Birthday Countdown
Follow these timing tips, and you’ll be able to keep a smile on your face from the day you start planning until the moment the final guest is picked up or dropped off.
- Choose A Theme. Having a focus will help you plan and execute your party without a hitch. Brainstorm themes with your guest of honor well before your party date.
- Make Reservations. If there is one thing I have learned about popular party venues, it’s that they fill up early. Once you have your theme and know you will need a location away from home, get your reservations nailed down tight well in advance.
- Find Supplies Online. Shop local when you can to support your local economy, but for those hard-to-locate items, don’t burn up time and gas searching for what you can easily find online. Just make sure to place your orders early to allow for shipping time and returns if anything is not what you’d expected.
- Send Out Invitations. Evite wins hands-down for quick and easy party invites. Just visit evite.com, select a theme, add in your guests’ e-mail addresses, and send your invitations. Two weeks notice is usually just the right amount of time.
- Order The Cake. Cakes and cupcakes can get expensive when you make them from scratch. Besides, the kids will probably like the local big-box or grocery store sheet cakes just as much as homemade. Order one week ahead for pickup up on party day for the freshest results.
- Tackle Your Local Shopping List. Despite ordering ahead online, you probably still have few items you need to pick up locally. Be sure to pick them up at least a week ahead in case you can’t find something and need to order it online after all.
- Recruit Helpers. Why try to do everything yourself when you can have so much more fun at your party with plenty of helping hands standing by? Ask friends and family to chip in or trade help with a friend–she “works” at your child’s party, you “work” at hers.
- Curry Favors. Favors don’t have to be expensive or intricate. For a home party, go simple, fun, and inexpensive. If hosting a party elsewhere, consider letting the party be favor enough or simply offering a small treat to guests on the way out.
- Set Up A Day Ahead. If you are ordering any large food deliveries like pizza, place your order a day ahead. Don’t forget to check online for any discounts or coupons. Then go ahead and tackle as much prep work as you can. Everything will go smoother on party day if you take care of as much as you can the day before.
- Party Down! Get a good night’s sleep. Allow at least two hours prior for set up and one hour afterwards for clean up. Then enjoy every memorable moment.
Christina Katz has planned some fun birthday parties over the years including a pony party, a bowling party, and a roller skating party. But her all-time favorite was the sleepover spa party.