Goodbye parties are always more enjoyable and when they focus on good times and good friendships. With a bit of planning and delegating, the actual event will be easier on the host. Keep in mind the likes and interests of your friend to help you decide on the many details.
Planning a Goodbye Party
Delegation of party planning to other friends - One of the most time-saving and stress-reducing things you can do for planning a party is delegating certain activities to other responsible friends. Think of the strengths of others that will be attending. For instance, if they have a flair for decoration, organizing activities such as food or music, recruit them for any of these numerous tasks for the party. Delegation is a great way to ensure that you, as the host, will also enjoy the party and keep your sanity in the planning phases of the party and the day of the event. For the friends that you are "recruiting" to help with the party, talk with them personally to clarify details and answer any questions they may have about their roles. You can even provide them with a list for reference, if needed.
Guest list and invitations - If the party will be a surprise, note this on the invitation to guests so they can keep it a surprise. Send out invitations a few weeks in advance of the party date. Ensure that the people who matter most to the guest of honor are invited to the party. If the party is not a surprise, explain to the guest of honor that you are planning a goodbye party and inquire as to when would be a good time to plan the event and whom in particular they would like to be invited. They will likely have much to do in planning their move and would appreciate some advance notice to keep the date available for the goodbye party.
Venue selection – In planning where to host the goodbye party, consider the space required for the number of guests, refreshments, music, activities, and your budget. Party rooms are available in many apartment complexes, or if the group will be manageable at a house, perhaps a friend's home or your own would be sufficient. You may need to look into extra seating in case you need to borrow some chairs or tables for the event.
Selection of types of food and drink – If you are expecting a number of guests, try and keep the food simple, such as a buffet or appetizer table, to keep it manageable. You may like to assign each guest to bring a specific dish or refreshment. Plan for the amount of cutlery, plates, napkins and cups needed for the number of guests. It is a good idea to have extra of these items, just in case.
Decorations – Consider your friend's preferences for a color theme and other decorations such as balloons and streamers. Reflect on where your friends are moving to, and perhaps you could incorporate this into your theme of decorations. For instance, if your friend is moving to a coastal town, perhaps a nautical or beach theme could be developed. A special cake can be made or ordered for the event.
Music – Whether there will be background music or dancing, consider delegating the music to a friend. You could provide a possible list of songs that the guest of honor enjoys and that matches the theme of the party.
Activities for the goodbye party – Fun activities can be planned for the guests to participate in making the party special. Depending which activities you choose, they may require some rehearsals and additional planning. Ask mutual friends for ideas and recommendations, such as those described below.
Events and Fun Activities for a Goodbye Party
- A skit, drama, song or game can be prepared. They can highlight a favorite memory, funny event, or be about the place that that your friend is moving to in the near future.
- A video of favorite pictures put to music on a computer program, such as on Window's Movie Maker. It may take some time to go through all your pictures of your friend and put the show together, but it is well worth the effort to see how touched they are when they see it. A copy of the video can be made for the guest of honor as a memorable gift.
- Favorite pictures of your friend can be put together and shown on a laptop computer. The slide show feature continuously rotates pictures for visitors to see during the party. As an alternative, print some of these pictures and make a poster display of some favorite moments shared with your friend.
- A card or visitors' book are great ideas for a keepsake. For instance, a card could be included in each invitation for each guest to write a message to your friend and return to you. These cards can be combined in a scrapbook or large poster-size card that can be given to the guest of honor as a memory keepsake after the party.
- A gift for the guest of honor. Think about something that could be useful in their new home and remind them of their friends in their previous location.
Important Items to Remember to Bring to a Goodbye Party
- Camera with extra batteries
- Tissue (for the emotional moments)
- Lists to refer to during the party (lists of delegation and program of events)
Saying goodbye to a close friend is never easy, but planning their goodbye party might help you focus on showing them how much you appreciate their friendship. By thinking of their likes, interests and your special friendship, you can plan a memorable goodbye party. They will, no doubt, value your sentiments and your many efforts in their behalf.
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Brandy Pearce - As a seasoned traveler, dental professional, educator and jewelry designer, Brandy's articles are insightful, interesting, and full of ...
