Forget the stationary celebrations for your life’s biggest milestones. The hottest new party venue doesn’t have an address. Instead, it follows the route you and your party choose. Bus parties will make you wish every venue was on wheels.
Here are the things you need to know to pull off a party on wheels, with advice from professional event planner Tameka Bromfield of Soul Ties by Design. Bromfield is usually at work on events like weddings, but she knows that every party needs a plan, whether it’s a birthday, a bachelorette or a friends’ night out.
Depending on the season, you should book your ride three to six months in advance. Bromfield’s advice is that if your party is planned between May and September, you will be competing with the large wedding season market.
Consider how many people will be joining your party, and account for a few last-minute additions. You never want to undershoot the amount of space you need in a vehicle, or you’ll be sitting on someone’s lap all night. Vehicle rental companies can help you decide which of their fleet is right for your group.
One of Bromfield’s pieces of advice is to select a decision-maker from among your group. “When you have one person that’s making the plans, and you’ve collected the funds in advance, you don’t have to worry about decisions falling through,” she says. Have an open conversation about budget, timing and what your party people want to do. And if no one wants to be the planner, see if it is within budget to hire one!
After booking your party bus, create an outline of where your party will go and what you will do. Sure, you can have those last-minute pizza stops, but give your driver enough time to map out your beer crawl, scenic stops or art gallery tour of the city. The more notice you give to everyone about when and where to meet, the more time you’ll have to enjoy yourselves.
Plus, Edmonton has something for everyone. Want a science outing? Plan a day when you take the gang to the Telus World of Science, feeling like a VIP. Celebrating your best buddy’s retirement? Host a pub crawl of unexpected establishments. Heading to an Oilers game? Forget about paying for parking or getting an Uber. Arrive in style in your own awesome ride. A bus party lets the “city be your oyster,” Bromfield says.
What do you do when you’re actually on the bus? Hire a magician or rent a karaoke machine in advance. Or, if you are commemorating an occasion, you can assign short toasts or speeches. If the energy starts to flag, launch an impromptu game of charades. After all, it’s your party, and you’ll have fun if you want to.
Food on a party bus calls for some clever planning. Avoid a cleaning fee by choosing bite-sized finger foods and steering clear of anything too saucy or crumbly. Think charcuterie cups, pretzels or fruit skewers. Keep some moist towelettes on hand and make a simple garbage plan so you can just haul out a bag at the end of the night.
For drinks, anything mini is your best friend. Mini cans of pop, sample bottles of spirits, juice boxes and small bottles of wine are all easy options to consider when preparing your beverage bar. Provide guests with lidded cups, markers to write their names and mix-and-match ingredients for on-theme specialty cocktails and mocktails.
Using a bus as a venue can create chaos if you miss details. Create a dedicated group chat and provide regular updates to the party-goers with messages about the day’s plans. Triple check details with the bus company and vendors. The preparation will pay off when your guest of honour doesn’t have to worry about a thing.
Remember to have fun. A bus party can bring the good kind of chaos, and the payoff is a memorable party that leaves your guests amazed by what Edmonton has to offer. Pick your route, let the music play and take your friends on a ride they will never forget.
