Specific Types of Parties - Lab Report Example

Celebratory Event Portfolio: Rebecca and Chris’ Baby Shower By Name: Institution: Course: Tutor: Date: Introduction There are general considerations for all kinds of events. For example, event organizers must consider the date, time and location of event, as well as the people expected to attend. Risk assessment is a necessary part of event organization, including ensuring safety for the frail (such as children and the elderly). Most importantly, budget determines the number of guests to invite and the types of foods to serve. Planning Rebecca and Chris’ party, for example, will take into consideration their house, and the environment around (including the number of entry points). Equally, the party has to take into account the small budget of $600. However, there are also requirements for specific types of parties. For example, being a baby shower, Rebecca and Chris’ party will be a milder party. In other words, it will not involve much alcohol or noisy music, and will most likely not last for long hours. First First, placing the baby shower on a Sunday is a good idea. This will be a weekend and many people, friend and family, should be free to attend the party. Second, this will be a surprise party for Rebecca. This means that she should not about the plan until the guests have arrived and the party is ready to start. In other words, preparations for the party (such as decoration and catering) should be made with Rebecca away. For this, Rebecca’s friend, Elizabeth, will get her away from the home to take her for a treat the morning of the party. It is important that Rebecca’s absence should be long enough to allow time for these preparations, including the arrival of guests. But at the same time, it should not be too long she gets impatient wherever she will be with Elizabeth. Thing should be done smoothly enough to make sure that Rebecca does not find out what is going on or the surprise, Chris’ main goal, will be lost. Theme and Decoration The theme of the baby shower depends on a lot of things. First, it depends on whether it is the first child or not. Themes may revolve around whether it is a first-time or experienced mother. For Rebecca and Chris, this is their first child. The theme may also depend on the sex of the child. For example, boy-baby showers may revolve around boy-related words and/or phrases like race cars, comic heroes and male sports). But this is only if the parents know the sex of the baby prior (through ultrasound). Parents may want to choose theme that reflects the child’s sex. But at times, even knowing the sex of the child, parents may not want to keep this a secret until the time of birth. Other than these factors- among many others-, there are many general baby shower themes that can still work. In this case, Chris has arranged a surprise baby shower party for Rebecca. In other words, the party is as much for celebrating Rebecca as it is for celebrating the coming baby. Therefore, the party should be given a theme that reflects this combined aspect of it. I suggest the theme ‘Time and the Outdoors’. The time part is for the baby. It comes first because it is the baby who has inspired the party to begin with. It implies the around-the-clock experience that is new babies. Time is therefore an appropriate theme in this regard. The decorations should take this into account. Time-theme decorations include clock- and watch-faced paper goods. Other decorations include wall hangings of the sun, the moon and stars. The outdoors aspect is for the celebration of Rebecca’s personality. Chris describes Rebecca as an outdoor person. Therefore, in celebration of her, the party decorations will also imply this personality of Rebecca. Fortunately, this theme is to a large extent compatible with that of time. The decorations reflecting time (such as sun, moon and star decorations) also reflect outdoors. Indeed, this theme perfectly celebrates both the baby and Rebecca. The decorations should also involve a play of colorful ribbons that speak for the two themes of time and outdoors. Yellow, orange, red, sky blue and green ribbons are appropriate. The choice of the day to hold this party is also important here. Weather predictions show the day, and particularly those hours, will be clear. This will serve the outdoor aspect of the party well. Catering Catering will also take into account the theme of time and the outdoors. First, the food will need to reflect the easy-ness of Sunday afternoons, which is generally a time for people to relax while they wait to return to work on Monday. The snacks should be decorated with the same theme of time. The cakes, for example, should be decorated with time-themed wordplays, like It’s Time to Come Home. The party will be staged in the backyard. This is where all decorations should be so that Rebecca is not alarmed before the guests shout Surprise!!! The food will be delivered from the family’s small galley kitchen with one oven, a hob and microwave. The barbeque in the garden will not be used. As already noted, the idea is to make light foods for fun. Drinks should mostly be soft drinks- for children and adults who want them. If there is wine, they should be non-alcoholic. This is not exactly a party to be drunk at. The service should be in the form of a family picnic, the outdoors theme. But in her state, Rebecca might have trouble sitting on the grass. Therefore, for the sake of Rebecca, a long table in the backyard, well-set with all foods and everything else is agood idea. But again, in her state, Rebecca might not sit in one place for long. Therefore, mats spread out on the grass might also not be a bad idea. These can be used as alternatives, especially by Rebecca. Guests The guests should all be there when Rebecca arrives home with Elizabeth. This means that they should start arriving from 10:30 a.m., so that all are in by 12:30 p.m. This being a surprise party, as already stressed, Rebecca should not be able to guess what is going on. Cars in the front of the house might tip Rebecca off. With the lack of enough space for the guests’ cars, they should use taxis instead of their cars. The guests from the neighborhood (which is most of the guests)should just walk to the party. For some of the older and frail guests from farther awayto whom a taxi might be an inconvenience (particularly Rebecca’s and Chris’ parents from different parts of the town), Chris should offer to bring them with his car, and also take them back after the party. It is the little price to pay for the secrecy and surprise. It is important to take caution and ensure safety- among other issues- for all the guests, with special focus on children and the older and frail guests. In this regard, sharp objects (such as pins, blades and scissors used for decorations) that may hurt the children- and everybody else for that matter- should be kept away. Caution should be taken to ensure the children are not in the kitchen without an adult’s presence. For the elderly guests, it is important that they can access most of the necessary facilities (such as bathroom) easily. Therefore, the easily accessible bathroom(s) should be freed for them. But it is also important to take note of the sexes. There should be a different bathroom for the ladies and another for the men. Of course, these considerations are not all there are to the risks that the guests, especially the children and the elderly might be exposed to. The use of stairs (where necessary) is a sensitive issue that must also be taken into serious consideration. In the end, though, these risks depend on the context. Being aware of these within the specific context of Rebecca and Chris’ home is the first step to find the right solutions. The Party The party starts officially when Rebecca gets home with Elizabeth. This should be at around 12:45 p.m. When she does, the place should be quiet, not revealing what is going on. All the guests should be quiet. Elizabeth will guide Rebecca into the house and to the backyard where the guests will be waiting for them. As soon as she appears, the guests will shout, “Surprise!” Then the party is officially off. Conclusion Although, as mentioned in the introduction, there might be general requirements for any event, and in this case baby showers, most of it is improvisation. In this case, for example, the theme focuses on both Rebecca and the baby. This is because Chris wanted to celebrate both the child and the mother, stressing how important they both are to him. Other factors, such risk assessments are also vital. But in the end, most of it will be improvisation and common sense during the course of the party. Read More