Birthday Party Planning List

Wednesday, September 7, 2011 | aime |

Whether you're planning for a birthday party? such as planning a birthday party at home or take the show on the road, helping take the stress and hassle out of throwing birthday parties to create and follow a list of birthday party planning. Describe any ideas you have on a sheet of paper, allowing you to visualize and assess the party checklist ahead of time to capture every element is missing. So the birthday party can be exercised in accordance with your expectations.

Budget and Guest List
When planning a birthday party, start with a budget. One of the worst things that can happen from not planning is going over your budget before you've bought the most important things. Costs can add up quickly, so you may need to adjust your plans. Always allow for a little extra just in case. For instance, if you want to have an extravagant party with limited funds, you may need to pare down your guest list. Or invite a lot of guests and have them help out or pitch in. Once you have created a budget, decide on the guest list.

When planning the guest list, also take into account the location of the party. When hosting a party at home, ensure you have enough room for all of your guests. For smaller parties this should not pose a problem. However, for a larger get-together table and chair rentals can become expensive. Check with local recreation centers, hotels and park districts for rental location options for large or formal parties. When sending out invitations, include the time, date and location of the party. Also provide directions to the party, note the dress code and advise guests of the party theme.

And of course, don't forget to include the most important guest of all: the birthday boy or girl. Plan the event around the guest of honor, and arrange for a surprise, or let the person in on planning to make it one-of-a-kind.

Food and Decorations
Plan appropriately for the food and decorations. For the food, you can host a sit-down dinner or keep it simple and budget friendly with a cocktail hour or just cake and ice cream. For larger parties a caterer may provide the easiest option for tasty food, though you will want to consider this added expense when creating a budget. Finger foods and simple appetizers work well for cocktail hours and casual occasions. Any birthday party, for children or adults, should feature cake or another favorite dessert as the highlight of the party, so make sure there is plenty to go around. Consider decorations based on the location. These can include balloons, streamers, candles and confetti.

Other Considerations 

When hosting a party at your house or another location, ensure it is accessible and safe for all of your guests. For a child's birthday party, forgo decorating with small items that could create a choking hazard. Consider any guests with disabilities. Simple and budget-friendly ideas can lead to a relaxing and stress-free time. Imagine the time you can save by hosting a potluck and asking guests to bring their favorite dish in lieu of a gift. Ask them to bring copies of the recipe and add them to your cookbook for future reference, or give them to the birthday boy as a gift.