How to Throw a Birthday Party Friends and Family Will Love

Birthday Parties:
Best Party Tips and Ideas
(Lansky, Vicki)

When planning a birthday party, consider first of all what type of party you are throwing. If this is a birthday party for adults, are children invited? If this is a children's party, are adults invited? Sometimes the best children's party only has a couple of adult chaperone's who are present but not hovering.

How many people will be invited to the party? That info will help determine location of the party and who will be invited. The best thing to do when you first decide to throw a birthday party is to start making lists - invitation list, to-do list, and any other list that will help you plan the best party ever.

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Planning your theme in advance will help you decide what invitations to send. Invitations can help spread the buzz about your party. Having a theme also helps in planning because you know what type of decorations you need, games to play, and look and style of the food you will serve.

Consider what type of birthday party you are throwing: children's party, intimate family gathering, neighborhood BBQ, elegant and formal, or casual and laid-back.

Basically, choosing an appropriate theme early on in the planning process eases the way for the rest of your tasks. Typically everything you do from then on is based on the theme.

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Decide whether to send out invitations by mail, email, personal phone calls, or hand-delivered. The theme of your birthday party may help you decide how to handle the invitations.

Make sure the invitations are consistent with the theme of the birthday party so that your family and friends will be buzzing with excitement. The more closely the invitations are to the theme of the party, the more likely your guests will look forward to the fun.

Be sure to let guests know whether or not they are expected to bring a gift. Most people know to bring a gift of some sort unless there is a simple phrase letting them know not to bring a gift. Sometimes even when you request no gifts, longtime friends and family members may still bring something. Just accept the gift graciously and set it to the side to be opened later.

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Depending on your theme, there are any number of activities you can include during the party. Somtimes birthdays are celebrated by attending a movie or sports activity such as a football or baseball game. Other times they are held at a local pizza place or restaurant that cater to children.

A home-based party can include age-appropriate games and activities that will keep guests entertained for an hour or so. You will not want to wear your guests out by including too many activities, but you should have a couple of simple games to break the ice.

If you are throwing a birthday party that includes a theme such as a mystery party or Hispanic style including a pinata, the activities are pretty much tied in with the theme. Hosting a BBQ in the backyard will suggest games that can be played outdoors.

Whether the outdoor games are for children or adults, there are plenty of things to do such as hide and seek, tag, red rover, badmitten, volley ball, soft ball, croquet, and so forth.