7 Party Planning Tips for Building Your Party Timeline
One of the best things that you can have when you are planning a party or event of any size is a written party timeline and master shopping list. By making yourself a good solid timeline and comprehensive list for shopping, you can ensure that your party goes off without a hitch.
Here are seven tips from professional party planners to get you on the right track in planning your shopping list and timeline:
Tip #1 – No matter what the size of your event, if it is for children or adults, a wedding or a simple birthday party, you must have a master shopping list as well as a good timeline. Simply use a pen and paper and decide on how long things will take you to do and start filling in your timeline. And, while you are going through the process, this is the time to start a shopping list as well.
Tip #3 – Before you can start to build your timeline and shopping list, first you must decide on where your party or event will be held and how many people you will be inviting. If you will be using an event location or a restaurant, you need to secure your space before moving along to do anything else.
Tip #3 – Once you have secured your location for your party, then you can start to build your lists. To start building your timeline think about the things you will need to do before the party, such as send out your invitations. If you will be having them custom printed you will need to allow extra time for the printing before you can mail them out to your guests.
Tip #4 – Now that you have your date and location secured, and you have ordered your invitations, if necessary, then it is time to think about what you will be doing at your party, what type of food and drinks will be on the menu, and how long you want the party to last. Dedicate a single sheet of paper just to your party day and list everything you will need to do, in order, by time. For example, preparing food before guests arrive would be at the top of the sheet of paper, while giving out party favors may be at the absolute bottom.
Tip #5 – In addition to your timeline for the day of the party, you will also want to formulate a timeline for the two weeks or so leading up to the event. Here you will need to block out time for cleaning, shopping, decorating, etc…
Tip #6 – As you do each of the steps above, you will start to develop a good timeline and a great shopping and supplies list of things which you will need. This will be a great help to you and can even help you to remember to pick up things that you might otherwise have forgotten. In addition, you will also start to see if there will be any conflicts in your timeline where you might need to move a few things around or enlist the help of others.
Tip #7 – Once you have your lists generated then it is time to stick to them and make sure everything gets done. If you are finding that you have more work to do than time to do it in, it is perfectly acceptable to ask other people to help you with carious parts of the event. In fact, most people you will find would be happy to help you.
If you will be hosting a party or event, the best thing you can possibly do for yourself is to follow these tips, and others you hear from friends, and develop yourself a good timeline and master shopping list. By writing things down, you will much more clearly see what you need to do and what you will have time to do yourself.
Preparing Your Home for Your Thanksgiving Party
Have you officially made the decision to host a Thanksgiving party this year? If so, congratulations! Although it can be exciting to plan a Thanksgiving party, it can also be a stressful time. That is why you are advised to start your planning as early as you possibly can; it will help to ensure that you get everything done on time. As important as it is to prepare for your party in advance, there are some things that you just can’t do early. One of those things is preparing your home for your party. In many cases, you will find that you may want to or need to wait till the day or two before your party to start officially preparing your home.
As you likely already know, there are a number of different things that you will need to do, to prepare your home for your Thanksgiving party. One of those things would be the cleaning of your home. When attending a party, whether your guests be close friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers, everyone expects to arrive at a clean house. That is why it may be a good idea for you to clean all the glass in your home, dust everything, as well as vacuum your home or sweep your floors. You will want to place a focus on the rooms that your guests will be using the most, such as the kitchen, bathroom, dining room, or living room.
There is also a good chance that you will have decorations that you need to hang up; what is a good Thanksgiving party without Thanksgiving decorations? Whether you have Thanksgiving streamers, balloons, or just table centerpiece decorations, you may want to set them up the day or two before your Thanksgiving party. Setting them up early, but not too early, will ensure that all of your decorations are up in enough time, but not enough time for them to get dirty or ruined.
It is also extremely important that you make sure you have enough furniture to accommodate all of your guests. If your party guests will also be eating dinner at your Thanksgiving party, you will need to make sure that you have enough seating arrangements. For a large dinner party, it may be a good idea to purchase or rent additional table and chairs. If you need to rent table and chairs, it may be a good idea to put in your rental request early, just in case. Even if you are only having a Thanksgiving party with snacks and drinks, it is still important to make sure that you have enough chairs for all of your guests; however, extra tables may not necessarily be needed.
In addition to preparing the inside of your home, it may also be a good idea to prepare the outside of it as well. If you have any garbage or debris around the entranceway to your home, it may be a good idea to remove it. Depending on where you live, your weather may include snow. If your walkways are covered with snow or ice, it may be a good idea to clean them, particularly right before your guests are about to arrive. You may also want to think about the parking arrangements, especially if you are planning on having a big party. You may want to clear as many spots in your driveway or in your yard as you can.
By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, your home should be clean and ready for when your guests arrive. That is when the fun can really begin!
Planning a New Years Eve Party for Kids
When most people think of a New Years Eve party, they picture a party with mostly adults and do not usually think of children when considering these types of parties. However, each year many New Years Eve parties either include kids or are planned specifically for kids. Whether you are planning to throw a New Years Eve party for your children or your friends or are simply planning to allow your adult guests to bring their children to the party, there are some considerations which must be taken when planning a New Years Eve party.
One of the most obvious considerations is alcohol consumption. Obviously it is inappropriate to allow minors to consume alcohol so the party host should plan on other beverages for the children at the party. They might want to consider serving mocktails which are non alcoholic versions of cocktails. These mocktails are a lot of fun and will help to prevent the children from being envious of the drinks the adults are enjoying because they will have their own fun and colorful drinks. When creating mocktails for children it is important to focus on the presentation. Creating colorful drinks and serving them in festive glasses is a good idea. The host should also give some consideration for alcohol consumption for adults and might consider placing a drink limitation to prevent the adult guests from becoming inebriated during the party.
Food should also be carefully considered when planning a New Years Eve party which will include children. This is important because children can be rather picky about their food. Fortunately appetizers are perfect for New Years Eve celebrations and most kids enjoy appetizers. Foods such as mini pizzas, hot dogs and hamburgers are particularly popular with kids. Similarly, simple foods such as cut up pieces of fruit or cheese or also popular with kids. The host may wish to plan on having an assortment of kid friendly appetizers as well as more sophisticated appetizers for the adults. One example of a cute food idea is to have sushi for the adults and to make an appetizer resembling sushi for the kids. This can be done by cutting the crusts of pieces of white bread, spreading peanut butter on the bread and layering pieces of strawberry on the peanut butter. The bread can then be rolled up and cut to resemble pieces of sushi. The kids will enjoy having an appetizer that looks like what the adults are eating but will also enjoy the taste of their own unique snack.
Another factor to consider when planning a New Years Eve party for kids is the lateness of the party. Depending on the age of the children, the kids might have difficulty staying up until midnight and may become cranky in the late evening hours. If the children are particularly young and staying up would be difficult for everyone, the host can consider making the event a sleepover party and staging an early celebration for the kids. The adults can set the clocks ahead and orchestrate a mock New Years celebration at a more kid friendly hour such as 9:00 pm. After a brief celebration the kids can all retire to an out of the way location, with an adult chaperone, such as a finished basement or an upstairs bedroom. The chaperone can stay with the children until they all fall asleep and then use a baby monitor to return to the party while continuing to monitor the children. The adults can then continue the party and celebrate the real New Year at midnight.
Planning a Thanksgiving Party for All Ages
Are you interested in planning a Thanksgiving party this year? If you love the holiday season and throwing parties, there is a good chance that you may be interested in hosting a party for Thanksgiving. If you are interested, you will need to decide which type of party you would like to have. In general, a large number of party hosts like to plan parties that are only for adults or those that are only for kids. As nice as it is to plan a party just for kids or just for adults, it is sometimes difficult to do. There will likely always be parents who won’t want to part with their kids, even just for a few hours. That is why you may want to think about hosting a Thanksgiving party that is designed for individuals of all ages.
When it comes to hosting an all ages Thanksgiving party, you will likely find that a little bit more work is involved. This is because you do not need to plan for a specific group of individuals, but two different groups. You will want to make sure that your Thanksgiving party has activities that target the adults, as well as the children. That is why, sometimes, a little bit more preparation is involved; however, that extra preparation will likely make your Thanksgiving party that much more enjoyable.
As previously mentioned, you will need to have activities that target both adults and children. You may want to develop party games that can be played with both adults and children or different games for each. You will likely find that if and when children are occupied with something, the adults can enjoy a different activity. You can easily purchase board games, for both adults and children, at your local department store. If you are looking for low-cost game or entertainment ideas, you can easily find a large number of suggestions online. This can easily be done with a standard internet search.
In addition to entertainment, you will also need to think about the food. In most cases, you will find that children and adults like to eat and drink different things. Drinkwise, it is always a good idea to have nonalcoholic drinks on hand because not all adults like to drink alcohol. In addition to soda, which is a common party beverage, it may also be a good idea to have to have plenty of water or juice drinks on hand. As for food, you may also want to create a couple of side dishes or snacks that target children. If you do not have any children, it may be a good idea to get food and snack suggestions from other parents or online. As with entertainment ideas, you can easily find kid approved recipes online, with a standard internet search.
If and when you make the decision to host a Thanksgiving party for individuals of all different ages, it may be a good idea to let your guests know. When it comes to parties, even holiday parties, many guests assume that they should come alone. For the best balance, between children and adults, it may be a good idea to encourage your guests to bring their children. In fact, having other children present may help to keep the other kids happy and occupied.
The above mentioned Thanksgiving party planning tips are just a few of the many that exist. As you can see, there are a number of different ways that you can benefit from or go about planning a Thanksgiving party for both adults and children.
Home Party Business
Many entrepreneurs are finding great success with a home party business. There are many ways to run a successful business without having to leave home and, yes, even by throwing a party. Ok, perhaps it’s not a typical party, but it is a party nonetheless and everyone will have a terrific time.
A growing number of women are becoming avon affiliates. This has always been a popular way to earn extra money, but some people are earning big bucks by inviting friends and family to an avon party. What this means is that the company representative, which would be you, invites everyone to their home for food, drinks and a showing of products. You would provide samples, discuss new products and accept orders. This is a terrific way to have a great time with everyone while earning some extra money at the same time.
Another option for a home party business is with jewelry. Any type of jewelry will work for this, including gold, sterling or costume. After inviting friends and family, you would offer to show some samples of jewelry. Pass them around and allow everyone to see the pieces up close or even try them on to see which they like. At the end of the evening, you would accept orders for jewelry and let everyone know when to expect the arrival of their products. In addition to a jewelry party, a cosmetics home party business is also a terrific idea.
Have you ever heard of Passion Parties? “Thousands of other women are supplementing incomes… by selling their products in at home demonstrations. At least 10,000 Passion Parties are held each month in private homes.
When starting a home party business, you will need to sign up as an affiliate with a well-known company. Many top name businesses are more than happy to take on new representatives because, the more you sell, the more money they make. In turn, you earn commissions from every sale. In this scenario, everyone is happy. If your home party business is a success, friends and family will refer other people they know and so on. Before you know it, new people will be showing up at your parties.
If you need to attract the attention of new guests, offer a contest. Perhaps the winner will receive a free piece of jewelry, tube of lipstick, bottle of perfume, basic Tupperware set or other surprise. A home party business is really a double bonus. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a nice evening of socializing, earning extra money and your friends and family will get to sample some terrific new products.
Throwing a Potluck New Years Eve Party
If you are planning to host a New Years Eve party this year, you might want to consider making the party a pot luck event. Most people consider potlucks for picnics and parties for other occasions but a potluck is rarely considered when throwing a New Years Eve party. However, there are a number of advantages to hosting this type of event. Some of these advantages include reducing the amount of work required by the host of the party, ensuring the guests all enjoy some of the food provided and cutting down on the amount of leftovers the host has at the end of the evening. This article will examine the logistics of hosting a potluck New Years Eve party.
A potluck is a good idea for a fun New Years Eve party. Some hosts may be hesitant to ask their guests to contribute a dish for the party but there are a few ways to make the potluck a great deal of fun. One way to do this is by implementing a theme for the party. The host can take the responsibility for preparing the main course and then assign each guest to bring another part of the meal to the New Years Eve party with the stipulation that the dish they bring should fit with the theme of the party.
While a potluck New Years Eve party greatly reduces the responsibility of the host in terms of food preparation, it is important for the host to remember she is still responsible for coordinating the meal. The host should take care of ensuring all of the elements of the meal are provided. This is important for preventing each guest from bringing a dessert and none of the guests bringing savory items such as the main course, side dishes, salads or appetizers. One way the host can do this is to indicate on each guest’s invitation which type of dish they should bring. The guest may assign 2-3 people to bring side dishes and 4-5 people to bring appetizers, 4-5 people to bring side dishes, 4-5 people to bring salads and 2-3 people to bring desserts. This will help to ensure there is a variety of item in each category.
It is also important to consider food service when planning a New Years Eve party. This logistical matter is especially important if guests will be providing items which must be served hot. The host might want to consult with the guests to determine what they will be bringing to contribute to the New Years Eve party and how the food should be served. If it is necessary to serve the item hot, the host should plan ahead to make accommodations to reheat the item or keep the item hot if the guest arrives with the item still hot. This is important because dinner will not likely be served immediately when guests arrive.
Beverages should also be carefully considered when planning a potluck New Years Eve party. One way to deal with beverages is for the host to supply all of the beverages. This is a good solution because alcoholic cocktails are particularly popular for New Years Eve parties and the host may prefer to plan on providing a few signature cocktails throughout the evening and will want to ensure they have the ingredients necessary to create those categories. While the host may want to provide all of the alcoholic beverages, she may allow a few guests to bring non alcoholic beverages as their contribution to the pot luck.
Finally, when planning a New Years Eve potluck it is important to ensure guests are aware of any dietary restrictions which should be considered when making the food for the party. For example if the host is aware that several guests require special diets such as diets for diabetics or diets for those with high blood pressure she want to make sure guests who will be preparing food for the party are also aware of these restrictions. The host may also want to ensure at least one main dish item is vegetarian in case any of the guests do not eat meat.
Childrens Birthday Party Planner
Planning a children’s birthday party is no easy task. There are some well-meaning parents who choose to set up and organize their kids’ parties themselves, because not only is it cheaper than having to hire a professional birthday party planner, it also allows them to feel more bonded with their child. Do it yourself planning, however, requires a significant amount of time, effort and energy.
Hence, given the extremely busy schedules of today’s parents, it seems very practical to have someone else, an expert on the matter, do the nitty gritty. After all, the working parent surely can’t commit to being on the phone talking to caterers and party supplies shops all day.
Even if he or she will have a big hand in deciding what kind of children’s birthday party will be thrown, there are very minute details (like what to put inside the goodie bags) that will need attention.
You may scan the local yellow pages for a listing of children’s birthday party planners in your area. Or you can also surf the Internet for reviews. If you don’t have the time to visit the party planner’s office, the worlwide web is your best source. Since professional party planner are becoming more in demand right now, you definitely won’t run out of prospects in your search.
Of course, in choosing a good party planner, go with one that has been tried and tested, or whose reputation has been consistently positive. You don’t need to go for the big-ticket party planner to ensure a fun and smooth-sailing event, but you do need a planner who is in tune with your child’s interest and needs.
If the planner does not seem to like children, then it’s not likely that he or she will be able to come up with a fun and memorable children’s birthday party.
Referrals from friends and relatives are also valuable. At least you are assured that somebody you know has good things to say about your prospect. In addition, referrals also decrease the awkward stage of having to check on your planner’s business background. You’ll be able to break the ice faster and express your needs better because you already have, in theory, something in common.
Thus, if you’re willing to pay a premium for convenience, then hire a professional party planner for your child’s birthday. You might not have the time to deal with the little details yourself, but the beaming look on your child’s face after will be well worth the extra expense.
Are You A Formal Or Casual Host?
If you enjoy planning and preparing for elegant parties with elegant floral arrangements, gourmet food, elaborate décor that makes your guests feel like they have just arrived at a five star hotel, you are a formal host. If you feel more comfortable preparing a barbeque feast for your guests’ comfortable sitting amongst your friends in your backyard, you are a casual host. If you are neither, you may be somewhere in between. If you feel comfortable either way, consider yourself lucky.
Regardless of what kind of event you are planning, make sure you know exactly how much time and effort you are willing to put into the process. What kind of party you throw has a lot to do with how much money you can afford to spend. As a rule of thumb, casual affairs usually cost significantly less than formal affairs.
A good example of a formal party is a wedding. If you feel comfortable organizing such an event, so be it. If you felt uncomfortable by the constraints of such a formal event, you probably want to stick with the more casual route.
If you felt more comfortable at a casual party, try to remember why? What were the things that made you feel good at the party? Was it the food? Was it the location? Was it the guests you have met, or the games you have played? Whatever it is that makes you feel good, be sure to include in your plans.
It is possible you have equally enjoyed both the formal and casual party. You may be able to find both experiences fun.
If you would like to host a formal party, make sure you set your budget early. Your budget is going to have a lot to do with how many guests you can invite and what kind of food and drinks you will serve. Even if you have small budget you could still have a formal party, but you need to invite less guests. For example a party of four-to-six people would be a great small party. Just because you have less people at your party it doesn’t mean you will have less fun. The number of guests you have at your party has nothing to do with how much fun you have.
Kids Parties For Older Children
Kids parties will change, as your child gets older, but they still can be a lot of fun to plan and host. As a parent, you will need to work with your child to create a birthday party that is right for them. A ten year old may be well beyond having a clown, balloons and a party with their grandparents and friends. Instead, they may enjoy a pool party, a camping trip or even just a sleep over with friends. When planning the birthday party for an older child, keep in mind that you want them to be happy on this day. It may be hard for you to let go, but they will appreciate it when you follow through with their requests.
Tweens: Planning Ideas For Children Ten To Thirteen
Tweens are one of the most difficult ages to plan a party for. At this age, they are getting to know themselves and impressing friends is all they can think. This is the age where many kids will also feel pressured into doing things that one up the last child’s party. As a parent, you may need to step in and lay out the boundaries. Talk about what is acceptable and what may not be. If they do not have an idea as to what they want to do for a party, here are some ideas:
• Arcade and Pizza: Kids that love arcade games and pizza will love to have a party at a local facility. Go karts can add to the fun, too. You will find that many local facilities will put on the birthday celebration for you, providing you with everything you need for a set fee. These parties can get expensive, depending on if you pay for everyone’s tickets.
• Pool Parties: Something is alluring about the pool and middle school aged children love to invite their friends over for a party like this. It takes only a few minutes to set up and with a few well-planned treats, you can have a fantastic party with virtually no overhead cost (expect for food.)
• Boys and girls both enjoy this activity and continue to become more interested in it all the time. Most laser tag locations now offer a variety of party packages for parents to choose from. These work well for those that want something unique to do.
Planning birthday parties for kids of this age may take some advanced planning on the part of you and your child. They often want to play a role in the birthday or party planning anyway. Kids parties at this age are often filled with noise, music and lots of laughing. Don’t expect them to welcome older family members to their event either. You may want to consider a celebrate birthday celebration for family members.
Tips For Planning Older Kids Parties
When it comes to kids parties, you can go wrong! You do not want to be the party that messed up their child’s party! Here are some tips to help you avoid making common mistakes.
• Choose a party theme that that they enjoy, not what you are looking for. Give them the chance to plan their own event, even. With your guidance, it could be a learning experience for them, too.
• Invest in appropriate decorations. Streamers, balloons and many banners may not be what they are hoping. Instead, find out what they think will be interesting and use that.
• Set a budget for the bash. It is easy to get carried away with your child when planning parties for them. With a budget in place, you and your child can stay within the guidelines and learn something about the process as well.
Stay on top of the trends and party events happening near you. New places to have parties and interesting themes are constantly available. Remember, by the time your child is a teenager, chances are good that they will be less than interested in having a party with mom and dad. Take advantage of this time closely and invest some time making this a bonding experience between you and your child. In the long term, it will pay off!
Tips For Planning A Successful Corporate Party
Whether or not the company you work for offers yearly celebrations, there comes a time in every business when get-togethers arise. Sometimes, the occasion calls for the popping of champagne, while others include a simple spread of cheese and crackers. Depending on the event that needs planning, corporate parties have the potential to become rather entertaining moments that create everlasting memories when organized in the proper manner. Regardless if this is your first time planning a corporate party, there are plenty of tips to follow and things to learn along the way. Below are a few to keep in mind:
1) Knowing the budget allotted for a corporate party is rather important, which allows a planner to make the proper arrangements that better serve the theme of the event. When you don’t have a clue as to the amount of money that you can spend on a get-together, the decisions you make for the event may not be as realistic as they can or should be.
2) Since you’ve been working in the office for a decent amount of time (to have the responsibility of planning a corporate party), you should already have an idea about what type of things that your fellow co-workers enjoy. Planning the kind of activities that will get employees involved during the party makes the event more enjoyable for all. For instance, a silly office group may appreciate “Pin the Tail on the Boss” while others may enjoy a friendly round of charades.
3) Food and drink is what keeps a party going. When guests are hungry and thirsty, they are less likely to stay or feel satisfied. Depending on the type of corporate party you are planning, you may or may not have to employ the services of a caterer, which will cost much more than homemade punch, cookies, and finger foods. Some offices have saved money and added variety to a party by having each guest bring a contribution to the party. This way a variety of tastes can be explored and satisfied.
4) Depending on the crowd, food and drink might not be enough to entertain the masses, but music is a nice distraction that keeps many in the groove. Music not only calms the mood, but also provides the chance for guests to “cut a rug” and “work up a sweat.” Since many different personalities will attend the event, you should plan on bringing a variety of CDs with slow, medium, and fast beats and tempos.
When it comes time to iron out the details of a corporate party, you may also want to ask yourself a few questions, such as: What time and date will be convenient for all employees? Will the corporate party be financed or sponsored? What will be the theme of the party? Will any volunteers be needed? Should alcoholic drinks be included in the planning of the party?