Planning a birthday party, whether it’s for yourself, a friend, or your own child can be easier said than done, especially in today’s world of Covid-19 and Covid-19 restrictions. The last thing you want is to be too stressed out to enjoy the party once the planning is done. From presents such as nail polish strips and nail kits to the alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and even tequila you intend to serve the adults, there’s a lot to plan and carry out, including asking everyone to undergo a Covid-19 test before coming to the party.
Whether you’re throwing an ’80s-themed party for your child complete with glitter, cassette tapes, 80’s decor, and cake, or you’re throwing an 80th birthday party for your mom, a lot goes into planning and carrying out the idea of the wonderful party you have floating around in your head. In this article, you’ll find a few tips to help you plan the best birthday party you and the guest of honor have ever attended.
1. Create your budget.
While no one really wants to create a budget when planning a birthday party, you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg throwing one either. From alcoholic beverages such as beer, or whatever brand of liquor your guests drink, to the little gifts you put in bags to send home with your guests, throwing a party can get expensive, whether it’s for a child or an adult. Remember to be realistic about your budget; it doesn’t have to be a big budget. People will have fun with whatever you’re able to afford. The last thing you want is to put off paying bills in order to throw an awesome party. You’ll regret it in the end, instead of having fond memories.
2. Pick a date and a venue.
Picking a date where everyone can come can be tricky, so you want to plan ahead. You’ll want to choose a date that’s far enough ahead of the calendar that people can make plans to be there, instead of having to see if they can make it last minute. Weekends are usually the best time for most people, but you can do a poll among your family and friends to see what is best for all of you.
Choosing a venue goes right along with choosing the perfect day for the birthday party. One of the best venues you can choose is your own backyard, especially with the coronavirus being front and center at the moment. However, if you do choose another venue, make sure it’s easy for everyone to get to and from.
Speaking of Covid-19, it’s also a good idea to ask your friends and family to undergo Covid-19 testing before they come to the party, just to be on the safe side. They, and you as well, can make an appointment with your health care provider to have the test done.
3. Choose your guest list and invitations.
When you’re planning your own party, who to invite is pretty easy. However, if you’re planning a party for someone else, it can become a little more difficult. Talk to your guest of honor to see who they want to invite to the party. Even when it’s your own party, you have to be careful about who you invite because of some people not getting along with other people, but you can work that out in your own time.
Once you’ve decided on who to invite to the party, it’s time to start working on the invitations. The days when the only choice you had were plain invitations, stuffed in an envelope, and mailed to your family and friends are long gone. Today, you can custom make your invitations and even send them to people’s emails to save money on envelopes and stamps, and to be more eco-friendly as well. Don’t forget to check out birthday invitation etiquettes you need to follow before sending, also.
4. Plan your menu.
One of the biggest parts of planning a birthday party is deciding what food to feed your guests. You certainly can’t have a successful and fun party with hungry guests. For a party where there are going to be a lot of people, your best idea is probably to have a buffet-style dinner. If the party is more intimate with just a few friends and family gathered, then you can schedule a dinner party, which is perfect for small gatherings. The ability to feed themselves whenever they want is perfect for a party with a lot of people, however.
5. Plan your party favors.
Of course, every successful birthday party sends the guests away with a little something to remember the party by. That’s where different party favors come in. One set of party favors that are always a treat for the women and girls in the crowd is a peel and stick nail polish set. Also include nail wraps, real nail polish, nail stickers, and a cuticle stick to keep them happy and content for days after the party ends.
For the guys on your list, some cologne or body wash usually does the trick to keep them happy as well. You can hand these gifts out yourself or even put them in a basket at the door for guests to pick up as they leave. The choice is yours; just make sure that your guests know that they are there for the taking.
6. Don’t forget the decorations.
One thing you certainly don’t want to forget when planning a birthday party is the decorations. Whether you’ve chosen to go with a theme or are just keeping it simple, you want to make sure that things are decorated before the party begins. You can go simple with balloons and streamers or go further with it and host a theme party where all decorations are according to a theme, such as a day at the beach or an evening at the ball. Whatever decorations you go with, make sure that you add them into your budget when you sit down to create it. The decor is as important as the food in some people’s opinion.
Bonus Tips
How long should an adult’s party last?
Since it’s a special occasion, you might feel like the party should last until everyone is ready to go home. The thing is, some people would never want to leave. A good rule of thumb to follow is planning for at least four hours for an adult birthday party. Some people will stay longer, others will be there only for a little while, but at least you’ll have a timeframe to go by.
How long should a children’s party last?
With children, the time for a party to last is significantly shorter, especially if the party is for a young child. Kids get tired, cranky, and need to be taken home a lot faster than most adults do. You need time for presents, playing, and cake, so basically keep a kid’s party to about two hours or no more than three at the most.
These are just a few tips for helping you plan your next birthday event. Whether it’s a kid’s party or an adult’s, you’ll plan the party with ease and have a ball when it gets here.
