Last-minute party guide

Founder Ivy Low believes that gifting should leave a lasting impression on the recipients; so with Oh Happy Gift you get to personalise a gift box by mixing and matching several items you feel would mean a lot to the recipient. Pick from a list of items ranging from baby fashion and homeware to stationery and coffee-making sets, which are then packed into a custom-designed box; or you can select from their list of themed bundle sets. Stock here is frequently updated, so you can be assured that there’s always something new to include in your gift box. Delivery periods usually take one to three working days, which makes for a great last-minute (but meaningful) gift.

ohhappygift.co. Prices for individual items from below RM10; bundle sets from RM100.

Why bother hauling cartons of beer from the supermarket when you can get them delivered to your doorstep within a few hours? Aside from offering individual bottles of wine and liquor (options include whisky, cognac, gin, rum and more) or beer sets (six-pack cans, cartons, 24-bottle sets and more), Boozeat also provides party packages that include two barrels of beer together with a barman and a couple of beer promoters to serve them. For those who prefer wine, there’s an oyster and wine package at RM1,190 that includes six bottles of Wolf Blass Bilyara Sauvignon Blanc, 120 live oysters shipped from the US, as well as an oyster shucker to save partygoers from the mess (and potential harm) of oyster shucking.

boozeat.com. Beer party packages from RM1,160 for commonly found lagers and stout; from RM3,320 for German beers.

Cakes are one of the hardest things to get when throwing a last-minute party. Most shops will need a few days’ notice to have them ready, but if you only have a few hours, your best option is to order from Eat Cake Today. Cake selections on their website are conveniently categorised by the minimum processing time required. From here, you can get a whole cake in as little as four hours! If you aren’t as pressed for time, you can also order your cake to be delivered later, as long as your order is within the minimum processing time. The options you have here come from some of KL’s favourite bakeries, including Jaslyn Cakes, Little Tee Cakes, Petiteserie Desserts and more.

 eatcaketoday.com. From RM37, depending on bake time and size of cake.

The name speaks for itself – Balloon Delivery specialise in a wide range of services, including event balloon decorations, balloon customisations and more. There’s a whole list of options including latex balloons and foil balloons that cater to various events and celebrations such as graduations, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and more. And if you’re looking to up the balloon game at an event, they also have various packages and sets – you can get anything from basic twocolour combinations to a ceiling filled with balloons, even a huge surprise box filled with nothing but balloons. Pressed for time? Not to worry, Balloon Delivery can process same-day orders – just be sure to give them a three-hour notice.

balloondelivery.com.my. Balloon packages and sets from RM95.

BloomThis is where you go when you need flowers, stat. Cut-off time for same-day delivery is 12noon, so head over to the site the moment you remember that birthday or anniversary you forgot (or else your bouquet will be delivered the next day). Highlights include a pastel mix of pink gerberas and white ping pongs; rustic arrangements with stalks of purple roses, pink hydrangeas and white eustomas; cheery sunflowers and matthiolas; as well as the everdependable red roses. The flower delivery service also offers subscription boxes of bespoke blooms (monthly, bi-weekly, weekly) and gift bundles of flowers paired with Häagen-Dazs pints, The Body Shop products or Eu Yan Sang items. Saved by the bloom, indeed.  

bloomthis.co. On-demand flowers from RM60-RM269; gift bundles from RM129-RM459.

Ladies will know the tiring and time-consuming struggles of searching for the right dress for a party at the last minute. To cut down all those precious hours spent browsing through dozens of racks, check out Rent A Dress. They have an extensive selection of dresses ranging from short, midi and long dresses, with an impressive range of sizes with options ranging from UK4 to UK22. You can also try the dress before committing to renting it – simply pay RM25 per dress and they’ll deliver it to your door. There’s no minimum notice to rent, just be sure to check whether your dress is available during your preferred rent period.

rentadress.com.my. Rental fees from RM70.

There’s no shortage of options in AirBnB for accommodating small gatherings, but for larger parties requiring tables, chairs and a sound system, you’ll want to look up GreatVenueDeals.com. Just launched in May, the site helps you book venues that can host anything from small and intimate gatherings to large and formal events or parties within a 24-hour period. Options include hotel-based restaurants and lounges like those in The Dorsett Grand Subang and Kuala Lumpur for formal settings; KidZania’s Disco Lounge as the perfect place to hold a kid’s birthday bash (that is, if you ever forget your child’s birthday until the day before); and the Metal Bees Production House event space that can host a party for over 300 people.

GreatVenueDeals.com. Prices based on type of venue and number of pax.