New Year’s Eve brings with it stress. And last-minute parties to arrange. So we’ve put together a list of apps and sites you can use to get everything you need to prep for a party at the last minute, from venue to balloons. Sorry, last we checked, ordering an elephant and booze is still illegal in this country.
Invite the gang
What’s a party without an invitation? Forget the humdrum Google Hangouts, Facebook events or WhatsApp groups and create a proper invitation.
Download Evite (Evite.com ; available for free with in-app, or additional, purchases for Windows Phone, Android and iTunes). This app lets you choose from stock designs, create and send invitations, manage your guest lists, and allow people to RSVP. You can also choose to be notified when a guest comments on something. Apple users have the option of trying Paperless Post (Paperlesspost.com ; free on iTunes, with in-app purchases), which offers elegant designs with textured backgrounds that feel like real paper. The app creates a free photo gallery for the event where all the guests can upload images after the event.
Want to add a poem to the invite? Head to AI poem (Aipoem.com ), which makes a poem of your emotions in 30 seconds.
Grab a venue
The most important part of the party is the place. If it’s not your home, you need to book someplace immediately. For smaller gatherings, head to GroupTable (Grouptable.com ), which lets you book tables in local fine-dining restaurants in all major metro cities and get a discount on the entire bill.
For bigger parties, log in to MegaVenues (Megavenues.com ) or Book My Function (Bookmyfunction.com ), which specialize in banquets and party venues.
Get people involved
Want to plan together as a group? Head to Hango (Hangoapp.me ; free on iOS and Android), which lets you create an event with specific people, then allows you to be connected before and during the event.
You can chat with each other, post images, and, after the party, go back and relive all the moments. “You can even keep track of who is late, who is missing, or how far they are,” says Phong Le, co-founder of Hango. All media can be uploaded together in one album and everyone can access it. In case you meet someone nice and forget their name, you can just check the participant list later.
Order food online
The app market has exploded with various online ordering apps. Choose from Zomato (Zomato.com ) for all kinds of options, Swiggy (Swiggy.com ) for exploring a neighbourhood outlet, or if you’d like something chef-made, FreshMenu (Freshmenu.com; delivery in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Gurgaon). All three are available on both Apple iTunes and Google Play. Assume that delivery might take more than an hour, so do order in time.
Click for groceries
Need to figure out the food and drinks? Make a list of everything you need on BigBasket (Bigbasket.com ; free on Google Play and iTunes) or Grofers (Grofers.com ; free on Google Play and iTunes), pay and order.
If you feel like cooking with fresh food for a specific recipe, head to Haute Chef (Hautechef.in ; available in Mumbai) or Cook Gourmet (Cookgourmet.co ; available in the National Capital Region) or ChefKraft (Chefkraft.com ; available in Bengaluru), which sends you fresh ingredients of exotic recipes in a box that you can cook and serve.
Prep snacks for fusspots
Want to quickly make something for guests with allergies or fusspots who don’t eat outside food? Head to Yummly (Yummly.com ; free on Google Play, iTunes and Windows Phone). This app lets you search from more than a million recipes, based on ingredients, food or taste preferences.
“You can specify appetizers with no peanuts, allergy-specific like gluten-free, and meals (to make) under 30 minutes, and we will have a recipe for you,” says David Feller, chief executive officer and co-founder of Yummly.
Set the music mood
You have plenty of choice in music, with multiple streaming apps. YouTube Music (free, Android and iOS) automatically curates the music and even plays videos if you sync with Chromecast. You cannot legally subscribe to YouTube Red, the ad-free, $9.99, or around Rs.660, service in India just yet. Apple Music (Apple.com/in/music ; Rs.120 a month) gives you access to millions of songs, ad-free. Then there’s the tried and tested Gaana (Gaana.com ), Wynk (Wynk.in ) or Saavn (Saavn.com ) for Indian music and Soundcloud (Soundcloud.com ) if you want to play indie stuff.
Add some adult play
Boredom is a disease that can kill a party’s buzz before you realize it. To treat it, download a few snigger games that can be played with a group and can lead to a fit of drunken glee and merriment. Our current favourite is Evil Apples (Evilapples.com ; free on Google Play and iTunes), a card game inspired by Cards Against Humanity, where all participants use their phones to deal the cards and fill in the blanks. Wurdy (Sockmonkeystudios.com ; free on Google Play and iTunes) is a game where participants get 60 seconds to describe as many words as they can.
Party accessories
What’s a party without loot bags, confetti and balloons? Party Bounty (Partybounty.com ) or Party Hunterz (Partyhunterz.com ) list the accessories you need, from fun things to necessities like paper plates and cups. Both ship across the country.
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