Party Planning

by Elizabeth Tooley

Walking into Pink Impact is always so exciting! Everyone has a heightened sense of anticipation about what’s about to take place. Everywhere you turn you see pink food, fabric and flowers … and even ladies dressed in pink. But how does all this come about?

As an event coordinator at Gateway Church, there are three basic principles I adhere to when planning events.

  • Identify Your Purpose The most important question to ask before you begin planning is, "What is the purpose of this event?" While that may seem obvious, it’s easy to get caught up in the extras (décor, games, themes, etc.) and forget about the purpose. Having a clear definition of your purpose helps you add in extras that contribute to the purpose rather than take away or distract. A clear purpose is vital, because it communicates value—it gives guests the feeling they were thought about, considered and planned for.

  • Choose a Theme Having a clear theme simplifies your planning process. For example, while the purpose of Pink Impact remains the same from year to year, the theme changes as we capture the essence of the vision in tangible ways. The theme can be carried out through colors, décor, food items, games and activities. The colors change each year as do the logos, the marketing, the food and the atmosphere. On a smaller scale, if you’re throwing a football party in your home, use colors synonymous with football (brown, green, black and white) and have each guest wear a name tag that lists their name and favorite football team. For the kids, you could find football coloring pages online or a football bingo game that lists items for them to look for while watching the football game.

  • Make a Plan Taking the time to make a plan allows you to fully enjoy the party or event you’re hosting. First, write down your entire menu (including drinks, desserts and serving dishes) and then make your grocery list. For events like wedding showers, baby showers or birthday parties, creating a simple timeline helps to keep things moving and make sure that games get played, pictures get taken and there’s never a lull in the fun. While the ability to plan may come more naturally to some than others, it’s something that can be easily learned with a little practice.
I encourage you to take these simple tips and try something new in your home with your family and friends. Turn a boring pizza dinner into a fun Italianthemed evening by turning on Italian music and finding some interesting facts about Italy to read and discuss at dinner. Have a girls’ night, and use a color like pink for a theme. Wear pink clothes, make pink punch, bake pink cookies and eat chips with pink dip. Above all, remember to have fun! Let all that careful planning you’ve done help you create lasting memories with your family and friends.