5 Blissful Party Tips

PHOTOS Annemari Ruthven, Jenni Elizabeth WORDS Debbie Loots

So you want to get married, have a big birthday bash, impress everybody at Sunday lunch or just see how to set a beautiful table this season? We’ve asked fabulous expert Hannes Loubser to show and share 5 blissful party tips to celebrate in style.

1. Plan, plan, plan. Set aside sufficient time for brainstorming and research.

2. Update your budget throughout to avoid surprises. Outsource to a professional with a base of talented suppliers if needed.

3. Choose your venue carefully. Seek out hidden gems that offer a variety of set-up options. Use the outdoors. The venue will not only dictate the overall look and feel but also determine hiring and service requirements.

4. Appeal to all the senses. Include flowers with unusual form, colour and texture, informative stationery, food that looks and tastes great, the right music, and proper lighting. Mix and match different styles.

5. Be selective with your guest list. Invite movers and shakers who will heat up conversations – and
the dance floor. Seat people according to mutual interests and hire a reputable photographer.

About Hannes Loubser:

Although Hannes is an artistic dreamer with a myriad of interests, he’s actually “fairly pragmatic about entertaining. Any event needs to be functional first, and fresh second.” After stints in marketing and leadership development, he joined a top Cape Town events company where he was creative director for five years, executing bespoke and celebrity gatherings.

In 2012 he produced and co-presented the popular TV show Bruilof, and recently started his own business specialising in events and film. “I’m obsessed with decor and try to create concepts that are bold and dramatic – even when they are essentially simple. I believe in incorporating elements that are relevant to the host or client,” he says.