8 Things That Will Help You Plan A Party!

8 Steps to help you plan a party. All you need to organize a great party! Tons of tips & ideas to help you plan a party; the easy way!

8 Things that will help you plan a party!…

Really? 

Absolutely yes!  And I mean, a great party! 😉

Hard to believe that you are only 8 steps away from your best party…

In this post, we will talk about everything you need to know to plan your dream party without stress…food, decor, music, tools, and so much more!

Wow! Sounds too good to be true? ha! ha!  Not at all!

Believe me, after reading this, you will be nothing but the Queen of hosting!

And you know what? All these simple tricks can be applied to any party, big or small.

Ready? So let’s dive into it!

– – NO 1 – –

8 Things that will help you plan a party!…The food

Food is usually what takes more time to prepare. That’s why it’s on top of that list.

And there are also a lot of things to think about. But no worries, it’s easy to handle! 😉 And believe me, buffets are the best option for any party! So, what to look after?

• Buffet; you have to offer a good variety to your friends. I have some great easy recipes for a simple buffet right here!
• Dessert…well… because we all like to have a sweet break! On less you have a birthday cake, you will have to offer one or two desserts… or more, depending on your guests! Can we ever have enough dessert? ha! ha!
• Coffee bar: much easier if your guests can help themselves.
• Reservation to make for the entire buffet or only sandwiches, which I recommend!
• And then, reservation to confirm… and buffet to pick up.

My best advice here? Order at least sandwiches from a caterer. But if you have less time, feel free to order the whole buffet! Trust me, no one will complain!

Or even better! Turn your buffet into a potluck; that will save you time… and some money too! And because the food part is usually the most stressful, you will keep your stress level lower with a potluck! 😉 I have a whole post about it, so, just in case you missed it, here is how I organize a perfect potluck.

 – – NO 2 – –

8 Things that will help you plan a party!… Drinks & beverages

• Again, variety is the key!
• You might need champagne to toast; that always adds a magic touch to any party.
• Of course, setting up a self-serve bar area would be the best idea…you don’t want to spend all night refilling glasses!
• Set up a few coolers close to the bar; you won’t have room in your fridge for all the beverages.
• You will also need ice for coolers and ice cubes for drinks.
• A great option is to offer a big bowl of punch, easy to serve, and you will save on costs too!
• Of course, you’ll have to think about soft drinks, soda, tonic water… you know, all those things we need to create drinks!
• Try to take out as many glasses as you can.
• Yes, variety, but you don’t have to offer absolutely all liquors and drinks available on the market! Choose among the most popular ones, such as; Gin, Rum, Vodka, or Rye that should be enough to please your guests.
• Wine ( white and red ) and beer are a must!
• And don’t be afraid to ask your guests to bring their own!

– – NO 3 – –

8 Things that will help you plan a party!…The music

This is definitely what will set the mood at your party! And that’s why it’s so important to think about it…before.

• Don’t forget that music is for ambiance; try to keep the sound level not too high so that your friends don’t have to yell all night.
• Choose a playlist that will please everyone. I suggest a mix of good old classics and trendy music, as long as you offer a good variety.
• A good speaker ( or two! ) is essential here…
• Will you need a D.J.? if so, don’t forget to make a reservation. But maybe one of your guests would be happy to play the D.J.!

If you’re a little scared about all this planning thing, GOOD NEWS!!

I did ALL THE WORK FOR YOU!! 😉

Your Dream Party is right here!

Let’s get back to those 8 Things…

 – – NO 4 – –

8 Things that will help you plan a party!…Your house

Of course, having that many people at home means you will need space! But it also means you will need your house to be well organized… So let’s talk about what needs to be organized! 🙂

• Move or remove some furniture to create a bigger space.
• Remove carpets and trinkets if some are in the way.
• Some of your friends might like to dance; make sure you set up a place for them.
• Make room, and I mean a lot of room, in your fridge. You will need every inch square to store your buffet.
• Same for your kitchen countertops.
• Find a designated place for coats and bags.
• Make sure you have a good reserve of toilet paper and many extra hand towels.
• Light only the rooms that will be used for your party… you don’t want to have people everywhere!
• Set a corner for kids, if there are some.

Still there? ha! ha! not that bad so far, right? Keep on reading; we are almost done!

– – NO 5 – –

8 Things that will help you plan a party!… Special occasion?

Obviously, that is THE important thing!

• Are you celebrating a special occasion?
• Is it a surprise party?
• Have you chosen a particular theme for that party?
• Will you need special decor?
• Will your friends need to dress up or bring something according to that particular theme?

– – NO 6 – –

8 Things that will help you plan a party!…The cake!

My favorite part! I’m such a big dessert fan! 😊

We talked about dessert earlier, but we have to mention it again. The birthday cake might be one of the most important things at your party!

• Will you bake it?
• If not, you must make a reservation for it.
• You will also have to confirm the reservation 5 to 7 days before.
• And, of course, you will have to pick it up, so add that task to your D-Day schedule.
• Also, will you have to choose the cake according to your particular theme?
• Is a friend can pick it up for you? ( if so, don’t forget to confirm with him a few days before! ).

– – NO 7 – – 

8 Things that will help you plan a party!…Utensils and tools

How important that is! You must ensure you have everything you’ll need for that great party. So here is the list of the tools and utensils you’ll need to ensure the success of your party:

• You will need extra chairs and tables, you can rent them or borrow them from a friend.
• A few coolers.
• Maybe some extra baking sheets and cooking pans.
• A few serving trays, bowls, and plates.
• Many glasses and coffee cups.
• A big coffee maker ( easy to rent ) or extra regular ones ( easy to borrow! )
• Ice buckets.
• Enough plates, dessert plates, and silverware.
• Spatulas and serving spoons, we never have enough of these!

Only one more to go! 🙂

– – NO 8 – –

8 Things that will help you plan a party!… Invitations

Yay! Finally, time to send out the invitations!  It looks like the easiest part… but there are still a few things to consider before sending them…

Of course, you can buy invitation cards, but you can also create fabulous invitation cards using Canva… it’s easy and free!

So, what to include on those cards:

• Of course, the date and time of the event.
• If it’s a surprise party, clearly mention it on the card to avoid confusion.
• Also essential to tell your friends what they should bring…drinks, accessories according to your particular theme, or a gift for the birthday person…
• Talk about the particular theme of the evening and how they should dress up.
• Ask them to bring their beer and drinks if you choose that option.
• Telling them where to park would also be a good idea.
• And if it’s a potluck, remind each guest what he has to bring. 😉
• It’s also time to talk about special rules for kids…

8 Things that will help you plan a party!… To conclude

 

Much easier than you thought, right?

 

As you see, when we know exactly what to look after, hosting a party is way less stressful!

The key is to be organized. Try to do as much as possible in advance…and accept all the help your friends offer!

But most of all, keep things Simple! The simplest, the better!

Don’t aim for perfection. Hosting is fun and shouldn’t be stressful. So, focus on your guests, have a drink, and enjoy! 😉

As always, I would love to hear from you. 🖤 Please, use the comment box for any questions; I would be more than happy to answer. Or even better, use that comment box to tell me about your best party tips; what works best for you? I can’t wait to discover it!

*If you liked this post, let your friends know! 😉 Please share it!

Talk to you soon!

Related Posts:

-Best Party: 12 Things You Wish You Knew…

-What The Best Hostesses Do That You Should Do Too!