| So your little one has a party due, and there | | | | Purchase the remaining Order supplies. You also |
| seems to be so much to think about when it | | | | should be finalising what food you will be serving, |
| comes to Birthday party planning. Where should | | | | so you can start preparing a shopping list. If you |
| you hold it? How many kids should you invite? | | | | are not intending to bake your own cake (and |
| What about a theme? What about food? It can | | | | who has the time!) then you should be ordering |
| be quite daunting that your little one will have so | | | | one now. |
| much expectation, and you want everything to | | | | Finalise food shopping list, and, if you are not one |
| run smoothly to create a special day. | | | | for baking, order the cake. |
| Like everything in life, you fail to plan not plan to | | | | Stage 4: 1 Week – and the Party is looming |
| fail. Get yourself a birthday party schedule. This | | | | It is always worth planning some sort of timetable |
| will help you think through the whole process. This | | | | for party activities. This will give you a sense of |
| is the basic schedule that I apply when birthday | | | | the timings, and help the day run more smoothly. |
| party planning for my little angels and you can | | | | When do you plan to serve the food, start the |
| adapt and amend accordingly. | | | | party games, etc. |
| The Stages: | | | | Have a final ring round, or check at the school |
| Stage 1: 2 months before Party | | | | gate, to confirm who is and is not coming. There |
| Any time about 6 to 8 weeks is a good time to | | | | will always be people who change their minds, or |
| start your planning. You need to think carefully | | | | things come up. |
| about the date, making sure you check the dates | | | | Stage 5: 2 days to go |
| for any significant clashes (Mother's Day, Father's | | | | It is time for the food shopping. When you have |
| Day, School Holidays etc.) | | | | the food, you can also start preparing any little |
| Who are you going to invite? The number here | | | | food preparation you have planned. Sort out the |
| may well dictate the venue. Once you have | | | | party bags. |
| worked up a rough guest list, decide if you are | | | | Stage 6: 1 Day to go |
| going to use a venue and then check its | | | | If having the party at home, then give the house |
| availability. If hiring an entertainer, book now as | | | | a good clean top to bottom, and put away those |
| well. | | | | precious items you could not bear seeing broken |
| If you are having any bespoke printing done, such | | | | or smashed. You must double check with any |
| as invites etc, it is worth getting this organised, as | | | | suppliers (entertainer, bouncy castle company) or |
| some printers may take several weeks, and you | | | | venue. |
| will want to be sending them out a month before | | | | Go and get the birthday cake. |
| the actual party (see next stage). | | | | PARTY DAY! |
| Stage 2: 1 Month Before Party | | | | Go to venue early if you need to set up, and |
| Start getting the invites out, or if not having them | | | | start to decorate. If in your house, start |
| delivered from printers, buy or make your own | | | | decorating the place, not forgetting front door so |
| invites and get them out. You need to make sure | | | | guests know where the party is. Get a notepad |
| that there is your phone number on them, and a | | | | handy for making a quick list of all the gifts you |
| note telling the invited guests (or their parents!) to | | | | get, so you can write thank you letters. Set up |
| RSVP. This is important to be able to get a sense | | | | table activity location. |
| on the numbers. | | | | Get the party person ready – and the siblings. |
| Order all the necessary supplies, especially if you | | | | If you have pets, consider putting them outside. |
| are ordering party sets and decorations. | | | | Get all the food out and on display ready. |
| Call on relatives and friend to "volunteer" so they | | | | Ding Dong! |
| can mark it in the diary. | | | | First guest arrives – have a great party. |
| Stage 3: 2 Weeks to Go | | | | |