It’s pretty simple really… Plan a PARTY and make that party yours — whatever a party looks like to you.
You do not have to do the thing because a stranger on Instagram did the thing. You do not have to take dance lessons because your parents expect you to. You do not have to do ‘fine dining’ if tacos are what make your hearts happy.
But if you DO want a twenty-minute speech from the mate who will cry halfway through, make space for it. And if you want everyone in the pool at 4pm fully dressed — it can happen.
Just have FUN with it. Consider this your permission.
Of course you’ve got to book the celebrant and feed the people. But then leave air in the day for whatever wants to happen. (We go longer on that here: Plan the important bits. Then let the day go haywire.)
If your runsheet looks like Monica Geller wrote it after three espressos, cool. Just leave room for the Chandlers to knock over a drink and somehow make the toast better.
Tell people what you want — once, clearly. Phones down for the kiss. Your muso mate taking care of the playlist. Whatever it is, your people love you and want you to have the best day so will gladly help that happen. Just make sure to communicate what’s important to YOU. “We want sack-races, carnival games and fairy floss. We don’t want a cake. We don’t want suits and ties. We don’t want a waltz.”
The only wrong way to celebrate is the way that doesn’t feel like a kickass party to YOU. Oh! And don’t forget to eat something. Hunger makes people sharp so put food in your face.
Steal ten minutes alone if you want. Then go dance like nobody’s watching.
Organised chaos is allowed.
Shaun and TJ x
