Eurovision party tips from celebrity party planner Steven Duggan

With this year's Eurovision Song Contest just days away, we caught up with celebrity event planner Steven Duggan, whose clients include Sir Elton John and Adele. Here are his top tips for the ultimate Eurovision Song Contest party...

Decorate your house in mixed flags and themed bunting to set the mood. Bunting is a very loud and colourful option to fill space when designing a home event. If you are creating a dining experience, drape some flags and bunting low overhead with several mixed colours and shapes.
              
Prepare some tasty cuisine for your guests including canapés and some fun treats. Possibly serve canapés on arrival with a selection of sweet and savoury finger food to pick at throughout. Make a meal of it if you wish with a light dinner menu offering some hearty meals.

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Request your guests to dress as a country or singer of their choice. Camp it up! Dress as some of your favourite singers from various eras or a country of your choice. Use lots of colour and be adventurous with some paint and mixed fabrics!
              
Make a mock voting system for some interactive group games. Buzz in your favourite act of the night with some hand held devices or simplify things with a handmade card version. These ideas will definitely create a bit of suspense and competition between your guests.
              
Create some tasteful themed floral centrepieces and sideboard features in the colours of several countries. Floral features can create alot of drama to a space and soften the dressings of a home or harsh space. Theme each display in the colours of countries.

Play the winning tunes while you entertain to remind your guests of the old favourites. The Eurovision Song Contest has had some very talented singers which we still listen to today! Guests can sing along to songs that remain legendary and obviously it will set the mood while dining and having a few drinks.
                          
Experiment with various pattern table linens, napkins and crockery. Table linens and dressings can be relevant to a country or certain colour scheme. Another idea would be to delicately hand-paint some crockery or glassware. This defines the purpose of the event and adds more fun to the table also.
              
Keep the lighting low and possibly install some directional cans to form beams of light. Uplighters are very important in the dressing of a space and even work well in the home as a light décor option. Again these can be set in various colours or movement settings to sync with the style you have gone for.
              
Celebrate with champagne, sparklers and some fireworks. Champagne is always a great addition to a celebration! Provide this in large chrome chalice bowls with ice and tall flute glasses to hand. This is always a very elegant display option to include. If you have an outdoor area, go all out with a multi-colour or themed Fireworks display.
              
Buy or make some fun props which you can also use on a table or in the corners of each room. Props can include winning trophies, hanging flags, Large landmark props of various countries or even smaller centrepiece props for the tables.
              
Customise some hanging signage and invitations in the theme of Eurovision with lots of colour and sparkle! Get down to the best print & design company in town and carefully theme your invitations and personalised signage for the party. Signs can be placed in the driveway of your house to direct guests or inside the house to label food types. Rebranding these can spice things up a bit.

Find out more about Steven Duggan on his official site - http://www.stevendugganevents.com/