How to Host a Melbourne Cup Party at Home

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Posted 2014-10-28 by Damsel Martin ⇒ follow

From stand-up cocktail parties to sit-down luncheons to backyard barbecue and broomstick races, more and more people are opting to host Melbourne Cup parties in the comfort of their own home. So despite many Brisbane venues promising great packages to help punters ring in Emirates Melbourne Cup 2014 winners, some people simply prefer to take the do-it-yourself approach. If that describes you, here are a handful of tips to make sure your Cup Day bash is the very best on the block.

Dressing up is de rigueur for the Melbourne Cup - in fact, some people invest just as much time on their race day ensemble as their wedding garb. Others take a more casual approach to this celebration, so if you're keen to see guests turn up in their finery, ensure you explicitly note dress code requirements on the invitation. (One year I was invited to a luncheon which included the cheeky directive: 'And, yes, you DO have to wear a hat'). Let's not forget the blokes either. Lord Coconut offers a gorgeous range of men's jewellery, including Melbourne Cup 1960 repurposed stamp and silver plate cufflinks by Helen Hadfield, while Smart Alec Hatters specialises in boutique fedoras, boaters, bowlers, panamas, felt trilbys, berets, top hats, scarves and gloves.

Dressing the tables is just as important. From flowers to balloons to streamers and scatters and party favours, the Emirates Melbourne Cup 2014 is a great excuse to go to town. One of my favourite suppliers is Ipswich Party Hire - it's a bit of a hike for Brisbane residents, but well worth the trip. They carry a full range of well-priced decorations; hire chairs, tables, barbecues, coolers, linen, daiquiri machines, dance floors and much more. If you're looking for decorating inspiration, then take some tips from the professionals - for example, visit the Brisbane Racing Club's Melbourne Cup pages for some super-premium styling ideas.

Feeding hungry race enthusiasts couldn't be easier thanks to the new Grocery Butler service which has just kicked off in Brisbane. Offering a fast (90 minute) grocery delivery service to households and businesses across a range of Brisbane suburbs, the Grocery Butler's thousands of products are competitively priced and are the same brands as found in your local supermarket. The minimum order is $25, with delivery a mere $10. Grocery Butler offers an easy-to-use online platform for customers who can't fit grocery shopping into their busy schedule says Managing Director Michael Parthenides. 'We cater to time-poor mums and dads who find shopping with their kids difficult, and to everyone who prefers to do their shopping quickly and easily from the comfort of their own home.'

Keep the action coming with sweepstakes for your guests with a handy guide from Back A Winner and encourage the well-dressed ones to strut their stuff for your very own Fashions on the Field . Don't overlook the needs of any members of the sipper cup set who might be attending the event with you. Brisbane-based Amazing Kids Parties provide entertainers and party organisers who can keep small folk too busy to be a bother for the whole afternoon.

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