Latest news with #partyplanning
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Why is Gen Z spending thousands on birthday parties?
Gen Z: Do you have a green outfit? Boomer: Only my gardening overalls. And that's mostly from grass stains. But at my birthday party everything has to be martini olive green, as the theme is 'a tini bit older'. And sadly none the wiser? I got the idea on Pinterest, where searches for 'party planning inspo' are up 800 per cent. Can I dress up as Kermit? Be real. My colour scheme is martini olive and Kermit's more chartreuse. So you'll be including a Farrow & Ball paint chart with the RSVP? The dress code will be detailed in calligraphy on bespoke, handmade invitations from upmarket London brand Cartalia. They're £25 each. You must be very rich. Or very stupid. Do these come with a hand-pressed wax seal, spritz of Chanel No5 and RSVP by white dove? Just ask the Financial Times: 'invitations set the tone of your event'. I set the tone at my dinner parties with a firm warning to my fellow Boomer guests: 'Sling your hook by 10pm.' You don't get it, do you? Snaps of these invites on Instagram will get loads of comments, like 'So jealous' and 'Wish I'd got the call-up'. This is what we live for. You're doing all this to impress people you don't even know? If I get less than 200 likes, there was 0 point throwing the party in the first place. You mean fewer than 200 likes… oh, I give up. It's bonkers is what it is. My #inspo is Toronto influencer TikToker Nicole Rosati, who threw a 'butter-yellow brunch'. How do I nail that dress code? Lather myself in Lurpak? Think butter-yellow cocktails, cake pops, flowers, balloon arches and crockery. She even swapped her wall art for pale yellow prints. A bit like an explosion in a Bird's Custard factory. Anyway, what the hell's a cake pop? It's a cake on a stick!! Her 240,000 viewers loved it, one commenting: 'This theme is everything. SUCH a magical set-up.' I didn't know Big Bird had a TikTok account. It's about proving I'm a #ChicCurator. Are you applying for a job at the V&A? A 'curator', you know, like The Times' fashion editor Harriet Walker, who recently wrote about 'curating' the aesthetic for her birthday party. Like when the 7th Earl of Elgin 'curated' the aesthetic at the British Museum by stealing the Marbles from the Parthenon in 1812? Why does everything have to come back to Victorian times with you lot? No, Walker curated a six-hour playlist that reflected how she wanted 'the arc' of her party to play out. All I need to 'curate' a birthday bash is a few bottles of Sauv Blanc and a portable karaoke machine. That's tragic. Don't you have a six-year-old granddaughter? Haven't you ever thrown her a party? She's a bit young to pretend to like my 'homemade' hummus decanted from its Waitrose tub. According to The Telegraph, middle-class families are spending thousands on their kids' and grandkids' bashes. Thousands? Is Elton John performing the hokey cokey? Planners at London-based company Party Genie offer a £8,500 package for an 'Instagrammable' kids' garden party with a dessert table, waffle counter and popcorn cart. What on earth happened to pass-the-parcel and a paper bowl of ice cream and jelly? Well, what if you were dairy-free? Nobody had allergies in the 70s! Anyway, I've a Bond-themed suggestion for your curated 'Tini' playlist.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Three cool ways to keep kids entertained with ice cubes on hot summer days
ON hot summer days, playing games using ice could be just the thing to keep kids chilled. There's lots of fun to be had with a pile of frozen cubes, and they hardly cost a thing. So for some icy fun, try these simple challenges . . . COOL FOR GROUPS: For a kids' party or if you've got a crowd over for the day, try an ice relay. Players pick up an ice cube with a spoon from one bowl then race to drop it in another, before running to let the next player go. The winning team is the one to transfer all their cubes and get back to the start first. Also, with a bit of preparation, you could set up a frozen bowling game. Freeze water in plastic water bottles to use as the bowling pins. Then, try to knock them down with a ball. FUN FOR ONE: Keep boredom at bay with some games kids can play on their own or with a friend. Give them a big bowl of ice cubes and a tray. Let them build a slippery tower on the tray and see how high they can make it until it collapses. For arty kids, get them to paint with coloured ice. Add food colouring to the water in an ice cube tray. Then, as it starts to freeze, add a lolly stick or toothpick to each cube to use as a handle. I save £2,500 every summer by planning kids' activities in JANUARY... here's how you can too Once they're frozen, tip the cubes on to a tray and use to paint on paper, watching as the colours melt and blend, making amazing patterns. MELTING MAGIC: Just the effect of ice melting can be magical to behold for little minds. Freeze small items in a tray of ice cubes then get your kids to excavate them as they melt. You could turn it into a nature trail, freezing herbs, flowers and leaves. Another idea is to freeze small toys so the little ones discover their favourites as the ice melts. Also fun is freezing little snacks — half grapes, blueberries and slices of apple can all be frozen in water. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability 7 Deal of the day 7 GET wonder walls with the Fleur vinyl wallpaper from John Lewis, down from £40 to £12 a roll. Cheap treat SOFTEN up with Nivea rich nourishing body lotion for dry skin, 400ml, down from £7.99 to £3.99 at Boots.. Top swap FOR an easy drinking summer tipple, La Vieille Ferme rosé, £8.75, at Sainsbury's rules the roost. But Aldi's Le Petit Poulet rosé, £6.49, also slips down nicely. Shop & save FAMILY feasts just got cheaper with eight Birds Eye chicken burgers down from £4.75 to £2.37 at Iceland. Hot right now FREE 45-minute My Pet Pals workshops start at Pets at Home today and run every day at 2pm in the holidays. Kids can meet the animals, earn stickers and work towards getting a special badge. Sign up at PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
Vogue
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
The Dos & Don'ts of Parties in the Digital Age
For better or worse (probably worse), the digital age has thoroughly reshaped the party experience. On one hand, tech-friendly tools like e-vites and Pinterest moodboards streamline and embellish hosting duties, while on the other, that omnipresent smartphone reliably jerks the focus away from connecting with your fellow fête-ers. The art of entertaining has always been an elusive quality to master regardless of era, but now, it's all the more fickle a beast. And while there's no silver bullet solution to healing the party circuit of its information-age-woes, there are experts who know a thing or two about reinstating elegance and presence to festive environments—Carmen Haid being one of them. As the vintage curator and founder of Atelier Mayer, as well as a seasoned hostess (and guest), here, Haid demystifies how to throw a successful shindig in the 21st century. Ahead, her dos and don'ts for parties in the digital age. Do: Match Your Invite to the Mood Depending on the formality of your event, your invitation should match the mood. For casual soirées, a chic WhatsApp message, a curated broadcast list, or a tasteful email will do the trick. Don't: Forget to BCC Be sure to send invites individually, not en masse in a group chat or email, and always keep addresses private. Nobody needs another inbox flooded with messages from strangers. Do: Opt for Paperless Post A well-crafted digital invitation sets the scene before anyone arrives. Personally, Paperless Post remains the gold standard. Think of it as the Hermès of evites: customizable, elegant, and blissfully efficient at collecting RSVPs without fuss. Don't: Neglect Your RSVP (Even If It's Digital) RSVP stands for the French phrase, répondez s'il vous plait, which means 'please respond.' If a host asks for an RSVP, you are expected to respond whether you are attending or not. Silence is not mysterious, it's simply impolite. Don't: Assume Everyone Is Digitally Fluent Not everyone wants to scan a QR code. Provide analogue alternatives: a printed menu, visible wine labels, or handwritten place cards never go out of style. Do: Employ Your Apps Ambience is half the experience. Consider candle light and live music such a piano, guitar, violin, percussion, tablas, harp. Alternatively, you can use a music app to queue a playlist. Spotify and SoundCloud have elegant options—just make sure it's ad-free. Don't: Forget to Mic Check Smart lights, Bluetooth speakers, and virtual assistants are all lovely until your Wi-Fi fails. Test your tech, light and sound before guests arrive. An atmosphere dimmed because of a tech glitch is simply not recommended. Do: Read the Room When entering a private event or home, do not whip out your phone like a paparazzo at Cannes. Always ask before photographing people or interiors. What is charming to you might be deeply personal to someone else.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Having an Independence Day party? Here's how to host 10 guests for $100
Eye on your money: Here's how to host your July 4th party for $100 Eye on your money: Here's how to host your July 4th party for $100 Eye on your money: Here's how to host your July 4th party for $100 Planning a festive Fourth of July celebration on a budget is possible, according to a new challenge taken on by CBS News Miami and Publix Super Markets. The goal is to host a complete holiday party for 10 people with food, drinks and decor for $100 or less. "We can, we can, and we're gonna do that today," said Lindsey Willis, media relations manager at Publix, confident that smart shopping could stretch every dollar. Strategic shopping and sale items key to savings The challenge relied on capitalizing on Publix's weekly sales ads, which feature more than 100 discounted items throughout the store. The first savings came in the form of gourmet burgers with flavors like Bacon and Cheddar or Blue Cheese on sale for $7.99. "These are not just on sale, but they're also convenient because the point is we want you to spend more time with your family. They're ready to go," Willis said. Deals continued in the meat section with sausages as low as $4.69. New ads released each Thursday promised fresh rounds of buy-one-get-one offers and additional discounts heading into the holiday weekend. Classic side dishes like macaroni and potato salad were also marked down, along with a standout offer: five ears of fresh corn for just $2. More tips and final tally under budget To help hosts stay within budget, Wells Fargo offered additional suggestions: • Add chicken to the menu—it's often cheaper than beef • Use in-season produce to maximize savings • Make the party BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) to reduce drink costs Throughout the store, shoppers found more bargains: 2-for-$5 ketchup, buy-one-get-one deals on beans, and affordable brand-name chips. Even limited-edition Publix chips were available at two for $7. For dessert, festive cupcakes and apple pie were also on sale. Fresh flowers added a decorative touch without inflating costs. At checkout, the final total came to $98.72, successfully meeting the $100 challenge with $1.28 to spare. The receipt also showed total savings of $29.74. "We saved $29.74 today," Willis said, proving that with the right approach, budget-friendly doesn't have to mean basic.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside the world of elite party planners and the outrageous demands of their ultra-rich clientele
Party planners tend to have their work cut out for them to help create lasting memories on a budget, but for their wealthiest clients, where money is no object, it's their outrageous requests that present the biggest challenges. Whether it's a wedding or birthday bash, elite party planners are often scrambling to make their client's dream events come true at whatever cost.
