Party planning can be one of the most enjoyable and exciting tasks, and for some, the most stressful. I’m surprised how many people I’ve talked to that avoid hosting parties or even considering hosting them because they don’t know where to begin with planning. It’s a daunting and overwhelming task that seems impossible.
Although there is a lot that does go into them, they are not as scary as you may think and are so worth it!
Save Money and Do It Yourself
I’ve planned everything from baby showers to housewarming parties and everything in between. I thoroughly enjoy it and even planned my own baby shower with my oldest son because I had a certain vision of what I wanted and knew I could accomplish it. I also may or may not be a slight perfectionist.
I’ve learned along the way that it doesn’t need to be expensive to achieve just about any look, don’t be afraid to DIY anything you can, and picking a theme makes planning a million times easier.
Don’t be afraid to shop for whatever you can at the dollar store, it will save you a TON, and DIY tutorials for decor on Pinterest have always been my best friend. I also save and reuse whatever I possibly can for parties which has saved me so much over the years not having to purchase the same things over and over.
Picking a theme or color palette for each party can really keep you focused and make the planning process so much easier. It targets the exact look you’re wanting to achieve and makes shopping for decor a breeze. There are a ton of themes that are gender-neutral and you can add specific details to make it more geared towards one way or the other.
Pro tip: Pick a baby shower theme that can also be used for the first birthday party. You can save a lot of the decor to be reused and it will save you a few dollars. Also, there is a market for reusable decor items, so check your local Facebook marketplace for your theme before buying new, and try selling what you no longer need after the party.
Getting the Party Started
Here are a few steps I always take when planning any kind of party. This will help you layout what you need to do and take much of the stress away. Lists can be your best friend, so don’t be afraid to use them. Think of it like grocery shopping, if you went in without a list your brain would be scattered trying to remember everything you need versus going in with a list and knowing exactly what you need. It just makes more sense!
– Pick a theme/color palette. (I’ll discuss some options and fun themes in a future post.)
– Make a guest list and gauge how many will be attending. Get those RSVPs so you don’t have to buy more than necessary.
– Figure out a reasonable budget. (This is very important and will determine how detailed and simple or extravagant it will be)
– Determine a location. (This may or may not cut into your budget depending on where you have it and what it may cost. Bigger spaces tend to need more decor so keep that in mind. Also, having it at home wouldn’t eat into your budget and allows you to start decorating earlier than having it elsewhere. I love having more time to decorate, but I tend to spend a significant amount of time cleaning as well.)
– Pick a time. (I always consider food and what I plan to have as a factor. If it’s around lunch or dinner time, plan to have food because people will come hungry.
Pro Tip: If you don’t want to provide a ton of food and instead have more snacks, pick a time right after lunch or dinner time!
– Decide what you can make yourself and what you will purchase. I tend to make as much of the food as possible to save on costs. I also use programs like Picmonkey and Canva to create invitations and party games instead of buying them premade. You can print them out yourself or email the file to Office Depot and have them printed. Decorations are also super fun to DIY and there are so many cute inspiration ideas on Pinterest and it can save you hundreds!
– Plan. Plan. Plan. Schedule out the time leading up to the party. Send out invitations to give your guests at least 2 weeks in advance. Add an RSVP by date to get an idea of a headcount. (Facebook is a great place to do invites as well because you can post reminders). Purchase everything but the perishable food at least a week in advance. Decorate as early as you possibly can to save stress the day of the event. Prepare whatever food you can the day before the event and start as early as you can the day of.
– Don’t be afraid to recruit help! I am terrible at this and tend to bite off more than I can chew at times and don’t ask for help. I’ve realized over the years how much stress it takes off me when I have help and can delegate certain things. If people offer, let them! It will save you so much time and stress.
– Don’t forget to take pictures the day of the event, or delegate someone to do it for you. So many times when planning I forget this part and always regret it. Also, sharing photos for those who couldn’t make it is always fun!
– Enjoy your masterpiece. It’s so easy to get lost in making sure everyone has everything and keeping everything looking perfect that you forget to actually enjoy the party. Check on things periodically but don’t forget to stop and enjoy yourself too. Enjoy the time with family and take what you created and have fun!
Pro Tip: Keep an eye out here on my blog for everything you need to make your special day amazing!