Party planning is so much easier said than done, isn’t it?
The moving pieces of any given party, from a holiday bash to your child’s next birthday, is enough to make anyone’s head spin. It’s tempting to want to dump the responsibility on someone else: however, doing the “dirty work” yourself may not be as involved as you’ve been led to believe.
As the saying goes, the family that plays together stays together, right? Planning and hosting your own party versus a pricey affair such as Chuck E. Cheese can help you guarantee meaningful family memories and keep money in your pocket simultaneously.
Naturally, there’s a lot of hesitation that comes along with planning a party: after all, there’s so much time spent preparing and then poof, it’s over.
Stop stressing over the “what-ifs” and instead take a foolproof approach to planning your next party.
So, how do you make it happen?
Stick to a Budget
First and foremost, establish and budget and actually stick to it. Bear in mind that you’re already saving money by having your party at home: instead of having to pay for costly entertainment, you can spend on more important aspects of your bash such as decorations and food.
Center your party around a unique theme to give your shindig some personality. Also, save yourself time and the stress of clean-up by buying creative party decorations online versus a big box store or worrying about crafting the perfect DIY décor.
Simple Food, Easy Cleanup
Purchasing and preparing party food can quickly feel like a nightmare when you have lots of mouths to feed. Thankfully, you can quickly and efficiently make sure that both you and your guests are well-fed and stress-free by ensuring that you do a combination of the following:
- Cook in bulk: macaroni or rice dishes, for example, can be prepared in massive quantities and are always crowd pleasers
- Rely on “just add water” cake mix and simple homemade icing to save on sweets
- Pick up disposal dishes and utensils instead of having to face a potential mountain of dishes
It’s incredibly easy to overthink your food plan: simply make sure there’s enough for everyone on the guest list and be prepared to save some leftovers or send some home with your guests.
Don’t Stress Over the Guess List
Therefore, don’t stress too much over the guest list. Sure, don’t invite too many people: however, be open to stragglers granted you feel comfortable with them in your home. The more the merrier, right?
Easy Entertainment
You’d be shocked at how easily children can entertain themselves. Don’t feel the need to hire a professional: a simple kickball or water hose can go a long way with a bit of imagination. Consider some outdoor activities as a means of letting your kids get moving and eventually wear themselves out, signaling that the party’s over.
Planning a family party doesn’t have to be a headache. In fact, taking a simpler approach to your event is a surefire way to make sure that you and your guests have a good time.
i need to learn how to stick to a budget — i think my husband would have to agree! these are some great tips, and you def know how to throw a party!
What a great list of ways to make it easy and fun to plan a family party! Thanks for sharing, my dear 🙂
The key for my stress free entertaining is keeping it simple. It’s so easy for me to get carried away with the menu and the details.
I always feel so over my head with party planning so this is perfect! I really want to do a cool halloween theme murder mystery party. Thanks for all these great tips.
I would love to go to a professional murder mystery. I’ve done one of the home ones and people really need to get into their parts for it to be fun.
I always, ALWAYS go over budget for parties! It’s so hard not to. Great tips!
I love planning parties, but they sure are a lot of work! I love how you break it down with these simple steps.
There’s a lot to consider when you’re planning a party. It’s always nice to get a little help as well. I think this is an awesome guideline for people who are planning parties this season!