#8

One of the biggest factors you're probably considering is the selection of music for your party. More than you know, carefully selected music can do wonders in creating the perfect party atmosphere for you! If you're lucky enough to have musically inclined friends, you could enlist their help in the form of an acoustic band - some live music would certainly give you bonus party points. Otherwise, spare some cash and get some flash with your very own DJ!

But of course, one of the easiest options would be to put together a playlist and spread the party vibes through your personal speakers or stereo system.

This has inspired this post's collaboration with a good friend - the man behind the music blog Aural Indulgence, a place where he shares his favourite tracks and playlists. I've requested for him to put together a party playlist for you guys and he has kindly agreed to do so!

Now you don’t have to wait for the next birthday to enjoy some party vibes!

From Samuel - 

"No matter how eclectic and far-flung your music taste may be, it won’t be surprising for one of your guilty pleasures to be some good ol’ crowd-pleasing house music. Strong kicks, punchy keys and danceable motifs do wonders in bringing people together in collective nods – perfect for nearly any party setting. Here’s a short playlist featuring some of my favourite tracks to turn your next event into a celebratory one. The next time you find your hands up in the air with the stranger next to you, it’s probably to some house music!"

house the partaye? from unicornheah on 8tracks Radio.

ENJOY THE PARTY

Chirp. 

#7

Photobooths have become a must-have at every party, even weddings! Some may choose to hire an external photo booth vendor where they'll provide backdrop, props and even instant print-outs for you and your guests. But with some DIY photo booth backdrop tips, you might just wanna consider saving those money and let those creative cells in you go wild.

OMBRE TISSUE PAPER PHOTOBOOTH

This has got to be my favourite backdrop! It's basically made up of a whole ton of tissue papers. And nope, not the usual tissue papers you'd find at home. This is a special kind of tissue paper meant for arts and crafts purposes! You could visit Artfriend, Spotlight or any party shops to purchase these.

What you'll need

- Tissue Paper in Varying Shades

- Scissors

- Chicken Wire

- Wire Cutters

- Zip Ties

- Photobooth Backdrop Framework

Time Needed

3 Hours

Steps

1) Cut your tissue papers into large squares of at least 9" x 9"

2) Set up your photobooth backdrop, at least 8 feet tall x 7 feet wide

3) Cut your chicken wire to your desired size (Suggested: 7 feet x 5 feet)

4) Using the zip ties, attach the chicken wire to the backdrop frame

5) Decide on a colour arrangement (e.g. lighter shades to darker shades) and start stuffing your tissue papers into each hole of the chicken wire

Tip: Grab the tissue paper in the middle, pinch and twist it in the middle, then stuff it into the chicken wire. Fluff it up a little after that

Watch the video below to get a better idea of how it should be done!

http://vimeo.com/74497442

STREAMERS

This is a really cheap and easy idea for a backdrop! This is for those who're looking for something simpler and less time consuming. The materials are readily available and can be found almost anywhere too. 

What you'll need

- Crepe Paper / Ready-Cut Streamers (Colours of your choice!)

- Masking Tape

- Scissors

Time

45 minutes

Steps

1) Start by deciding on the dimension of your photobooth. 

2) At the top of your backdrop, stretch a piece of masking tape sticky side out, and tape it to the wall with two smaller pieces at the ends (The long piece of tape needs to have the sticky side facing outward so that you can stick the crepe paper to it)

3) Attach pieces of crepe paper to the masking tape. Up to you to decide whether you want the strips of paper to touch the floor. Varying lengths would be nice!

4) Overlap the pieces slightly so that there won't be any ugly gaps in between. Continue attaching the papers till you've worked your way across the entire backdrop..

5) Roll a few pieces of masking tape so that they’re double-stick.

6) Stick a few across the top of the backdrop. 

7) Cover the top edge with a long piece of crepe paper to hide the tapes. 

8) Repeat Steps 2 - 7 for the bottom 

8) Snip off the excess strips at the bottom

SCALLOPS

Another backdrop that is super cheap and easy to make!

What you'll need

- Coloured Papers

- Circle Template

- Scissors

- Blue Tack

Time

45 Mins

Steps

1) Cut out circles with a 5.5" diameter

2) Pinch out a little but of blue tack and stick behind each circle

3) Start sticking the circles on the wall (Side by side). Be sure to make each end of the circle touch one another

4) Add more layers of circles. Each layer below should overlap 1/3 of the layer above

5) Make sure that your rows are straight! 

FRINGES

What you'll need

- Crepe Paper

- Scissors

- Masking Tape

Time

45 Mins

Steps

1) Cut your crepe paper into 5 feet long x 6 inches wide

2) Cut 1-inch-wide fringes along the crepe paper. Leave 2 inches intact. 

3) Paste the first crepe paper on the of the bottom wall using masking tape. Start bottom up.

4) From bottom to up, start adding more layers of fringed crepe paper till you reach your desired height for the backdrop

WALL FLOWERS

The perfect backdrop for wedding showers! 

What you'll need

- Tissue Papers

- Blue Tacks

- Scissors

Time

1 Hour

Steps

1) Cut your tissue paper into 20" x 10"

2) Fold the tissue paper in accordion style

3) Cut a round edge at the end of the paper

2) Unfold the tissue. At the square end, gather the tissue by crumpling it slightly

3) Fold a piece of masking tape around itself so that it’s double-sided, and place it on one end of the crumpled tissue paper

4) Stick the opposite end to the other side of the masking tape so that the paper forms a flower shape. 

Credits: https://lovelyindeed.com/

#6

Why bother spending money on decorations when you can easily make them? 

Here are some DIY decoration ideas/tips that can be made in just a few simple steps! 

DIY TASSEL GARLAND

Credits: http://www.snhblog.com/

What you'll need

- Crepe Paper / Tissue Paper (4 different colours of your choice)

- String

- Scissors

Steps

1. Fold your paper into half, and then in half again so that it becomes a square

2. Cut strips of 0.5 inch think towards the fold line
   (Do remember to leave an 1 inch uncut from the fold line)

3. Unfold the tissue paper. Then, roll tightly down the middle

4. Fold in half, put the string in the middle and twist the loop for hanging

TISSUE PAPER POMS

Credits: http://psheart.blogspot.sg

What you'll need

- Crepe Paper / Tissue Paper

- String

- Scissors

Steps

1) Decide on the size of the pom pom you want to make. For papers of 20" x 26", cut it into half along the length to make the largest pom poms

2) Have at leasts 8 layers of tissue paper

3) Make 1.5" accordion folds (Fold like how you would when making a fan)

4) After folding, cut a small piece of string and wrap it around the middle of your folded tissue

5) Trim the edges of the folded tissue - make the edges rounded

6) Carefully separate each layer of tissue.

LIGHTS

Credits: http://lefrufrublog.blogspot.com

What you'll need

- Small Cups

- String

- Fairy Lights

- Pen Knife

Steps

1) Using the penknife, make a 'X' cut at the bottom of the cups

2) In each cup, insert one fairy light bulb through the "X"

3) Switch on the fairy lights and you'll get your pretty little lamps!

PAPER FLOWERS

Credits: http://www.101woonideeen.nl/

What you'll need

- Square Paper

- Scissors

- Glue

Steps

1) Fold the paper as seen in the first picture

2) Fold a second piece of paper in the same way and fold the two strips right in the middle

3) Cut small triangles along the length of the folded papers

4) Unfold the paper

5) Stick the strips together

6) Hang the flowers up for a more festive effect!

BIRD CAGES

What you'll need

- Papers with Design

- Brown Coloured Paper

- Scissors

- Double Sided Tape

- Ruler

Steps

1) Cut a strip of paper (Approximately 1.5" x 10")

2) Bring the ends of the strip together and tape it so that it becomes a circle

2) Cut 4 long strips of brown coloured paper (Approximately 0.5" x 10")

3) On one end of the long strip of brown paper, tape it into the inside of the circle which you've cut previously

4) Do the same for the other 3 long strips of brown paper, with equal intervals between each strip

5) On a separate piece of paper, draw the shape of a bird (You can google for templates) and cut it out

6) Use a string to attach the bird to the tip of the cage (Make sure the bird is inside the cage!)

SCROLL GARLAND

Credit:http://www.blog.birdsparty.com/

What you'll need

- 12" x 12" Cardstock

- Large Paper Clips

- Scissor

- Stapler

- Glue

Steps

1) Cut the cardstock into strips of 1.5"

2) Make a loop with the strip. Secure to a center strip with a paper clip.

3) Attach loops of different shapes and sizes

4) Pinching the area secured by the paper clip with one hand, carefully remove the paper clip and staple the loops together to the center strip/

5) To lengthen the garland, continue adding more loops and stapling them to the center strip.

#5

Caterers, Desserts/Birthday Cakes and Party Perfect Cocktail Drinks!

CATERERS

STAMFORD CATERING

I've ordered from Stamford quite a few times and I must say that they are probably the best catering company in Singapore. They have a package which serves a 11 Course meal at $11.77 per person. This is an extremely reasonable price for a buffet spread so delicious and beautifully set up! In short - Good Quality, Good Price!

http://stamfordcs.com.sg/

ORANGE CLOVE

Orange Clove is slightly more expensive than Stamford Catering. Their cheapest buffet package is $13.91 per pax for a 9 Course meal. Furthermore, they actually have lesser dish choices as compared to Stamford Catering. I guess Orange Clove is more expensive because of their set up! Their buffet set up significantly stands out from the other caterers, so if you're looking for a caterer that pays attention to the aesthetics of the buffet line, choose Orange Clove!

http://www.orangeclove.com.sg

GUSTOS CATERING

Most people probably would not have heard of this company before! A friend of mine engaged Gustos Catering for her 21st Birthday Party and I felt like I could go 5 rounds because the food was just too good! For those who prefer a slightly more western spread, you should consider Gustos! But of course, western food are always slightly more expensive. The cheapest set menu is $17.12 for a 10 Course meal and customers are not allowed to pick their own dishes (Gustos already has a standard set menu)

http://www.gustos.com.sg/

ELSIE'S KITCHEN

This is for those who have a tighter budget! They have 8 varying buffet options - from the 'Bargain' Option ($8.45 per pax) all the way to the 'Supreme' Option ($22.36 per pax). Their food is so-so, nothing fantastic so I wouldn't really recommend Elsie's Kitchen unless your budget is below $10 per pax. $8.45 per pax for a 7 Course meal is really quite a good deal. I doubt that there are other caterers around that offer similar deals.  

http://www.elsiekitchen.com.sg/

NEO GARDEN

Neo Garden Catering resonates with households because it has been delivering meals and providing home-based buffets since 1992! Menus are available for $10 to $60, which is a really wide range. There will definitely be one set menu that suits your party!

http://neogarden.com.sg/

DESSERT TABLE / BIRTHDAY CAKES

PLAIN VANILLA

Plain Vanilla's Strawberry White Chocolate Cake (Vanilla cake layers and a layer of fresh strawberries in between the cake with White Chocolate frosting) is by far the best birthday cake I've ever tried! It's so good that I would recommend it to every single reader out there who's looking to order a birthday cake. This should be your number one choice! You won't regret it! If you aren't looking to order a birthday cake, you can even get the Strawberry White Chocolate in cupcakes!

http://www.plainvanillabakery.com/

MAPLE & MARKET

Thinking of getting some sweet treats for your guests? Besides ordering your birthday cake from Maple & Market, you could get them to provide a dessert table for you as well! On a side note, they  did not reply my email when I enquired about their birthday cakes and that made me doubt their service. Oh well, but I've heard good reviews about them so I guess it's worth a try!

http://mapleandmarket.com/

PINE GARDEN

I love Pine Garden's Lychee Martini flavoured cake! Pine Garden's Shop seems more traditional, just like any good ol' bakery shop you would find in the neighbourhoods. They have new age creations such as Bailey's Chocolate Crunch and Nuttymisu, as well as local-lavoured cakes such as Gula Melaka Avocado cake and Pulut Hitam cake.

http://www.pgcake.com/

PARTY PERFECT COCKTAIL RECIPES

"Live for today,

Plan for tomorrow,

PARTY TONIGHT"

Looking to get some booze for your party? Head to 'Valchoholics', a blog that contains all that you need to know about alcohol and make your very own party perfect cocktail!

#4

After choosing your venue, the next step is to decide on a theme! There are several considerations you will have to make before deciding on one e.g. Are your guests gonna find it difficult to get the necessary costume/outfit? Are the decorations going to be difficult to prepare? Is it going to be costly? If you're stuck and you do not know what theme to have, just read on and you might find the inspiration you need! 

COLOURS

A colour coded theme is aways the easiest! It gives your guests more freedom in terms of their attire, and you have more freedom in designing your decorations too. Try to have a combination of colours, otherwise a single coloured theme alone would be too boring!


MONOCHROME

Some people say that a monochrome theme is not suitable for a party because it's like attending a funeral. But hey, does the picture below look like a funeral to you? It really depends on how you go about designing your decorations. You can even add a little silver or gold here and there to give it a classier look.

PURPLE/BLUE

This is one of the more common theme nowadays. It also gives off a 'mermaid' feel, so those who're holding a party for your daughters can consider this colour combination! You don't have to follow this exact shade of purple and blue in the picture below. You might want to consider having it in a lighter shade, that is light purple and light blue, which will give you a totally different feel!

PINK/GOLD

This has got to be my favourite colour combination. For those who are going for a more 'princess' or 'girly' feel, this is for you! I would have chosen this Pink/Gold theme for my own 21st party but I clearly do not fit in the girly princess category, sigh. Do bear in mind that gold items for decorations are not as easy to find as the usual colours!

TIFFANY/WHITE

A really sweet colour combination for all you Tiffany & Co. lovers out there! You can even throw in a little bit of black to make it stand out more. The Tiffany theme is getting increasingly popular with young girls these days. There are a few party shops along Middle Road that sell Tiffany coloured balloons. You might wanna check this shop out! It's just right beside Bugis Plus. 

AZ Gift & Trading

116 Middle Road, #01-01 ICB Enterprise House

Singapore 188972, Tel: 62913130 

ANIMALS

SAFARI

PARTY ANIMALS. The little ones will love this, because it's like you're bringing the jungle right to the kids. Or you could actually even consider having it at the zoo! Just check out this link http://www.zoo.com.sg/visitor-info/birthday-special.html Allow your guests to be creative with their costumes and you'll surprised at the different types of animal costumes people can come up with! You can even consider preparing animal masks for your guests and allow your guests to bring their pets. 

BIRDIE

Cheep Cheep! This theme is so cute that I've decided that my future daughter's 1 year old birthday party will be a bird themed one. However, I must say that the decorations for a birdie themed party aren't easy to DIY. You'll require a whole lot of patience moulding the birds, making the bird houses etc. 

JERSEY

If you're an avid sports lover, why not have a jersey themed party? The greatest advantage of having a jersey themed party is that yourself and your guests will get to wear their favourite jerseys and jerseys are super comfortable. I attended a jersey themed party once and I enjoyed it so much because I wasn't expected to dress up. All I had to do was search my cupboard for a jersey. Thank goodness I could still fit into my Junior College's soccer jersey! 

NAUTICAL

If you're having a pool or yacht, there is no other theme you should consider other than this! I love how you can go crazy and creative with the decorations for the nautical theme. You'll be amazed at how many different kinds of DIY decorations you could make with just three colours and one pattern (Basically the nautical theme consists of a lot of blue, red and white stripes)

HAWAIIAN

Aloha! Some Hawaiian Pizza for you? Bring your guests on an make believe get away to Hawaii. Though a fun theme to have, a lot of work has to be done to prepare for the party. It's either you go big or go home for this theme. Either you make the place look as Hawaiian as possible, or you end up with a failed Hawaiian party