| Successful Party Decorating | | | | that said, if your party headquarters are on the less |
| Occasion | | | | spacious side, staying away from large blow-up |
| What is the occasion you are celebrating? This will | | | | decorations that take a lot of floor space would be |
| determine much of your decorating needs. If it is a | | | | beneficial. |
| child's birthday party, you may consider a themed | | | | Time |
| party of the child's favorite cartoon character. If it is a | | | | Will your bash take place during the day or at night? If |
| retirement party, you may want to go with a "walk | | | | you are having an outside party in the evening or |
| down memory lane" atmosphere. Whatever the | | | | nighttime hours, lighting is probably a concern. Candles |
| occasion, your personal touches will make all the | | | | or strung lights? Tiki torches or hurricane lamps? If you |
| difference. | | | | are inside, how about colored light bulbs for mood |
| Number of guests | | | | lighting? These will work during the day or nighttime if |
| How many people will be attending your get-together? | | | | you are indoors. What about good old natural sunshine, |
| This will determine seating, location, and time. For larger | | | | indoors or out? |
| occasions, you may want to consider holding it at a | | | | Once you know your occasion and how many people |
| public park that provides picnic tables and grills. Smaller | | | | will be attending, you can decide where and when you |
| groupings can be held at neighborhood restaurants or | | | | want to have your party. Next consider the desires of |
| pubs, as long as management approves; many of | | | | the individual the party is being thrown for; what do |
| these locations will allow you to decorate your area, or | | | | they like, what would make them happy, what is it that |
| can assist you with your decorating needs. | | | | they would really want? Does the weather for the day |
| Location | | | | matter? If it does, do you have an alternative plan in |
| Just like real estate, a major influence over your party | | | | case of inclement weather? If it is inside, does your |
| decorations will be location, location, location. Is an | | | | establishment have enough space to accommodate |
| outdoor Hawaiian Luau possible? Backyard not big | | | | the number of guests that will be attending? What |
| enough for that? What about a congratulatory bash in | | | | about parking? These are very important questions |
| a small apartment for a job? If your party is outside, | | | | that you should have answered before you begin the |
| more durable decorations may be necessary in order | | | | decorating process. Once you have these things in |
| to survive possible elements such as rain or wind. With | | | | mind, the next step is to create a shopping list. |