Planning a birthday party can be stressful. Of course, you want everything to go off without a hitch and all of your guests to have a really great time. Luckily, with a little bit of planning, you can pull off a great party that everyone will remember. Here’s how to throw a great birthday party, including birthday gifts, whether you’re planning it for a loved one or yourself.
Choose our Best Birthday Ever arrangement to make your birthday party even more special. It comes with our signature pineapple cupcakes topped with white and semisweet chocolate, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a variety of delicious fresh fruit, paired with festive balloons.
Top 10 Tips for Throwing a Great Birthday Party
We know how stressful party planning can be. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you along the way. Here are ten tips to help you throw the best birthday party ever:
Choosing your guest list is perhaps the most important part of party planning. Will you keep it small and intimate? Or, invite everyone you know for an oversized bash? When it comes to kids’ parties, one rule of thumb is to invite only as many children as your child’s age, plus one. So if your child is turning six, you would invite seven children to the party.
2. Pick a Venue
Once you’ve figured out how many people you’re inviting to your soiree, you can pick the venue. You can choose to have it at your home, but this depends on how much space you have and the size of your guest list. Of course, home parties also require a little more work. A venue may cost more money, but it can offer your guests a greater variety of experiences and take a little pressure off you. Kids enjoy birthdays at bounce houses, children’s museums, or bowling alleys.
For kids, a theme for their birthday means a lot to them. Maybe they want their favorite character, sport, or activity. Be sure to ask your little one and plan accordingly. For older teens and adults, a theme can help tie the whole party together, even if it’s something as simple as a color or descriptive word (think hygge).
The time of day sets the stage for your party. If you have an earlier party, you can serve a light lunch (and spend less on food). Alternatively, you can plan for a dinner party with an elaborate dinner course. For kids, it’s important to consider nap times. Toddler parties work better earlier in the day before naptime, while older children can party later in the afternoon or evening.
5. Send Invitations in Advance
Invitations should go out about three weeks before your party date. This will give your guests enough heads up without going overboard. You don’t have to send paper invitations. Send them over email, Facebook, or even apps like Evite to make things easier on yourself. Be sure to include a clear-cut start and end time.
If you’re planning a little kids’ party, activities are essential. The key is to keep the kids busy to keep them on task and free of boredom. Classic games like freeze tag, musical chairs, and pin the tail on the donkey all work. Of course, if your party is taking place at a venue, this part is already taken care of for you. For older kids and adults, back-to-back activities aren’t as important, but it’s still smart to have a general idea of how you’ll keep your guests occupied.
7. Serve Some Delicious Snacks
Food is really the highlight of birthday parties and shouldn’t be overlooked. Be sure to serve your guests something delicious for the main meal. If you’re planning a kids’ party, pizza, mac and cheese, and chicken nuggets are always a big hit. Next up, it’s time to plan the desserts. Of course, you’ll want cake, but also consider our Happy Birthday Platter. It’s packed with strawberries covered in cake batter-flavored white chocolate and topped with sequin sprinkles, chocolate-covered strawberries, and chocolate-covered apple wedges. Your guests are sure to enjoy it.
You’ve got the food, the theme, some activities, and even a venue, but what about some entertainment? For kids, great choices include a musician or their favorite costumed character. For adults or older teens, consider a DJ or local band.
Favors are an essential component of a kids’ party and a nice addition to an adult party. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. Instead, get creative. Search on Pinterest for ideas that match your theme or think outside of the box and come up with your own ideas.
10. Prepare for the Unexpected
Sometimes the unexpected can crop up and ruin plans, so try to prepare for the worst-case scenario. For example, if you plan an outdoor party, make a backup plan in case it rains. That being said, once you plan ahead, let everything else go. Keep the stress to a minimum by not worrying about the little things even if they don’t go completely according to plan.
These tips can help make party planning a breeze. You’ll be well on your way to actually enjoying the party you plan rather than stressing out over all the minute details.
