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How to Plan a Party

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How to Plan a Party for Any Occasion...

Planning a party for the first time? Need ideas? The Party Buzz Bee is here to help! Here you'll find ideas for planning your party including how to get started, making your guest list, choosing the party theme, choosing party activities and games, food & refreshment suggestions. Read on to find a step by step guide, helpful tips, ideas, photos, links, and more for planning a successful party!

Also see: Birthday Party Tips

Important!

The Key is to Plan Ahead!

The most important thing to remember is to plan ahead! If possible, decide on the date of your party at least ONE MONTH in advance.

Things To Decide...

1. Date
2. Party Theme
3. Guest List
4. Activities & Games
5. Food & Refreshments

1. Plan the Party Date

Set the date one month in advance...

Decide on your party date at least one month in advance, if possible. This might not always be possible, but don't despair, you can still plan a party in less time. Now it's time to make a list...

The next most important thing to remember is to make a list! I always make several lists to help me get organized. I make an invitation list, a food & refreshment list, a grocery list, a things to do list, and on and on. I'm a real "list person", but it really helps relieve the stress!

2. Plan the Party Theme

Is this a Birthday Party? Baby Shower? Graduation Celebration?

Decide on the theme of the party and how much you want to spend. You'll need to purchase your party supplies early in order to have co-ordinating invitations. Send the invitations one to two weeks in advance.

Deciding on the theme can be as easy as asking your 5 year old what type of party he wants this year...but it's not always that easy. Maybe you're giving a bridal shower, baby shower, or a graduation party. One tip is to sit down and browse the web or go to a party supply store to get some ideas.

Birthday Party Theme Ideas

for kids...

In the lenses below includes a collection of themes for Kids under Childrens Party Tips, several Sports themes and Super Hero themed parties. Each theme party tip includes ideas for decorating, games & activities, party favors, and food suggestions.

Theme Party Ideas

for teens & adults

Beach Theme Party

for a Wedding Shower!

Unique Idea!
We gave my son and future wife a Beach Theme party as a wedding shower. They were planning a trip to the beach for their honeymoon, so we decorated in a beach theme and gave them things they could use at the beach as gifts. It was a fun party!

Need Party Supplies?

This is my favorite place:
PartyPantry.com

3. Plan the Guest List

and purchase your invitations...

Make your guest list after the theme of the party has been decided...or make it first, doesn't really matter. This will give you an idea of how many people will be attending, a very important step in planning your party.

Don't wait, purchase the invitations now. It's important to get these right away to give yourself time to get them addressed and mailed on time.

Mail invitations 2 weeks before party date!

What kind of invitations?
Themed party invitatiions, generic invitations, or you can make your own personalized invitations.

Below is a great place with personalized invitation ideas.

Invite Your Guest...

Custom Made Invitations

And, the guest will come...

4. Planning Party Activities

Choose a few of your favorites...

A few ideas...If the party is for a child, you will need to plan a few games or some form of entertainment. You can always use the old stand-by, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but maybe you can come up with some original game ideas to keep the party interesting. Bridal or Wedding Shower usually include a few fun games available in the party supply area of stores.

Party Theme Games and Activities: Here are some expamples: Western party activities could include a sack race or square dancing. A Luau could include a hula contest and limbo game. A 50's theme party could include a dance contest. All parties could include Hot Potato or Musical Chairs! And, don't forget the pinata! It isn't a party without one! Even adults enjoy a pinata. Refer to these theme Party Tips for more game suggestions.

Super Party Games: Fun & Original Ideas for 10 or More

by: John Chaneski

Amazon Price: $27.50 (as of 06/02/2012)

"How do you keep a crowd entertained at a party, picnic, family reunion, club or scout meeting, or any gathering? Liven up the festivities with games that get everyone up and talking to each other, and keep groups of 10 or more laughing. Ready, set, go! Compose a sentence (or two or three) by scrambling the letters of team members' names. Detect an error in a story as someone reads it aloud. Remove a letter from a word and turn the remaining letters into anagrams. Or try ones that call for bluffing or involve recalling facts. These games go hand in hand with good times!"

Pin the Tail on the Donkey

A Classic Party Game!

Schylling PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY GAME

Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 06/03/2012)

A favorite party game for generations!
Includes a donkey poster, 24 tails, and a cloth blindfold.

Mummy Wrap @ Halloween Party

Party Games for Kids

These might be helpful...

The Party Games for Kids books below are some of my favorite picks from Amazon.com. If you have kids, a book of games could come in handy for parties or a day when you're just looking for something fun and different to do.

5. Plan Party Food & Refreshments

What will you serve?

The Menu
Your next job is to plan your party food menu. What to serve? This is always a dilemma for everyone! Here are a few things to keep in mind:

What time is your party?
If you're having it at meal time, plan a meal. If you're having it in between meals, plan refreshments only.

A Meal Time Party:
A sit down meal?
Heavy Hor Dourves?
Sandwiches?
Light food?

Refreshments Only Party:
You can make it elegant or keep it as simple as cake & ice cream only. Most everyone includes some chips & dip, mints, and peanuts as refreshments at any type of party. A few other common party foods you could include are cheeseball & crackers, vegetable tray, tortilla chips & salsa, party cookies. Of course, if it's a birthday party, you will serve cake & ice cream.

Beverages: Serve tea, coffee, and a variety of soft drinks. (also alcoholic beverages if desired). Party goers also love punch! Below is an easy punch recipe:

After you've decided WHAT you're going to serve...make that Party Menu List and keep it handy for future reference.

Easy Punch Recipe

1 can Hawaiian Punch
1/2 gallon pineapple sherbet
2 - 2 liter bottles of ginger ale

Freeze Hawaiian Punch until slushy.
Pour into punch bowl.
Add sherbet and ginger ale.

Party Food!

Perfect Party Food

for a stress-free party...

Perfect Party Food: All the Recipes and Tips You'll Ever Need for Stress-Free Entertaining from the Diva of Do-Ahead

by: Diane Phillips

Amazon Price: $283.71 (as of 06/02/2012)

This book has it all...party ideas and loads of recipes from simple to fancy.

Remember...Plan Ahead!

That's the key...

Does all of this planning sound scary? It doesn't have to be if you remember the key--PLAN AHEAD. Before the pressure of running out of time hits, sit down and plan ahead.

So go ahead, sit down, make a list and visit my Party Pantry for all of your birthday party needs.

Make a List!

I always make 2 Lists:
1. Things I need to do...
2. Things I need to buy...

A list keeps my thoughts organized and I'm less likely to forget something!

For more party tips...

read the Party Buzz Blog...

...Here's the Party Buzz!

Read the Party Buzz Blog for updates on new stuff and party tips.

Planet Friendly Birthday Party Ideas

These are great ideas for any birthday party...

Party Guestbook

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Reply

dellgirl Jan 17, 2012 @ 7:30 pm | delete

Thanks for sharing these wonderful party ideas and tips, they're really going to come in handy soon.

Reply

avgsuperheroine Jun 11, 2011 @ 3:38 pm | delete

great ideas for party planning, really helpful!

Reply

planningaparty Feb 7, 2011 @ 5:11 am | delete

You've got lots a great party theme ideas here on this len. I'd be sharing this via Posterous and my network of blogs.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks

Reply

Chris Williams Nov 30, 2010 @ 10:52 am | delete

I find that keeping in mind that working backwards will help setting out the timeline for planning a party. Try to think of all you need to do in reverse!