PLANNING YOUR PARTY

Having a Melbourne Cup party?

It doesn’t matter if it’s at the office or you’re asking the gang to your home, here are a few tips to make sure your shindig goes off with a bang.

TIMING:

How long have you got? Is it a frantic power lunch in the boardroom or do you have the afternoon at leisure?

Melbourne Cup lunches are about having fun, so try to make the most of the day. The race is at 2pm, so chances are you’ll be hosting a lunch of some sort before the big race.

CATERING:

You don’t have to compete with the Emirates marquee, but you do want to provide a little more than chips and cheerios.

Break out a medley of cheeses, seasonal fruit and crackers and supplement the mini-banquet with a number of tasty hors d’oeuvres.

If putting together a great spread is a little daunting, then why not let a catering firm supply a number of hampers? It can still provide a touch of elegance without the steep price tag of silver service.

As long as you have plenty of beer and champagne on ice your guests will have just as much fun as being trackside.

FASHION PARADE:

After all, girls, it’s totally about the fashion.

Chances are your guests have gone to a lot of trouble picking the perfect outfit and accessories. And no doubt there will be a wonderful collection of racing couture and fascinators on display.

So don’t miss the opportunity to get out on that catwalk and take a twirl.

Looking your best for Cup Day is mandatory, so why not give your guests a chance to show off their new outfits with a fun parade?

THEME:

It’s the Melbourne Cup… we understand that, so while you might think you’re limited in your choice it’s actually the opposite.

A Cup party lets you break out the colour. And lots of it.

Throughout the day, you’ll see every colour of the rainbow mirrored in the jockeys’ silks, so there are no rules when it comes to decorating your party area. The bolder the better.

Want a classier appeal – then stick to your traditional black and whites. The only rule is to have fun and make the party area a visual sensation.

SWEEPS:

A must!

Get selling on the Monday – or, at the very least, early Tuesday morning – because everyone loves the idea of drawing one of the favourites (or bagging friends who get stuck with the donkeys).

Even the punting rookies will be keen to grab a horse or two as it gives them a mount to cheer through the race.

TELEVISION:

You probably don’t have to be told Channel Seven will once again be covering the Cup, but what will you be showing it on?

If your TV is wall-mounted where everyone will have a good vantage point or should you look at setting up a second television for the day?

Either way, make sure you have them turned up loud because nothing gets noisier than a pumped-up racing crowd.