Check out our blog where we'll post stuff on music, party ideas, tips, tricks, latest news and any other cool stuff we come across.

 

 

 

Wedding

* Pick a theme and use it throughout the event - invitations, music, food, decorations, party favours etc.
* Invite people who will make the night even more special, you don't have to invite everyone.
* Make your own invitations, a clever design can be used for the envelope as well.
* Have your guests buy their dinner in lieu of a gift.
* Get groups / tables of people to come up with advice or a story about the couple.
* Give your guests a dress code with colours (and give people options, only one colour can be too hard)
* Have back up plans for everything - being prepared is the best security.
* Getting married overseas? Set up a website so everyone can be there!

21st

* Invite close friends and family, let them know if you'd like speeches so they can prepare!
* Have a dress code / theme but ensure the guest of honour stands out by not telling them!
* Check out the venue in advance, don't invite more people than the venue will comfortably hold.
* Not everyone's a drinker - make sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic drinks.
* Have a pyjama party or a children's party theme - last chance to be a kid for the night!
* As a group do something mind-blowing before the party - bungy jump, sky dive...
* Organise some friends to tell a few stories as a surprise for the guest of honour.
* Plant a tree to commemorate the 21 years with more to come.

Birthdays

* Start planning early - the invitations set the tone for the party, utilise this!
* Have the celebration reflect the personality of the guest of honour.
* Have each guest bring a candle and share a memory about the guest of honour as they put it in the cake.
* Have a cake made of cupcakes to make sharing easier.
* Choose finger food carefully - think about possible mess and trying to talk, eat and balance a drink!
* Remove the chairs - it encourages mingling!
* Combine birthdays for a shared workload.
* Roast the guest of honour - ask people in advance to prepare humorous or embarrassing stories.

Reunion

* Have a guest book available as a lasting reminder of the occasion.
* Create memory boards with photos of members of the group.
* Plan activities for the children in attendance.
* Hold a talent show or play theatre sports to break the ice and bond further.
* Tell and record stories for future reunions.
* For a family reunion, allocate colours for different branches of the family.
* Name tags with a photo of the attendee "as they were" is a great memory jogger and conversation starter.
* Don't point out things that don't turn out the way you had planned, nobody knows the plans but you anyway!

Engagement

* Have a separate 'meet the parents / family' dinner
* Don't feel pressured by etiquette 'rules' - do what feels right for you.
* Be sure to get the parents on board with whatever you do.
* Consider all the options: a sit down dinner, barbeque, finger food and mingle, picnic...
* Hold the party as a surprise for the bride to be - and propose* on the night! (*Be sure of the answer!!)
* Have the party at the scene of your first date.
* Display photos of the happy couple - as babies / children / a couple etc.
* Play games at the party to help the families get to know each other (bride / groom to be trivia etc.)

 

 

Burgess House	Nuala & Julian Hudson	06 7580660	www.burgesshouse.co.nz
Classic Limousines	Alan & Louise Axten	06 7567988	contact info
Jasmine Florist	Debra Roberts	06 7587390	www.jasmineflorist.co.nz
Marriage Celebrant	Colleen Baird	06 7589871	www.celebrant.net.nz
Bridal Design Consultancy	Trudy Armitage	06 7539053	trudy@trudyarmitage.co.nz
Churchwood Bridal	Jo-Anne Boys	06 7575503	www.churchwoodbridal.co.nz
Aflair Wedding Planner	Donna Stewart	06 7514440	donna.stewart@clear.net.nz
Glamourpuss	Helen Wheeler-Shaw		www.glamourpuss.co.nz
Izuka Hair Design	Kerry Jordan	06 7592299
Digital Story – Video	Mark Bellringer	06 7583407	www.digitalstory.co.nz
Liquor King	Vito Garguilo	06 7591940	www.lk.co.nz
The Mill Liqour Save		06 7599127	www.themill.co.nz
Christies Jewellery	Alton Gibbs & Averil	06 7581056	www.christies.co.nz
401 by the River Bed & Breakfast	Patricia & David McDowell	06 7581144	dave_pat@xtra.co.nz
Devon House of Beauty	Alicia McDonald	06 7699905	contact info
Dobson Trim and Canvas	Jenny Dobson	06 2786446	www.dobsoncanvas.co.nz
Mike Henry Photography	Mike Henry	06 7582430	contact info
Van Dyk Nursery	Bill Van Dyk		contact info
Cake Alicious	Alison Lythgow	06 7513693	contact info
Kingsway Suit Hire	Jeremy Watson & Gaye Atkinson	06 7599153	www.kingsway.co.nz
ACE Design & Print	Christine Hall	06 7533960	contact info

 

Have we missed your listing? Do you want to be included? contact us 0800 (585 326)