Celebrating Special Occasions Virtually

Although we're almost 2 years into the worldwide pandemic now, and life is resembling a lot more normality, there's still lots of areas where things are still a little different. Visiting loved ones around the country (and the world) is still a little tricky, so virtual celebrations are probably going to be popular this festive season. And actually, even when things get back to normal, I can imagine the appeal of these parties to stick around. So if you are thinking of hosting a virtual party this year, this post might give you some ideas!

Setting up the Party

There are a number of ways you can make a video call or live stream your event, but there are some factors to consider. Live streaming, unless you tweak the settings, is open to the public. This means that not just your friends and family could be watching and joining in. You can set up live streams so they are 'invitation only' though, so make sure to do your research first.

If you’d rather the event be a two-way conversation then you would be better-off video calling. Any smart phone and laptop can do this, but if you want to bring it to the next level, you can stream your video call to your television using an entertainment system such as a Google Chromecast, or via a gaming device.

Baby Showers

Just because travel restrictions are making things difficult, that doesn’t mean you can’t have the support of your family during a special moment such as your baby shower. You can start the party by sending out virtual baby shower invitations, and have everyone feed into your home via a video call. Once you have your home well decorated and the food in, that’s where the fun begins.

Once everyone has RSVPd you can send out the party game supplies to those who can't make it in person. You can then play games with anyone you have at the party in person, while your far away loved ones can join in online virtually. There's no need for anyone to miss out!

Birthday Parties

Similar to baby showers, of course you can also invite virtual guests to birthday parties too! Simply set up the video streams to play on a nearby laptop (or even the TV) and have a constant stream of friends and family watching all the fun. They won't have to miss out on gift opening, and they can even sing along with the 'happy birthday' chorus whilst the candles are blown out too. 

Anniversary

If you have found that a job, a visa, or a quick trip, has gotten in between you and the person you love the most on your anniversary, it might be the case that your only option is a virtual celebration. But that doesn’t mean it has to be bad. I think most couples would agree that just speaking to each other would make the anniversary special, but if you want to go all out to really show how much you appreciate them, there is lots of things you can do to enjoy quality time together. The internet has exploded with a range of online date ideas - wine tasting, video gaming together, and streaming sites such as Disney+ let you watch a movie alongside each other whilst being able to chat. 

This is a collaborative post.