The Florida Villager - September 2013 September 2013 | Page 26

PARTY PLANNING Not Your Mother’s Party E BY KIMBERLY HALE veryone loves a good party, whether it is a whimsical birthday, an elegant wedding or a blowout Super Bowl celebration, but a dramatic change has occurred in the way people plan parties and special occasions these days from those of years past. Today’s parties are not your mother’s parties anymore. In the early days of my party planning career, I learned that if one laid out plenty of food and drink, guests would not only gladly attend your party but they were assured of having a great time, too. This reinforced what I discovered growing up in a traditional Italian household -- food has the power to bring people together. Food was always the focus of every Sunday dinner, family party and important life celebration and it later served as the foundation of my party planning efforts. M. Margaret Haley Owner/Esthetician 305.253.4772 Advanced Skincare Solutions, Teen Acne Facials, Anti-Aging Treatments, Peels & Microdermabrasion Party planning was also a more simple process back then than it is now. Handwritten invitations and RSVP phone calls were the norm. Guests knew the appropriate attire to wear to a cocktail party, and the cake served at a bridal or baby shower was a standard single layer sheet cake decorated with buttercream icing. Courtesy of the Web, the onslaught of social media, and reality television, contemporary parties have become much grander affairs. Children’s birthday parties are indulgent themed productions. Classic cocktail parties now feature DIY food bars and signature drinks. Large-scale events such as weddings and Quinceaneras are all about the guest “experience”. It is not unusual for guests to receive their party invitation via Evite, Facebook Events and Eventbrite. Nor is it abnormal for engaged couples to search online for “over-the-top” event ideas to ensure their reception is truly unforgettable. While party planning appears to have become more sophisticated in recent years, it is not necessarily more complicated. The same factors responsible for causing the shift in party planning trends can also be a valuable resource in creating new ones. Whatever the best and newest trends may emerge, as long as people choose to gather together socially - there will always be a need to plan a party. Kimberly Hale is a marketing communications consultant, community relations expert and freelance writer based in South Florida. She is also the founder and creative force behind Extraordinary Sweets, a niche event design firm specializing in the stylized candy and dessert table trend. My Derma Clinic MedSpa 8517 SW 136 Street • Pinecrest, FL www.mydermaclinic.com 24 www.thefloridavillager.com | September 2013 305.253.4772 [email protected] To Advertise in The Florida Villager, Please call 786-505-1817 GOT NEWS? email us: