Welcome Everyone!!

I have a few ideas that just may help you on the big day when your home is filled with family and friends. 

Easy Party Planning How to

When do I start? 3-4 weeks before!

Having an organized party plan is the key to your next birthday bash. Every mother knows, the success of the party rests on her shoulders.   When your child is old enough to tell you what they want, let the child be apart of the party choices.  The party must not only be exciting for the birthday child but also for all who attend. 

If you keep your it organized, fun and simple, you will have success.   

3-4 weeks before!

1. Budget

Every party is going to cost something. Set a limit to how much you will pay for each element of your party.  When you break it down, you have better control over that dreaded "why did I spend so much/where did it go?"

Ask family and friends if they would help out with the manual labor, invites, homemade decorations, food, maybe even the entertainment.

2. Theme of the party

Deciding on a theme of a party will get the ball rolling for colors, entertainment, decorations and even food.  Once you have decided on theme, you will need to look at your budget and see if the theme will fit in to your game plan.  Since this is not your party, its always good to let the birthday child pick out the theme.  I had one customer on a tight budget and buying plates, table covers, decorations with this one character theme.  Her local party store was going to charge her $120.00 just for that characters face and name on all her items.  She decided to use the color system first and use the theme items for cake serving, and a few main decorations around the party location.  Using colorful items in place of the themed copyrighted merchandise, saved her $55.00 off her bill. 

3. Indoor or outdoor?

I have lots of parents asking whether to have the party inside or outside. There are a few ways to decide this.  The weather is one.  Cold, wet or windy needs to indoors.  In summertime when there is a heat index, sometimes its best to be able to take the party indoors.  Gives your guests a place to cool off without feeling like they are barging in.  Another factor is how many people are attending.  A small house is not comfortable when your packed in like sardines.  If the weather and space maybe become an issue, it may be best to rent a hall or a church fellowship hall.  You may have to book a year in advance for some locations.  Be prepared, renting is going to take a chunk of your budget.  

4. Date & Hours

 When deciding on the date, consider weekend and non-holidays.  Most people are free on the weekends and most likely to attend if its a non-holiday weekend. 

I feel the best time for a party is in the time of 1:00 pm to 5:00pm.  Parents ask me how long should the party last if its for a child's birthday?  I say about 4 hours.  If its mostly family, then it may go on 10 hours.  There is no set time on how long it should last. I tell them its how you feel-the one doing most of the work.  How long do you feel that you want it to continue.  When we do characters, I tell my parents that after we do our 45 min performance, they should cut the cake, serve it, open presents, thank everyone for coming and clean up. Depending on the amounts of presents, the party should be over in an hour.  Most are relieved. 

5. Guest List

Always ask your child who they want to invite to their party.  Add your family and friends and you have a party. 

6. Entertainers?

Do you need to hire entertainers like costumed characters, clowns, balloon twisters, DJ? Ask friend and family if they know of good entertainment.  Do online searches for your area.  Check that budget again.  Another large chunk is leaving for entertainment.  Sometimes going overboard with activates at a party can be a little too much for the children's attention span.   Example having a clown, followed by ponies, ending with a character mascot with balloon animals and tattoos.  So don't burn out your guests with 3 hours of overload entertainment, you want to leave them wanting more. 

7. Invitations, decorations, favors, prizes, paper supplies, games, activities, costumes...

Depending on your budget, decide if you are going to make or buy invitations, decorations, favors, prizes (if any), costumes, paper supplies, supplies for activities.

What do you need to make or buy for the games/activities?

The more you do from scratch the more you will save. We have lots of ideas on how to make your own invitations, decorations, prizes... .

If you are going to try to make most of it, make a shopping list. What do you need to make invitations, decorations, favors etc, and go shopping!

8. Supplies?

If your budget allows you to, buy invitations, decorations, party bags etc and pick a supplier who can offer you good prices. Do research!

2 weeks before!

9. Send out the invitations

1 week before!

10. Who is coming?

Check who's replied and chase up any you've not heard from.

11. Food, drinks and cake!

Decide on what is going to be served at the party and go shopping! If you are going to order a cake, order it. If not, start preparing the cake!

Days before!

12. Games, music, camera and video recorder!

Learn the games which are going to be played, see if you have enough music, and a working CD or cassette player. Do you need a video recorder, do you have batteries???

1 Day before!

13. Food Preparations

Make the food preparations which can be made before hand! Try to make most of the preparations before hand, so the day of the party will run easier.

14. Make all the decorations needed!

On the day!

You only need to prepare the food!

Be flexible and adapt to what the birthday girl and her friends want to do, you don't have to follow all our steps in our party planning guide.