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The Ultimate Jubilee Party Checklist
In February of this year, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to reach 70 years of service. This historic achievement is being marked by a series of events and initiatives throughout the year, culminating in an extended bank holiday from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. This special weekend will see people across the UK and the Commonwealth taking the opportunity to come together to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
With this momentous occasion just around the corner, it’s time to get planning. To help you, we’ve put together this handy Jubilee party checklist. So dust off the bunting, get your Union Jack flags out and get ready to sing ‘God Save the Queen’.
The rules
First things first, you need to be sure to follow all the proper rules and regulations when organising your party. For example, it’s important to note that street parties require you to notify your council four to 12 weeks before they happen. You’ll need to provide the following information:
● The date and time of the party
● Whether you need to close a road or section of the road, and its name
● Details of whether the road is part of a bus route
● Detail of whether the road is used by through traffic
● If you’ve consulted the neighbours
The council must grant permission for you to close a road and you must ensure that the emergency services can still access the street. You may be expected to contact affected transport providers, such as bus companies, though some councils will do this for you.
If you’re holding a party on a quiet street that doesn’t affect the wider road network, you do not have to inform the council.
You should also look into applying for a Temporary Events Notice (TEN) if you’re planning to carry out licensable activities on unlicensed premises. For example, you may require a TEN, if you’re planning to sell alcohol, provide entertainment, or serve hot food late into the night or early hours.
It’s also a good idea to send a courtesy note to neighbours and anyone else who might be affected by your event. You should let them know the party date and time, how many guests you’ll have and what your party plans are (for example, if there will be music and what time it will finish). You should also make them aware if roads will be closed.
Decisions, decisions
● Date and time
You’ll need to decide when to hold your party. With the special bank holiday running from Thursday to Sunday, you’ll have a good choice of days. You should also think about whether you want to have a party during the day or in the evening. When you hold your event may dictate the type of food you serve, the activities you go for and the entertainment you put on so it’s a good idea to make this decision early.
● Your budget
Knowing how much money you have to spend will help you to make key decisions. Can you afford to splash out on extras or do you need to keep a tighter grip on the purse strings? Whether you have a lot of money to play around with or just a little, you should be sure to figure out your exact budget before you start spending and it’s a good idea to keep track of your spending by creating a budget planner. That way, you’ll know how your spending is going at all times.
● The theme
From afternoon tea, to a corgi-themed banquet, to a quintessentially British fish and chips party, there are so many fun Jubilee themes to choose from. Let your imagination run royal as you come up with the perfect way to celebrate Her Royal Highness with your family and friends.
● Activities
Whether you want to let some steam off into the evening or you’d prefer an altogether more civilised affair, there are lots of options when it comes to keeping your guests entertained. Perhaps, you could take turns belting out Great British classics on karaoke, or maybe you’d like to honour the queen with a chess tournament. You could also organise a craft table and run a ‘Make the Best Crown’ competition. Or why not have a go at Morris dancing? There’s simply no shortage of fun activities ideas.
● Your Outfit
Finally, you should decide on the dress code and choose your own outfit. Maybe you’ll decide to go for a royal-themed costume party or perhaps you’d prefer simple, casual attire. If you’re having a night-time event, you might want your guests to dress up in evening wear to add a bit of glitz and glamour to the occasion. You could also ask partygoers to don red, white and blue for a Union Jack-themed party.
Let's go shopping
● Decorations
From bunting, to balloons, to banners, to garlands, to miniature flag picks for cocktail sausages and cupcakes, there’s no end to the Jubilee-themed decorations available right now. On a tight budget? You could always make your own decorations with simple craft supplies like ribbon, lace and crepe paper.
● Party favours
Why not give your guests a cone of old-fashioned sweets to remind them of yesteryear or a rose to inspire national pride? You could even make your own Jubilee-themed shortbread for your guests to enjoy. Or how about a British-themed badge as a memento of this auspicious occasion?
● Garden furniture
If you’re holding an outdoor party, you’ll need to make sure you have enough tables and chairs for your guests. You might want to club together with neighbours to ensure everyone will be comfortably seated.
● Gazebo
With the Great British weather being what it is, there’s always a chance of rain so it’s worth getting a gazebo in case the weather takes a turn for the worse. If you don’t want to buy, you could always rent or borrow one.
● Tableware and food serving essentials
Be sure to buy enough paper plates, cutlery, napkins and tablecloths for your party and have some extras just in case. You should also have a chafing dish, a serving dish and a cake stand.
Eat, drink and be merry
No party is complete without food and drinks and a Jubilee party is the perfect excuse to organise a banquet fit for a queen.
● Plan your menu
Why not celebrate all things British with a menu filled with everything from sausages, scotch eggs and pork pies to scones and sherry trifle and Victoria sponge? You could also have a banger and mash barbecue or you could serve up a Full-English buffet.
● Decide on drinks
A garden party gives you the perfect opportunity to make your own summer punch. Add ingredients like English wine, London gin, apple juice, elderflower cordial and lemon juice for the perfect British flavour. You might decide to serve a selection of British lagers or ales too. And you’ll sure to need plenty of tea, of course.
T-minus 1 day
You will also need to set up your furniture and your gazebo (if you have one) and get decorating.
If you’ve purchased furniture, especially for the occasion, make sure you leave enough time to assemble it if required.
Finally, write up a running order for your activities so you can refer to it throughout the party to help everything go smoothly.
Keep calm and carry on
The clean-up is also an important part of responsible party planning. After all, no one wants to see napkins and paper cups littering our lovely streets. You should make sure that you tidy everything away and dispose of all litter. Remember to recycle waste where possible to limit your party’s impact on the environment.
So there you have it - our quick guide to organising the perfect Jubilee party. Whether you’re going all out or having a quiet get-together, we hope you have a weekend to remember.
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