Melissa Martin Event Coordinator for the Great Southern Restaurant Group
In this series, we’ll offer tips on how to plan parties. If you have questions about how to make your party a success, please feel free to ask here.
There are a lot of funny things that happen during parties that most people never get to see. Generally, there is a good lesson to be learned. One funny story that comes to mind happened at a high school reunion that I planned. The details have been changed to protect the identity of our guests. But certainly, the person to whom this happened might read this and hopefully will understand that the story in itself is so fantastic that it bears repeating.
So, the reunion was in full force — people seeing people that they hadn’t seen in twenty years. A lot of girls who might have been wallflowers in high school have “gotten their groove on” and are rubbing it in the face of any now-chubby, formerly skinny cheerleader that will make eye contact with them. All fun stuff. One girl disappeared with a certain fella that she had pined away for so long ago. Well, they began a swift courtship at the reunion, which led to a “heavy-petting/full-on” make-out session all within a 10-minute period. Ultimately, they ended up locking themselves in the bathroom to not make a scene.Or so they thought. All of the sudden, the door flew open with the girl screaming and running out of the bathroom with her hair on fire! Seemed things got so hot and heavy that she didn’t realize she was leaning on a table lined with votive candles. Thankfully, the girl was not hurt, more scared and embarrassed. She laughs about it now and still sports a fantastic bob cut. It’s all clean fun. The lesson learned? “Be keen on where you lean.”
Read more for some helpful tips on planning a high school reunion and a chance to win one of my soon-to-be-famous party packs!
Reunion:
• Set up invitations using Evite. Evite, which is free to the user, is a great tool because it helps you manage large lists of invitees as well as set up a PayPal account to collect funds for the reunion’s events up front.
• Do not count on people to pay at the door. You will be stuck with a large bill at the end of the event. Most likely you will not be able to enjoy the party because you will be watching the door and wondering why the 20 people who promised to pay at the door didn’t show up. Plans change for people. Sometimes at the last minute. Have people pay up front so you aren’t left picking up the check.
• Make the evening fun for everyone. Take your yearbook and blow up some of the pictures to use as artwork for the event. Many people don’t hold on to yearbooks and it is a great conversation starter.
Reply with a comment on this story and you will win a confessions party pack, which includes a bottle of our very own hot sauce, a votive candle, and a free hairstyle consultation with Courtney Campus of Style Solon downtown to fire up your next party — or just fire up your life in general!
Till next time — Party on!
Melissa
Tags: confessions, contest, events, humor, local restaurants, party planning, reunion
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OMG! Too funny!
Don’t think they make a prophylactic for that.
Another nifty idea if the opportunity presents itself…
I’m a photographer, and I was hired at an event to walk around and take the ‘chin and grin’ shots of people enjoying themselves – this of course is a normal event job – however, the twist was for me to copy the recently shot photos every few minutes to a laptop which was streaming a slide-show via projector. This can be coupled with old photos (yearbook, or family album depending on the event) gives people a chance to see what’s going on elsewhere, and its always nice to see yourself having fun. Something that can also be assembled and sent off to people after the event as a keepsake.
I can not stop laughing!!!
Best advice for romance and candles ever – “Be keen on where you lean”
Oh my gosh, “hot and heavy” is an understatement by far. I would have had my head in the toilet. (ChocoTaco-That is a priceless comment)
As for the party planning. It’s always been “my thing”. I took over my own babyshower because I didn’t trust anyone else to pull off the picture I had painted in my mind. It was fantastic, of course, and I did the same for the first birthday party etc. Now, I am states away from home for the first time and it’s time to begin planning my upcoming birthday bash. Atlas is my sushi choice and then over to the Deck Bar for the after party. I’m a leap year baby and this year, I don’t have an actual birth day so I have to make up for it with lots of sushi and plenty of friends!
Thanks for the tips!
Baldness has its advantages…
I love the “lesson learned” !!!
I really love the battery operated candles. There can be used over and over again and they are safe. That’s a great story although I like my kisses on fire and not my weave. lol
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mike Craney, The Fish House. The Fish House said: Read our new blog and win! She was on fire, literally. Confessions of a party planner #1 http://bit.ly/8XgA7c [...]
Could have been worst…At least she still had her clothes on?
I think I know that girl. She was at my High School too. We called her “Smokey”
That girl was probably saved by the incident!
This is a wonderful idea, i love it! The Fish House totally rocks and I can’t wait to have my wedding reception on the deck. Melissa, i love your vision!
That is hysterical! The tips were great too, using an evite and setting up a paypal account to have people pre pay for events is genius!
Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I’m sure you had fun writing this article.
Dear Kre Alkalyn Pro: It was a lot of fun to write not to mention witness! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day.
Dear Shiz Nit! By replying to this blog – Your name was drawn and you won my Party Pack! Which features a bottle of our very own hot sauce, a votive candle, and a free hairstyle consultation with Courtney Campus of Style Salon downtown to fire up your next party — or just fire up your life in general!
Cool post! How much stuff did you have to look up in order to write this one? I can tell you put some work in.
Dear Wedding Singer: I didn’t have to look up anything because I lived it. It was a lot of fun to tell this story. Stay tuned because I have more fun things to share!
Hi guy or girl,I read the essay now,I feel it’s wonderful,Thank you for sharing.
Led Candles, Thanks for the kind words! Stay tuned I have more fun stories to share!
Fantastic Website! I was wondering if I would be able pages and use a few items for a term paper.
Dear h.t.c.a.b: Sure you can use this for your school. Just please attribute proper credit. Call if you have any questions! (850) 433-9450 Have a great day.