- Drinks – There Is Only One Requirement!
We usually talk about the food first, but Melbourne Cup is quite simply all about champagne. Racing and champagne go hand in hand! Picking a decent sparkling or champagne is a must and ensuring it is flowing throughout the day is expected – so do not disappoint your guests.
- Food – Keep It Constant…
Melbourne Cup events usually start about midday, so guests will be expecting lunch. It is a few good hours of drinking until the race starts at about 3.00pm, so make sure you provide ample food for your guests to avoid any RSA or messy issues come mid-afternoon.
Whether you choose to host a sit down lunch or cocktail party, ensure the menu is light and fresh (it’s a lunch event after all), but ensure service is constant so guests can slowly fill up throughout the day. Depending on how long your event is, we recommend another round of hot canapés or a substantial dessert station for post-race to help soak up some of the champagne.
- Watching The Race (Audio Visual) – Vital To The Event
You can host your event at the most amazing venue, have it styled perfectly, serve food and drink prepared by the best caterers in town, but if you don’t have a good set up for the live broadcast, this could bring it all tumbling down.
Planning ahead to ensure you have a live feed of the race and that viewing by everyone is possible is vital. One small screen for 100 guests will simply not do!
As much as we’d all like to think turning on a TV is simple, broadcasting television coverage at events needs some advance planning. Make sure you talk to an AV expert prior to the day to ensure there is an aerial and suitable reception to broadcast the race. Sound is often forgotten – guests love to hear the race being called loud and clearly.
- Entertainment – It’s A Long Day…
Depending on the length and style of your event, we recommend having a few extra elements to entertain your guests in the lead up to the race.
One great idea is to host a fashion parade! Don’t worry about hiring super models, just pick a few guests that have put together a fabulous race day outfit and get them to strut their stuff for the chance to win a prize! Best hat, best frock, best suit, best overall look, best shoes and best accessories – along with six fabulous prizes and you’re done!
An MC is also a great addition to a Melbourne Cup event. They can host the fashion parade, call out when the race starts and keep the day flowing smoothly (just like the champagne).
Lastly, your guests have dressed up for the occasion, so include some photo opportunities too – whether it’s a photo booth or a media wall with some paparazzi actors – give your guests a chance to take home a snap shot of just how good they looked!
