Fiesta Party Guide

FREE decorating tips and recipe ideas to assist with your preparations

 

Your objective is to throw a fun and exciting party that holds special memories for all that attend.

Are you ready to start preparing for your party? Okay, let’s get started with some suggestions to help relieve the stress.  

Our parties in packages party guide has been provided to help you “create an atmosphere”.
As the party host, it will be your job to 




the invites
 
There are a few important decisions to be made before you send out your invitations.
 
Date - It’s a good idea to check the proposed date and time with “key” friends before committing.

Time - It is important to state a starting time on the invitations. You may also wish to state a finishing time, especially if the event is held at a hired venue. 

Location - You have a couple of basic choices with the most popular being “home” where you’ll have plenty of time to set-up and have all your supplies close at hand. The obvious disadvantage is, cleaning the house before and after the party, possible damage and space limitations. 

Invitation Details - Remember to include on the invitation anything you may wish the guest to provide such as alcohol or a themed costume. If you plan on providing alcohol, make sure to add a footnote that guests should arrange alternative transport home, rather than driving. When sending out invitations, allow plenty of time. 

The golden rule for the party host is, don’t try and do everything on your own. Arrange for friends to help with the food and
serving at the event. Alternatively you may choose to hire wait staff or have the whole event catered, allowing you to enjoy the celebration as much as everyone else.

 
the ambience
 
Choosing a location where load music can be played is a necessity. Outdoors is best suited so that you can string up lots of colourful lighting and lanterns in traditional style.
 
The cheapest and most effective way to decorate the party area is by hanging up strips of brightly coloured material or old sheets. Also striped beach towels can make great table covers. Decorate the food tables with potted cactus and fresh chilli’s, bags of corn chips and lots of salsa. Another idea is old bottles of Tequila and Tabasco sauce. Then dig through your junk cupboard for old sombreros to hang from the ceiling.
 
If your budget doesn’t allow for poncho’s and hats for each guest, make sure it does cover your wait staff, then ask partygoers to attend in traditional attire. As each guest arrives have the costumed wait staff at the front door offering each guest a welcome cocktail.
 
Idea’s for the Senorita’s include free-flowing skirts with scarves and flowers for hair. And for Senior’s pinstriped suits with Panama hats or bright shirts with white or black suit pants. Top it off with a pair of two-tone winklepickers.

 
the entertainment
 
What’s a Latin Fiesta without loud music and lot’s of colour. You could hire a couple of Latin dancers from your local dance school to provide a demonstration and then even have the guests join in to learn how to tango from the experts. Another option is to hire a Latin band offering great music as well as lively entertainment.

 
it’s party time

Party games are a great way for guests to get to know each other better and get everyone into the party spirit. No Latin Fiesta party would be complete without a piñata. In Latin America, piñatas were traditionally used to entertain children at most festive occasions. In Mexico, the word “piñata” actually means party. Piñatas have become a vibrant part of American culture, used as festive decorations or in the traditional party game sense for all ages and add zest to any celebration.

To bring out the adventurous side in your guests you could hire a Mechanical Bucking Bull, which is a fantastic simulation of real bull riding. Most companies provide padding and require and area of approx. 5m x 5m x 3.5m high.

 
the eats
 
In Latin America everything is hot & spicy and tapas is the most popular form of serving food. A great alternative to making your cocktails is to hire a Daiquiri machine. Check your Yellow Pages for details of your nearest operator.
 
PICADILLO - (4 servings) 1 medium onion chopped, 1 clove garlic minced, 1 pound ground extra lean beef, 1⁄4 cup sherry (optional), 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin, 1⁄2 teaspoon oregano, 1/8 teaspoon salt, pinch ground red pepper, 1⁄4 cup raisins, 1 cup diced fresh or canned pineapple, 1 medium green bell pepper chopped and 1⁄4 cup chopped red bell pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, onion, garlic until the onion is tender and the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear. Drain off all fat. Add all remaining ingredients except the green and red bell peppers. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Add green and red bell peppers and heat through. Serve with rice and bread.
 
TEQUILA SUNSET PUNCH - 1 Qt. Tequila, 2 Qt. Orange Juice, 2 litre lemon-lime soda, 1 Pint Orange Sherbert
Sherbert, 1/4 Cup Grenadine. Mix all tequila, orange juice and lemon-lime soda together. Chill. Add Sherbert just before serving and drizzle grenadine over the top.
 

MARGARITA - 11⁄2 oz. Tequila, 3⁄4 oz. Triple Sec (or Cointreau), splash of sour mix and dash of lime juice. Shake with ice, serve on the rocks or strain to serve up in a salt rimmed glass. Add more juice and blend with crushed ice for Frozen variation. Garnish with a lime wedge.
 

The Checklist
 
Tick each of these items off to make sure your party will be a blast!                                                       
 
1.  Pick party date & time                                           
 
 
2.  Plan a menu & go shopping                                    
 
 
3.  Decide on the entertainment                                 
 
 
4.  Arrange for help on the party day                                     
 
 
5.  Write out finale schedule                                      
 
 
6.  Get an exact guest count                                      
 
 
7.  Buy remaining party food, charge the camera, get ice and other incidentals      
 
 
Lastly remember that mishaps may occur so keep your sense of humour, even if not every aspect of the party goes off as planned. The most important part is to relax, take a breath, and try to enjoy the party as much as your guests.

Thank you for including parties in packages in your celebration and we wish you the best of luck with your themed party.