Birthday Party Planning Timeline

Having a stress free birthday party for your child is not an impossible dream. A little planning ahead of time can make the big day a smooth running and fun event for the whole family. Here’s a timeline to help you prepare for the big day:

6-8 Weeks Before the Big Day

  1. Pick the date and time.
  2. Choose a venue. Many popular party sites book up several weeks in advance to get your reservations taken care of early. If you are planning the party at home take a look around your house for repair jobs or organizational tasks to take care of now.
  3. Choose a theme. By now your child has probably changed their mind 3 or 4 times about a theme for the party, but now is the time to get them to settle on just one.

 

3-4  Weeks Before

  1. Settle on a guest list. If you are using a party venue, your contract will stipulate the number of children you can invite. If you are hosting the party at home, figure out a number of kids that can comfortably fit in your house. For younger kids inviting 1 guest per year of age of your child is a good rule of thumb.
  2. Prepare you invitations and mail them out. You’ll get more positive responses if your guests have more time to plan.

 

2-3 Weeks Before

  1. Plan games and activities for the party. Order or purchase any supplies you need.
  2. Decide on the menu. If you are planning a party at a meal time make plans to feed your guests more than just cake and ice cream.
  3. Choose a cake. If you are going to buy a cake, go ahead and place the other now. If you are going to back your own make sure you have the proper pans, decorations and tools to prepare it.
  4. Buy goodie bags and things to stuff in them.
  5. Buy party supplies such as tablecloths, plates and cups.

 

1 Week Before

  1. Check on your guest list. Call any guests who have not RSVP’ed yet.
  2. Decide the schedule for the party. Mix up active games with quiet activities. Decide whether you will have the birthday child open gifts at the party or later.
  3. Buy Thank You notes to send after.
  4. Order balloons.
  5. If you are having the party at a venue, call to confirm last minute details.

 

2-3 Days Before

  1. Charge your camera and video camera batteries. Make sure your memory cards have plenty of room for new photos. Decide who will be responsible for taking photos and make a list of “must have” photos.
  2. Put the goodie bags together.
  3.  Gather all the crafts supplies and game pieces together in one place.

 

Day Before the Party

  1. Bake or pick up the cake and any other perishable food supplies.
  2. Talk to your child about expectations at the party and good manners when opening gifts.
  3. Find candles and matches. Put them in your purse now, so you won’t lose them.

 

Day of the Party

  1. Make sure you child eats a good breakfast. Keep the sugar to a minimum so your kids are not over-excited.
  2. Give everyone in the family jobs to do to keep your stress to a minimum and keep the kids busy.
  3. HAVE FUN!

 

After the Party

  1. Send thank you notes. Although hand-written is best, e-mail will work as well these days. For younger kids find pre-printed thank you’s where kids can just fill in the giver’s name, the gift and their own name.
  2. Donate any duplicate gifts or gifts your child won’t use to a children’s charity.