Party Prep
As you are leisurely sipping your morning coffee this morning, I am in full on Party Prep mode. In T-minus 24 hours, give or take, our friends and family will be coming over for my son’s 6th Birthday Party. I’m desperately hoping the weather man is finally right, and we can have the party outside. However, I am prepared either way. How do I do it? Let me tell you, and help you prepare for your next party.
5 Party Prep Tips for an Awesome Party
#1 Decide on a Theme or Go with Tradition
In our house, I love a good theme party. I like all the decorations, food, and colors to go together nicely. If you don’t like going with a specific theme, that’s totally fine. You can go the traditional route of food and cake. The only thing that is necessary for either of these parties really is FUN. That fun is mostly for the kids, since the party is for them, but it’s nice if the adults have fun too. I make sure I have a few games for the kids, and we always have a Pinata. That way, the parents can have at least a few minutes to themselves while the kids are frantically chasing candy or pinning the tail on the whatever.
If you do like a theme, I have some tips. I like to decide on it way, way, waaaaay ahead of time….although, you really don’t have to decide until a couple of months in advance. If you give yourself plenty of time, you can wait for sales, reuse/repurpose things you already have, and/or borrow things. I just like to find the most cost-effective way to decorate and throw a party. (These tips can also be used for a traditional party.)
Now, your theme doesn’t have to be anything fancy. For example, it could be just a theme based around your child’s favorite colors. For my oldest, as you’ve seen in previous posts, we went with Monkeys for the 1st, Smurfs for the 2nd, Thomas the Train for the 3rd, Monsters Inc. for the 4th, and Minions for the 5th. The last three were based on his favorites at the time, however, I had been collecting things for a while before.
For example, if I’m out shopping and I see something super cute at a ridiculously low price, I buy it for a future party. I have a tote of Dr. Seuss stuff from when the Dollar Spot at Target went 70% off, and a bunch of Peanuts stuff from over the summer clearance. I’m actually hoping to get more once everything from the new movie goes on clearance.
Now, I’m not saying when these parties will happen, but since my kids are young, it’s pretty easy to convince them of a certain theme. If I can’t, we’ll just go with whatever makes them happy. It’s their special day!
#2 Get your Invites Out ASAP
For my kids’ birthday parties, I like to send out paper invitations. I think it’s more personal, and I get a greater chance of people RSVPing. I always put a start and end time, address it to the whole family (since we’re not ready for just kid parties yet,) and an RSVP date. If I do not get a response by that date, I used to chase people down. Not anymore! No RSVP, no gift/treat bag for you.
#3 Make a List and Get the Stuff
This year I didn’t give myself much time between the RSVP date and the party, but usually, I allow at least a week. That way I can make a list of everything I want to serve, what I still need to buy, what I can borrow from friends and family, and what we still need to do to make the house presentable.
Once the list is made, I go through my decorations one more time, in case I need to add something else to the list. I don’t usually get licensed plates/cups/napkins etc., but instead just go with a color that matches. It’s so much cheaper, and you can reuse the extras.
I mentioned in my previous post, that I buy a cake instead of making one, so it’s at this time I order it.
I also love to use pictures of my kids in the decorations, so I order some this week too.
#4 Divide up Responsibilities
I usually do the shopping, since that’s my forte, and my husband does the cleaning of the house. Since we’re in Wisconsin, we prepare for the party to go either way…meaning inside, if it turns freezing cold with rain or outside, if the sun is shining.
We both work on decorations, since he is really artistic, but I also like to do crafty stuff.
Included in these responsibilities are my wonderful parents, who often volunteer to watch the kids, so some of this decoration/cleaning can be done in peace. Sometimes they even volunteer to have my oldest stay overnight the night before, which would be tonight (hint, hint, if you’re reading this Dad.)
#5 Get it Done
I did all the grocery shopping on Friday, and we pick up the cake on Sunday morning, giving me a chance to get anything else I’ve forgotten. The day before, which is today, is spent cleaning the rooms the guest may be in, straightening the rest of the house (or closing the bedroom doors,) setting up the tables and chairs that we’ve borrowed, straightening up the backyard, and putting the finishing touches on decorations.
We won’t put anything out until we see what the weather looks like Sunday morning. Luckily, the party is in the afternoon, so we have some time.
I also have outfits for all the boys washed and ready to go, since getting dressed takes a long time around here.
We prep all the food that we can the night before, then the rest will have to wait until right before. We have parties in the middle of the afternoon, so it’s just snack food and cake. It makes it simpler and more cost-effective than having to serve an entire meal. Plus, who can sit down to eat while chasing your kids around?
The last thing that I have left to prep is the gift bags for the kids. I know some people don’t like when their kids come home with a bunch of junk from a party, but I think it’s nice to leave with a souvenir of some sort. I try to find things that are useful (last year there were sand pales and water bottles decorated like minions) and I also include something edible, like fruit snacks or cookies. I don’t include candy because we always have a Pinata, where they all get plenty of candy. Not to mention, Halloween/Trick or Treat is coming soon. Sorry parents!
So, that’s it! I’m actually feeling really good about our party this weekend.
How do you party prep? Any steps I’m missing?
These tips make it seen so easy! I haven’t had to put on any parties, but I’m hoping to host some friends for dinner this week. I will have to try this system out!
Excellent. Thank you.
Congrats on having all of that ready! And I love the idea of goody bags. Kids are only little for so long and a goodie bag never is very large – so space isn’t really an issue. Good luck tomorrow!
Exactly. Thank you!
Sounds like you’re ready for an awesome 6 year old birthday party!
Thank you!
I’ve always wanted to throw a secret party but have always been afraid! But these are great tips and makes me want to do it even more! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I grew up with family who always threw parties; elegant black tie affairs, lip sync parties, costume theme parties, and everything in between! I’m glad I kept the spirit of my parents’ party-throwing days, so this post was right up my alley. Excellent tips.
Awesome! Thank you. Your parties sound like fun 🙂
I feel that getting invites out early is key because families are so busy and make lots of plans ahead of time. Great list for organizing and getting it all done.
Yes, I agree 🙂
These are awesome tips for party planning! I planned a surprise birthday party for my husband earlier this summer and I followed the same steps. I hope your sons birthday is a blast.
Best Wishes,
Allison Jones
http://www.LiveLifeWellBlog.com
Thank you so much!
Ahhh! Party planning is the best! Love your ideas and use them myself. We just had a Fancy 5th Fiesta for my little girl and I am in the middle of planning my little boys Mary Poppins (Bert) party! I still am trying to think of something catchy and Mary Poppins (but boy-ish) to go on the invite so if people have thoughts send them my way!!! Email —-> laurenbtrain@gmail.com
What a fun idea! I love it!
Throwing parties is the BEST! Thanks for all the ideas!
You’re welcome!
Great tips! Diving up responsibilities helps a bunch!
Agreed!
Yup, I follow most of what you do. I get my invites out as early as possible!
I love planning parties! I do fail however in the Dividing responsibilities part!
I’m sometimes guilty of that too.
I love throwing partoes…great tips!
http://www.HometownQueenBee.blogspot.com
I am definitely bookmarking this. This would be good for the next Christmas and birthday party. And New Year!!! This is great
Thank you so much!
Im horrible at planning parties, almost to the point of an anxiety attack. Will it be right , will everyone have fun, did I make enough. Thanks for the great tips
I can totally understand. I was freaking out a bit on Wednesday night, but then it all came together.
These are awesome tips. Planning ahead is very important. Seems like you had everything ready. Hope you all have a great time at the party.
Thank you!
These are great ideas! I love planning the birthday parties!
Planning ny neice’s 3rd birthday party with my sister – it is so much fun – Great post and info
Hooray! Yes, I do love doing it.
I’m getting ready to host a Halloween party this year and like you, I’m making sure that our party plans can happen inside or out, depending on the weather. Being prepared and keeping to my list is key for me to pull it all off!
I just got done writing about easy football parties – your tips are delightful and well thought thank you
Thank you Dana. I appreciate that!
Have not thrown a party in a while. Your list will most certainly help next time I do. 🙂
Thank you!
These are awesome tips for hosting a kiddie party. We don’t have a big yard and our house is not large enough for party games so we usually rent out a function room in a fast food chain and let them take care of the party. I’ll share this post with friends and family who are in the planning stage of their kid’s birthday party.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
I have never created a party from scratch only hosted but these are some great tips for a budding party planner.
Sounds that you are ready for the 6th amazing party. I’m planing the 1st birthday party to my son
Thank you for all the great tips! My son’s birthday is coming up, so this is perfect timing 🙂
Really helpful party planning tips right here! Thanks for sharing, this will be a good reference. I wish you luck on the party! I hope things work out well!
Great party post. 🙂
I have not thrown a party in quite a while but planning to throw one early next year…so thanks for the tips
Throwing parties can be fun but as you showed it takes a lot of prep. Get list of things to take into account while planning.
Yes, exactly.
Except for dividing up responsibilities, this is pretty much how I prepare for my kids’ parties. Being a single mom, I am on my own for doing everything.
My number one tip for party planning is to get started early. I’m throwing a 1st birthday party next week and I’ve been crafting and planning for several weeks now so that I won’t be overwhelmed right before the party.
Goodness, it took me forever to get my sons party ready – definitely should have followed your tip to divvy up the responsibilities!
This was me last weekend getting ready for our murder mystery party! Lists are my best friend. And luckily since I was away at Blogger Bash the few days before I prepped as much as I could ahead of time. And I got my husband to bake cupcakes and buy the alcohol 😉
These are great tips! And I am always finding awesome things in the Target Dollar Spot and I have been known to stock up when they go on sale, LOL.
This is a great list for preparing for a party! I don’t have them often, but when I do I usually put everything together last minute and it’s so stressful. It would definitely help to plan in advance. 🙂
Great tips! Throwing parties are such fun, they don’t have to be stressful, great tips!
Genius! Emmas first party is in two weeks and I’m totally slacking! I gotta get stuff done this weekend! I’m like you, I buy things as I seem them and have two large storage boxes for crafts and party supplies. It’s come I. Handy so many times!
I’m not huge on throwing parties, but I know how important it is to get those invites out ASAP. That’s why I think we are going to do our wedding invites SUPER early. haha.
I love seeing all your party posts, so I can’t wait to see more about this party. These are all great tips! If I throw any parties I have to make a list of things to do. If not I’ll forget something.
Yeah I usually start with colors first and then develop a theme around those colors. It’s so exciting.
Looks awesome! I usually start with the colors first too. Love throwing parties even it is just for us. Great way to make memories.