Teens in high school tend to have a lot going on at any given point. Between school, extra curricular activities, and work, there are plenty of demands on your time. That doesn’t mean that life has to be all work and no play though. High school is also a great time to build and strengthen friendships and to celebrate life. If you’re planning to celebrate something with a fun high school party, there are some party must-haves that you need to plan for.
People You Care About
Arguably the most important part of any high school party is the people who show up. You could have nothing aside from people you care about and still have a good time. Make a list of people you want to see at your party and start figuring out how you want to send out invitations. You can create an event on social media, text people, send physical invitations, use an invitation app, or even just post a flyer. Whatever method you choose, it’s a good idea to send out invitations two to four weeks before your event. Unless you’re hanging up a flyer for your party, which assumes that anyone who sees it will be invited, be sure to let your guests know if it’s appropriate for them to bring other people with them or not.
Good Music
Nothing kills party vibes like awkward silence. The good news is that having some background noise can go a long way towards preventing those inevitable silences from feeling awkward. Good music is an awesome option for background noise, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be relegated to simply being background music. An awesome music playlist can add excitement to your event and prompt people to start dancing. Putting together a music playlist for your party can take some time and effort, so make sure you don’t leave it until the last minute.
Dancing
Dancing is a classic high school party pastime. If you want people to dance at your party, you need to plan for that from the start. Dancing requires space, so you’ll want to have plenty of it cleared for people to dance in. It should influence your choice in music that gets played at your party as well. Speaking of, if you choose the right music, getting people to dance should be pretty easy. There are some songs you can’t help moving to, which makes it easier to want to dance. Don’t be afraid to get things going yourself. Be sure to add a couple of dance-loving friends to your guest list so you have people who will join in with you. Once a few people are dancing, most of your guests will likely follow suit.
Food Trays
It’s hard to have a party without having food. No one wants to have peckish guests, so having some foods to snack on is a definite must. You don’t need to get super fancy and offer a gourmet meal. Food trays of sweet and savory foods offer your guests a variety of foods to snack on. Cheeses, meats, veggies, and fruit can all make excellent finger food snack options Bamboo skewers add to the food presentation and can impress your guests. For foods without bamboo skewers, make sure you have another way for guests to pick up what they want without getting their hands all over everyone else’s food. Don’t forget to have plates and napkins available for your guests as well.
Drinks
You can’t very well have food at a party without having some drinks. Coolers full of bottled water, sodas, and juice can be excellent ways to slake your thirst. It’s hard to beat a cold, refreshing drink after busting some moves on the dance floor. You can leave it at having coolers full of ice and beverages if you want. It’s hard to go wrong with classics like Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Sprite, Mountain Dew, and Root Beer. Non-alcoholic slush drinks are another fun option and are usually pretty quick and easy to whip up.
A Good Location
The location of your party can have a huge impact on the event. You’ll have a totally different vibe if you were to host it at a park than you would if it were at your house, as an example. If you opt for an outdoor location, you’ll need to pay close attention to the weather. Bad weather can put a literal damper on things, so it may be a good idea to have a backup location picked out as well. The activities you can plan may be impacted by where you hold your event too. Then there’s the amount of space you have access to. This will impact how many people you should invite. You want to have enough people to comfortably fill the space. If there aren’t enough, it can feel awkward and empty. Too many and everyone will be stepping on each others’ toes.
Decorations
Good decorations can really elevate your party. They’re what set the tone for your event and make people feel like celebrating once they’ve arrived. Balloons, streamers, stretch spandex tablecloth for your tables and signs are pretty classic decorations. If you aren’t sure where to start, start by picking out a theme for your party. There are a ton of fun party themes you can choose from. It could be the reason why you’re celebrating, such as a birthday or graduation, or just something that you enjoy and want to mimic like a beach bash or a costume party. Once you’ve chosen your theme, picking out decorations to go along with your theme can be a lot easier.
High school parties can be a lot of fun, especially if you’ve taken the time to really plan one out and make it a fun event. There’s a ton of different things to plan for. Ultimately, what you choose to include in your event will depend on the experience you’re hoping to create for everyone. Think about what will be the most fun for you and the people you intend to invite and let that guide you as you plan a super fun high school party.
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