Party Planning Information | Party Planning Guide

After you've decided to throw a party, the very first step is to decide on a budget. All the other details, such as theme, food, decorations, locations, etc. are based on your budget.

If you have a large budget, you have a lot of flexibility. But whatever about party options for a smaller budget? Don't worry - there's lots, you just need to be a little creative.

One option is a potluck. This works best when you assign someone to a food category such as salad, dessert, beverage or entree instead of trying to figure out actual dishes. An interesting twist on the traditional potluck is to have a theme - anything from build a salad to a taco bar and request guests to be an assigned ingredient. Remember to let everyone know how many people you are expecting so you they can bring the correct number of servings.

Small parties, especially intimate gathering such as dinner parties, really require guests to RSVP. It's one thing if it's a casual pizza party and watching the game get together, but it's completely different if you set a table for 8 and 12 people show up for dinner!!

When creating the guest list, think about if you want to have close friends, lots of new faces or a mix of both. Again, your budget will help determine the number of people you are able to invite.

The smaller the party, the more important the "fit" of everyone. Ideally, you'll want a lively evening where everyone feels connected and enjoys good conversation.

Don't feel obligated to invite all your co-workers or classmates if this is not possible or you simply don't want them at your gathering. Do mention to the co-workers or classmate you did invite that although you wanted to invite everyone, it just was not possible, so please be aware not everyone was invited, so please don't discuss the party at work/school.

Once your guest list is confirmed, notify everyone of the the date, time, location and theme for your party. Included a suggested dress code if you think anyone might be unsure. If you haven't already, check out Evite.com. It's free and online invitations are perfect for casual get togethers.

So now you have a budget and a guest list. The next question is where are you going to put everyone? If you home is big enough, that can be an option. Of course the downside of having a party in your home is the cleaning before and after the celebration.

It's time to be a little creative, especially if you have a smaller budget. What options do you have locally? A park? Beach? Arcade? Community clubhouse? Skating rink? Bowling alley? The size of the party, the age of your guests and the theme will all be factors in choosing a location.

A local caterer in the area offers group cooking classes. Group cooking class are a great party option -- a cool location, interactive fun and good food! Do you have a hobby you'd like to share with the group? Public pottery painting and firing studios have popped up all over the place and most offer group events.

Each party has so many details such as keeping the food stocked, music, greeting guests as they arrive, taking coats and bags, just to name a few. As the host, your job is to see to all of these little details, plus to keep your guests mingling. It can be a lot of work, but there's a secret -- delegate and/or set things up in advance. For example:

Have a back up greeter. If you are busy and can't the door, make sure there's someone assigned to answer the door, welcome the guest and to introduce them if it's a new face.

Fill the CD player and set it on "random" for the evening. You'll have nice background music for the entire event without having to keeping changing CD's.

Have a predesignated spot for coats and bags. Show guests where these items can be stored during the party.

Have backup trays of food ready in the refrigerator. Prepare trays in advance, cover and store. When snacks are running low, just grab a tray and replace the empty tray.

If possible, try to keep your "work" tasks to a minimum. You want time to enjoy your party and talk with you guests. Don't be afraid to ask others to help. As long as the request is simple and in the flow of the evening, no one will mind. In fact, everyone knows how much work it can be to organize a party, so most people appreciate the opportunity to lend a hand.

It's been a great evening and you've loved every minute of it. But it's late now and you're ready to clean up a bit and then go to sleep. The problem? You have a group of people that don't seem to notice they are the last ones there and everyone left about a half hour ago. They haven't noticed you've gathered the dirty dishes and put away the food. How do you politely tell everyone it time to go?

Here's the trick I use. I ask who wants coffee, but I ask in a very specfic way. Here's what I say:

"It's getting late and I just wanted to check if anyone would like a cup of coffee. I just want to make sure everyone is safe for the drink home."

It may not be the most tactful way of wrapping up the evening, but it does get the message across. Plus, you have a chance to check on your guests to make sure the are ok to drive home and to offer to call a cab or make other arrangements if they are not.