Party can be a marker of social life. However, sometimes the preparation puts a lot of pressure. You need to dress appropriately and fit into a good party atmosphere in order to enjoy the party. There's a lot you can follow to make sure you're ready to go to the party, either alone or with friends.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Adjusting to the Ambience
Step 1. Prepare whatever you need to bring
If you don't know what to bring, try asking the host of the event. They may politely say that you don't need to bring anything. In this case, respect their wishes. However, you can just give a greeting card. Or, if you can't bring a gift, a bouquet of flowers is a great option.
- Eating together: food to be shared together.
- Birthday party or baby shower: a perfect gift for the recipient.
- Dinner party: a gift for the host, or a bottle of wine (if appropriate).
- Casual school or college party: no need to bring gifts unless requested.
Step 2. Gather power
Try to get enough rest the night before the party celebration. This way, you can stay up all night if the party goes on late into the night. Even if the party is during the day, you still need to have the energy to socialize and show your best side.
- Some people usually drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks before attending a party that lasts all night.
- Eat protein-rich foods before going to a party. Although food will still be served at the party, you should not arrive on an empty stomach.
Step 3. Listen to music
Listening to music is a fun way to get the party going. Music can get you excited and ready to dance (or at least improve the mood).
- You can listen to music while getting dressed or driving to a party venue.
- Come sing along. This way, you will feel confident and expressive. This of course can make you enjoy the atmosphere more when you arrive at the party.
Step 4. Make a plan for socializing
Think about who will be at the party and the forms of interaction you can have with them. This can help, especially if you are a shy person and don't spend much time outdoors. You can set small goals, such as, "I'm going to chat with two new people," or "I'm going to introduce myself to a new coworker I like."
- You can even practice in front of a mirror if you are a very shy person. Practice introducing yourself to others by saying, “Hi! My name is _. How did you know (name of the host/party organiser)?”
- Think of topics you can discuss with other guests. Do you keep up with the latest events? Are you working on an interesting project? Can you share an interesting and witty story about the party host/organizer?
Step 5. Determine the arrival time
Usually, guests arrive at the party about a few minutes after the set time. In English, this is known as fashionably late. If you're a shy person, you can arrive a few minutes after the party starts so you don't have to start a conversation because only a few people arrive early.
For dinner parties, children's parties, or parties held at rented venues, try to arrive on time. If you are late to such parties, you may come across as rude
Part 2 of 4: Deciding What to Wear
Step 1. Decide what to wear to the party
You need to plan the clothes to wear to the party (at least) based on the type/form of the party being held. For example, you may not wear clothes worn to a Hero's Day celebration to a cocktail party. Choose clothes that match the event being held, but make sure you still feel comfortable and look good when wearing them.
- Pay attention to the instructions on the invitation regarding the type of clothing to wear. Sometimes, the invitation letter contains a hint such as “black tie (optional)” or “space theme”.
- If the invitation you get doesn't contain any clothing instructions, you can call or write to the host to find out the right outfit. You can also ask some questions, for example, "Is the party being held indoors or outdoors?" if you are worried about the weather on that day.
- If you don't know what to wear, there are many books and websites that can help you make an informed decision based on the event.
Step 2. Wear the right clothes for a formal event or party
Even at formal parties and gatherings, there are some special rules that guests need to follow. At the event, guests may be expected to wear semi-formal attire, business formal wear, white tie, black tie. Guests may also be given the freedom not to wear a suit (optional black tie), or may instead wear more casual (albeit formal) attire. Look for the right dress style for the event/party being held before you choose an outfit.
- If there is a hint of a black tie on the invitation, usually the female guests are expected to wear a long evening gown, while the men will wear a tuxedo.
- If there is a hint of a white tie on the invitation, usually female guests are expected to wear a long evening gown, while men wear a black formal suit (tailcoat), with appropriate trousers and have a satin stripe or "braid" on the side (in US culture).. For European and British cultures, pants worn must have two stripes.
- If the invitation contains a hint of formal business attire, both male and female guests are expected to wear a suit.
- If there is a creative black tie on the invitation, female guests can wear shorter dresses (eg cocktail dresses). Meanwhile, male guests can wear trendy or unique accessories, such as colorful belts.
Step 3. Plan a fun outfit for a casual get-together
Light parties or gatherings, such as a botram or barbecue with the neighbors, usually have a very relaxed atmosphere. Sometimes, business meetings or events can be casual (this is of course different from the usual business events). Therefore, whatever casual event you are going to attend, wear appropriate clothes.
- For men, you can attend casual business events without having to wear a suit. In addition, you can also wear dark jeans instead of formal pants.
- For women, you can attend formal and casual events by wearing beautiful shoes, such as high heels or flat heels that look classy. Pair your shoes with a shirt that has been adjusted to your body size, as well as beautiful pants or skirts.
- For a very casual party, wear clothes that make you feel comfortable. Make sure you don't hesitate to show off the clothes to many people.
Step 4. Think about what to wear as a kid
Sometimes, children are invited to an adult event, such as a wedding reception or holiday party. However, often children are invited to events that also welcome other children (or perhaps events that are specially organized for children). As a child, you still have to wear the right clothes according to the event you are attending.
- For other children's birthday parties, it's usually best if you wear the clothes you usually wear to the playground or to school events. Make sure you feel comfortable and wear clothes that don't make you panic or regret if you spill a drink or ice cream on your clothes.
- For holiday parties or other more formal gatherings, children need to wear clothes that reflect the style or form of the party being held. For boys, wear a suit. For girls, wear cute dresses.
- If at the party there will be fun activities such as swimming or other activities, don't forget to bring a swimsuit.
Step 5. Consider what clothes to wear for different seasons or weather
Sometimes, parties are held outdoors, especially events such as barbecues, weddings, garden parties and so on. Make sure you wear appropriate clothing for the event, while taking into account the weather of the day.
- If the event is in the hot season/weather, wear light clothing. Don't let your sweat soak your clothes (or at least you feel stifled).
- If the event is held in winter/cold weather, wear a coat or sweater. Make sure the coat/sweater you wear matches the clothes you're wearing. This is a form of anticipation if at any time you need to wear warm clothes during the party.
- For a holiday party, make sure you wear a festive outfit to bring out the colors and holiday cheer.
Step 6. Ask your friends for ideas on what to wear
Regardless of whether or not they will be attending the party, chances are they have an idea about the right type of outfit to wear to the party. Ask a friend or two you can trust.
You can also upload photos of yourself in party clothes to social media to see what other friends think
Part 3 of 4: Dress up
Step 1. Take a shower and beautify yourself
Everyone has a different routine or habit before going to an event. Do whatever makes you feel refreshed and confident. Start with a shower, followed by other self-care routines/habits that need to be done.
- Brush your teeth.
- Style your hair and apply make-up if you're used to it.
- You may also need to shave.
- You may need to clean or paint your nails. Or, you can use the services of a professional to take care of your nails earlier in the day (or from a week in advance).
- Parties are a great time to show off your perfume or cologne. The use of fragrances can add a bit of your confidence.
Step 2. Put on your party outfit
Once your body is clean and fresh, put on the prepared clothes. Look at yourself in the mirror and make sure everything is as you envision it. Don't rush to make sure the clothes are comfortable enough to wear during the party.
- Make the necessary changes. Don't let yourself feel uncomfortable or insecure when attending a fun party.
- Make sure you wear footwear and accessories (if any) that match the outfit. Try on all of them. Make sure you wear shoes that match the party or event you are attending. Don't wear sneakers to a fancy gala, or high heels to a bowling party.
- You may also need to bring a jacket, scarf, or umbrella, depending on the weather that day.
Step 3. Bring the necessary things
You will need to bring your cell phone, money and ID to the party. You may also need to bring some other items, depending on the party. However, the most important thing is to make sure you have/bring whatever you will need on the night of the party.
- Prepare enough money to get home, even if you need to pay a higher taxi fare in the middle of the night.
- If the party is very large and you may want to dance or put your bags at the party, you may only need to bring things that are not a hassle (eg carry cash or a debit/ATM card in your pocket). This way, you don't have to always check the bags you keep. You also reduce the risk of losing your wallet if the party gets even more lively.
Part 4 of 4: Making Plans with Friends
Step 1. Talk to friends who both attend the party
It will be more fun when you attend a party with friends. Find other friends who are at the party together and ask them what plans they have. They may want to go out together, have dinner the night before, or make other plans with you.
- If the party invitations are distributed online, you may be able to see who was invited and who will be attending the party.
- Show sensitivity when you want to ask a friend about the party. Keep in mind that he may not have been invited and not know anything about the party.
Step 2. If allowed, invite your friends
Sometimes, parties are held simply and only invited guests can attend. However, in some parties, the more people who come, the merrier the party will be. If the party you're attending is open to everyone, take a friend or two of your friends to see if they'd like to come to the party with you too.
- For more intimate parties, hosts often ask invited guests to bring their date. Check with the host first, and ask your partner out if possible.
- If you're not sure if you can invite other people to the party, it's a good idea to ask the host/party organizer directly.
- Tell your friends what to prepare. For example, if the party has a specific theme or dress code, make sure your friends know it so they can dress accordingly.
Step 3. Plan transportation to the party
You have to know how to get to and from the party. If you want to enjoy alcoholic drinks at a party, this plan will be even more important to keep in mind because you will need to ask the driver to take you (or arrange other transportation such as public transportation, taxis, or other vehicles) so that you can get home safely.
- Ask your friends about their plans. Would one of them want to drive to the party? Did any of them live somewhere close enough to the party location? If so, maybe you can stay over at his place after attending the party.
- Check public transport schedules if you wish to use them. If the party lasts late, make sure you can still catch the last bus or train.
- Save the taxi service phone number in case you need it.
- Make sure whether your friends will come home from the party at the same time or not. Make sure you check before the party starts so you don't “lose” anyone at the party because you already know the plan.
Tips
- If you're not in the mood for a party, don't push yourself. Not all parties are fun, and you can still decline an invitation.
- If you have to go to a party even if you're not in the mood, try making arrangements with friends to get in the mood.
