players taking turns to draw cards and each card has a corresponding action to drink.
• Drunk Jenga can be lots of fun. Be sure to follow the instructions indicated on the blocks.
• Shot roulette involves a roulette wheel with numbered slots and shots aligned to a number. You spin the wheel, and whoever it lands on, must take the shot.

When it comes to party favours and gifts, you can really go with many things. Some recommendations are DIY treats, miniature bottle samples, customised photo prints and personalised gifts.

Norman Goodfellows Services

At Norman Goodfellows, we're more than just a beverage supplier. We offer a range of services to help make your party planning experience stress-free and enjoyable. Our services include event planning and function services, and we offer a wide range of products, including wine, spirits, whiskies, champagnes, sparkling wines, beers, and soft drinks. We also provide great value-added services such as gift wrapping, gift cards, delivery to all major centres, and international delivery.

We’d like to thank you for taking the time to read the ultimate party planning guide for drinkers from Norman Goodfellows. We hope that our tips and tricks have helped you plan the perfect party. Remember to shop with Norman Goodfellows for the best quality beverages and exceptional service. Have a drink for us at your party!

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I start planning my party?

It's a good idea to start planning your party at least 6-8 weeks in advance, depending on the size of your event.

How do I calculate how much alcohol to buy for my party?

A general rule of thumb is to plan for one drink per person per hour, and adjust based on the length of your event and the number of non-drinkers attending.

What is the best way to cater alcohol for my party?

Consider hiring a professional bartender to cater your event, or if you're doing it yourself, make sure to have a variety of drinks and serving sizes to accommodate your guests.

Can Norman Goodfellows help with event planning services for my party?

Yes, we offer event planning and function services to help make your party planning experience stress-free and enjoyable.