Party Planning Guide

Parties are fun time for the guests, but only the hosts know how much work they have to do to throw a memorable party. A party is a time to celebrate a happy occasion like a birthday, wedding, promotion, baby shower, etc. Whatever the nature of the party, the magic word to throw an entertaining and unforgettable party is 'planning'. Even if you are holding your sister's engagement party or your child's birthday party, you need to plan well before the actual day of the party to ensure that the party runs smoothly.

While beginning with the planning process, many people start making different lists for various things that they would need for the party. However, this can create a lot of tension as you would be referring to a variety of lists. There are also chances that with so much of responsibilities, you are likely to forget some things that would end up ruining your party. Here is a free party planning guide that would help you in throwing a great party.

Guide to Party Planning

The planning process for your party should start at least 1½ - 2 months before the actual party, so that you do not have to rush around at the last minute. However, this applies only for small parties, whereas planning for bigger parties must begin 4 - 5 months before the party.

• The first thing to do is to write about the purpose of the party, i.e whether it is a birthday party, housewarming, wedding, etc. Write down the number of guests you are inviting for the party and also the place you are going to hold the party at. It is also necessary to chart out the budget that you would assign for the whole party. This would help you in planning all the party requirements properly.
• Make a list of the guests you are going to call for the party. It can be held for 10 people or one containing 80 - 100 guests. According to this, you would have to go with the further planning of your party. After this comes the day and time for the party. The best time to have parties is during the weekend when everyone can relax and enjoy. So it is better to schedule the party on a Saturday or Sunday. The time of the party would also depend upon the party you want to hold and also on the age of the guests. Kids birthday parties would be mostly held in the morning or in the evening between 4 - 6 pm , whereas bachelorette parties are most likely to be held during night at the house of the bride or the bridesmaid. So keep in mind the kind of guests before deciding on the time of the party.
• Think about a theme for the party. Theme parties are usually very popular, especially among little kids. You can have a princess and knight party or a Disney party theme, where each child would come dressed up in one of the Disney characters. Instead of party themes, you can also keep a dress code for the party where guests would come in a particular colored outfit or a particular style of dress.
• Next comes the venue of the party. The most easiest place to throw a party is at one's own home, as it saves the money for renting a hall and you do not have to face the trouble of moving things from place to place. However, if you have a large party like a wedding or an engagement, it would be better to book a party hall or a resort.
• Once the venue has been decided, think about the party menu. The time of the party and the age of the guests would determine the type of party food. If it is a small dinner party, you can think about cooking the food at home, but for a bigger party it would be better to arrange a caterer for the food. Decide whether you would like to ask your guests to contribute some dish for the party menu. It is also important to think about the serving style, i.e whether you would have the buffet system or you would like to have dinner served to the guests by someone.
• Party invitations have to be sent to the invitees two weeks before the party, so that guests have time to adjust their other commitments accordingly. Also, do not forget to mention R.S.V.P in your card, so that you know how many people who you invited are actually coming for the party.
• Two days before the party, check on whether you have everything ready. Do not forget to get an outfit ready for yourself for the party. This party planning guide could be used for any kind of party, however, if you are looking for some specific party planning guides, then here are some for you.

Birthday Party Planning Guide

If you are holding a birthday party for your son, it would be a great idea to choose a theme for the party. For entertainment, you can include party games and activities as per the age of the children. If you have a high budget, arranging for a magical show would be loved by the little kids. If you are having a birthday party for your friend who is turning 30, you can prepare a slide show by collecting all his photographs from the time he was born to the present time, and play it during the party. He would surely love the effort you have taken.

Bachelorette Party Planning Guide

A bachelorette party is held for a bride-to-be by her female friends and relatives. If you are throwing a bachelorette party for your best fiend, arrange a pajama party at your home where all the friends of the bride can spend the night together with her. Rock the party with food, drinks, music, chitchat and naughty games.

Christmas Party Planning Guide

For a Christmas party, decorate the venue according to the Christmas theme. Decorate a Christmas tree with gifts around the tree for each guest. If you are having a Christmas party for children, you can bring in a Santa Claus who would distribute gifts among them. Prepare a lavish Christmas dinner, complete with Christmas carols and dancing.

These are some of the party planning ideas, however, you can surely come up with more unique creative party ideas yourself too. I hope this party planning guide would aid in throwing a fabulous party that would stay in the memory of your guests for a long time.