The best party starts with a plan. I am a planner by nature and I have come up with some easy party planning tips to help you plan the best party for your next party to make it more fabulous and less drabulous. These really can be used for any party. I am giving you an example using Little Miss’ birthday party this weekend.
Best Party Planning Tips
for any birthday party
First and foremost you must have a theme for the party. This is one of the best party planning tips I can share with you. Once the theme is set everything seems to fall into place. This makes it so much fun looking for awesome items to fit your theme no matter how big or small.
Next is find a menu to fit the theme. Since this party was a psychedelic 60’s themed party, we choose a chocolate fountain and cheese fondue to relive those 60’s! There was tons of fruit and fun things to dip in the chocolate. Homemade bread for the cheese fondue. Fondue just screamed 60’s and was appropriate for this party.
Make a list of all the food to serve at the party and go to the grocery store 3-4 days before the party. Go over the menu one more time to make sure everything is in the house to make all of the fabulous items on the menu for party. Make sure everything is there before preparing the menu for the party. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to make something and missing one ingredient for the main dish. Then everything is on hold until someone goes to get it. Ugh!
Two days before the party is decoration day and pick up anything for craft idea for the party. I am not sure if it is that I am frugal Dallas mom blogger or crafty, but I just love to make the decorations for the party. I usually allot an entire day for making decorations. I really like the WOW factor for a party and making the decorations tailored for exactly the party is an awesome wow factor. If this is not you, go to the party store and get some awesome stuff to match your theme. I can’t wait to share my detailed instructions on how to make a cool paper beaded curtain for her 60’s party. This was a huge hit at the party! We also made a 60’s inspired tie dye design headband and a groovy peace key chain.
A day before the celebration is cake day. Making the cake the night before is another one of the best party planning tips I have to share. Do not make the cake the day of the party, there is not enough time. My neighbor next door, Cristal, usually comes over to perform her magic and make the best cake for the party theme I have chosen for my kids. Once the cake is complete it is stored in the fridge in the garage. If there is no fridge in your garage, see if you can use a close neighbors fridge.
Clean the house the day before the party. This way only a few things will need to be picked up and everything is already put away. The kitchen will be used the most in preparing the awesome menu planned for the big day.
The last of the party planning tips is for the day of the party. Use the morning to decorate for the party and tidy up a bit. Prepare the awesome menu planned, so everything will be warmed or coming out of the oven at the time of the party is scheduled to happen to serve a hot menu. No one likes to eat cold food or burnt food. Read my post on Wednesday about the 60’s party to find out how my planned menu failed! The key party planning tips are to plan and be prepared.
Here are some wonderful party planning tips to consider for your next party to be fabulous and be the envy of the neighborhood. Next time you are planning a party make sure you break it up by days to get things accomplished before the party. You won’t be so frazzled the day of the party. It will look like you pulled it off with very little effort, even though you have been working nearly a week to pull this off. If they ask how you put all this together, just tell them you got some fabulous ideas from Amy the frugal Dallas mom blogger at Pounds4Pennies.
Here are a few birthday party ideas to inspire you:
Peace Sign, Tie Dye, 60s Birthday Party
Do you have any great party planning tips? How do you plan for a party?
Honestly, I found myself SO wiped after a party that now I just look around for a coupon to have the party somewhere else! 🙂 That’s so lame for a DIYer, but true. I spend my energy on creating an awesome cake. Maybe it’ll get easier when my kids aren’t so little! Great tips, though!
I really used to be like that too Camille. After I became a stay at home mom, these extras were not in the budget. I thought my kids were going to be disappointed in having a home birthday, but now they all look forward to see what I have planned. Most moms around here have home parties now. I try to have some wow factor that makes the kids want to come to our parties. Usually I try to knock it out of the park with the cake, decorations and fun crafts! I so won this year.
I wish I could prepare for days, but my kids always derail my best efforts – especially that cleaning step! I’m looking forward to hearing about the paper bead curtain!
Very insightful!
I have hosted 2 birthdays so far and I have wanted them to be beyond awesome. Thank you so much for all your tips.