Are you planning on throwing someone you know a surprise party? It is a fantastic way of showing them some true appreciation. If successful, it will make them feel happy, loved, and excited all at once. However, there is the possibility of getting it wrong, and you naturally want to avoid that.
If you are planning a surprise party, then here are five common mistakes to keep in mind so that you don’t make them yourself.
1. Not Taking the Guest of Honor Into Account
You might have a million great ideas buzzing around your head, but what will the guest of honor think? You need to keep them in mind when making each decision. What type of décor do they like? Are they more of a rock band kind of person, or would they prefer a DJ playing the biggest, latest hits? The more you know the guest of honor, the higher the chance you can put on a celebration they genuinely love.
2. Not Taking on Board People’s Food Preferences
When it comes to a great surprise party, food is everything. You want to get party catering that genuinely caters to all. Consider what you want out of the catering: do you want a great service? What type of food will the guests love? Do you need to take into account specific food allergies? It’s best to think about the main guest’s food likes, too: for example, if they love seafood, a seafood platter would likely work well!
3. Ignoring the Fact that the Main Guest Doesn’t Like Surprises
This one is super important. While many people love surprise parties, there are others who would much rather avoid them altogether. In some cases, not throwing a surprise party is actually the best move. So, before starting to plan one, make sure the person you are throwing the party for will actually enjoy the surprise (rather than frightening them!). If you’re unsure, ask well ahead of time or speak to their loved ones.
4. Not Visiting the Venue in Advance
Before planning any party, it helps to visit the venue beforehand. This is especially important for surprise parties, though, as it means you know the exact layout of the space, whether that’s an open layout or multiple rooms. That way, you can plan where your guest of honor will enter, and at which moment the surprise will be revealed!
5. Not Having a Plan to Get the Guest of Honor to the Party
How will the guest of honor get to the party? If you decide to throw it at their place, then the process should be pretty simple, as they will naturally return to their home. However, if you want to throw the party in a venue, you will need to create a plan that gets them to the location.
As you have likely gathered, planning a surprise party takes some serious effort. You need to not only keep it a secret, but also ensure the guest of honor gets there on time. So, avoid these mistakes to ensure it goes smoothly!