How to Host a Successful Virtual Party

Social distancing can make you feel like you’re missing out on the spring events you had planned, but there’s no reason to skip the festivities altogether. Thanks to modern technology, virtual parties are all the rage! Whether you’re hosting a birthday party or a baby shower, you can still make that special someone feel loved on their big day. Here’s a quick guide to getting your virtual celebration started.

Pick the Event Type

Whatever you have coming up on your calendar will determine the type of get-together you’ll be hosting. Think occasions like birthdays, bridal showers, and baby showers. You can also host virtual hangouts for events such as dinners and happy hours. Whatever’s happening, you can certainly make the most of it.

Choose a Theme

The choice is yours! Game night? Dance party? Costume party? Pick a fun theme everyone will be excited about to ensure a good time.

Decide Who’s Hosting

It’s always fun to host a party, but it also entails lots of planning and organizing. Decide whether it’s best to leave the hosting to one person who’s up for the adventure, or if two people should play co-host instead. It’s also helpful to set rules for when people can chime in to avoid virtual chaos!

Create Your Guest List

You can’t throw a party without guests! Creating a guest list can be a big help when it comes to planning. Is this a party for your closest friends or your immediate family? Perhaps it’s happy hour with your co-workers? Once you have that figured out, remember to be reasonable so everyone can enjoy themselves. Inviting everyone you know probably isn’t the best idea.

Select a Video Chatting Software

Given the amount of video chat apps and software available, getting everyone together from afar is quite simple. Before sending out invitations, test several platforms to see which works best for your group. Remember, the software should be compatible with the number of guests you’ll be inviting. From Google Duo to Zoom – which is great for large parties – there’s an app for every occasion! Below is a list of common video chat platforms.

Treat it Like an Actual Party

A virtual party is still a party. Clean up, dress up, and be excited for your guests to show up! Once the party starts, greet guests and introduce them to anyone they haven’t been acquainted with. Then, ask ice breaker questions to get everyone involved, such as:

What’s the next thing on your bucket list you’d like to accomplish?

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

If your life was made into a movie, which genre would it be?

Don’t forget to incorporate interactive games, such as a fun round of “I Spy” or challenging questions to see who knows the guest of honor best. The party should naturally flow from there.

That’s all there is to it. Happy partying! If you’ve thrown a successful virtual party, we’d love to hear about it. Let us know on social!