You’ve got the the entertainment, decoration and the goodies bag (from part one in our instalment) and now you need a venue and a theme. We introduce you to two more party planners in Hong Kong to help you out.
# It’s all in the planning
Bespoke party planning company Sweet Soirées has just created a unique party space, The White Loft. Director LAUREN ROBERTS tells us more.
“After years of planning events in the same recreation clubs, clubhouses and function rooms, we found that there was a real lack of good party venues in Hong Kong. We were finding it more and more difficult to transform pre-designed spaces into different party themes whilst watching the clock on our set up time, and making sure we were extra careful to keep to the rules on where we could place and stick decorations.
“We therefore decided to take our party planning services to the next level by designing our very own party venue called The White Loft. True to its name, The White Loft is a white, blank space – a versatile venue with plenty of natural light and a spacious layout perfect for any type of party and theme. It is located in the heart of Wong Chuk Hang and facilities include everything you need for a party, with nearby parking in One Island South.
“We wanted to create somewhere where parents could relax and children can have the space to run around and play in a safe clean environment. With our love for planning boutique styled parties and our new beautiful venue space we created some fun popular party packages for mums and dads who don’t have the time to plan a party or would rather avoid party planning stress. We’ve teamed up with our favourite vendors and suppliers to offer party packages that include the venue, catering, decorations, party-ware, entertainment, activities, music, set-up and clean-up.
“It’s so easy for parties to sneak up on us with busy schedules, but my number-one piece of advice for parents planning a party is to book early – at least a month in advance, if possible. You can save a lot of time, money and stress by starting the planning process that little bit earlier.”
Sweet Soirées is at The White Loft, 10/D, Yally Industrial Building, 6 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang. 2818 5870 | 9227 7160 | sweetsoireeshk.com
# A final checklist
Swanky Spree is a private party management company that provides event production, tailored designs and decorations, jamming, and performance arrangements. Here are some of their suggestions for making your next party especially memorable.
#1 Dream themes
Kids wait all year to celebrate their big days, and with an amazing party theme, they’re sure to have the best day ever. Girls might opt for a princess-themed bash, or an event inspired by glitter, sprinkles, strawberries and lemonade, while boy-perfect soirees could feature mad scientists, pirates, ninjas or even construction cones. Encourage guests to dress up for full effect!
#2 Make it magical
Appealing to the five senses can really captivate children’s imaginations. So try holding a treasure hunt in a sandpit, playing the sounds of the sea at a pirate party, or setting off magical firework “spells”.
#3 Decorations
Atmosphere is everything. Once you’ve chosen a theme, use creativity to set the scene. That doesn’t mean you need to fly to the Grand Canyon for a camp-out party; kids are naturally imaginative – if you want to throw a party that’s memorable and unique, get up close and personal with your party decorations by dressing up your party space with personalised birthday party décor.
#4 Guest list and invitations
If the party is for a preschooler, you should write the guest list yourself. But once your child is over the age of three or four, he or she should be consulted. The invitations should be tailor-made, setting the mood for the event. In addition to obvious information like the time, date and directions, include special details if required (for example, “bring a swimsuit” or “parents should accompany children”). It’s also a good idea to ask on invitations if guests have any allergies or special dietary requirements – remember to follow this up when you’re organising the party food or with the seating arrangements on the day.
#5 Place
If you decide your home or apartment isn’t suitable for a children’s party, there are several off-site options that come with obvious advantages (including being able to come back to a clean home after the children have been picked up!). Options range from kid-friendly restaurants and indoor playrooms to outdoor spots.
Want to book some entertainment? Have a look at the first instalment of planning your kids’ party in Hong Kong.
Read the full article in June/July issue of Expat Living or in our E-mag here.
