At Home Birthday Party

From Momologie

When celebrating a birthday at a party place isn’t an option, having it at home doesn’t have to be stressful or any less fun. Our checklist will help you prepare the kind of celebration you remember from your childhood, when parties were a much simpler affair.

The Basic Details

Location:
Date:
Budget:
Theme:
Menu:
Favors:
Invitations:
Entertainment/Activities:
The Guest List:

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Party Timeline:

Four Weeks Ahead

• Finalize your guest list
• Pick a theme and brainstorm on decorating ideas
• Order, purchase, choose invitations

Three Weeks Ahead

• Distribute/send invitations
• Plan your menu
• Pick activities for the kids and book entertainment

Two Weeks Ahead

• Finalize your plans for décor and start creating any homemade items/working on projects
• Shop for decorations, favors and miscellaneous items to fit the theme
• Decide party set-up: entrance and exit, seating, location for activities, gifts, etc.
• Make plans to order whatever food you’re not preparing yourself, and delegate menu items to family and friends willing to lend a hand
• Start cleaning and organizing your home

One Week Ahead

• Collect RSVPs
• Final shopping trip for favors and decorations
• Shop for anything that can be purchased ahead (non-perishable food, table coverings, paper goods, etc.)
• Order birthday cake/cupcakes/dessert if you have chosen not to bake

Three Days Before

• Order balloons
• Assemble party favors

Two Days Before

• Buy remaining perishable groceries
• Prep food, as much as possible
• Do a final run-through of your home to tidy up and clean your party space, guest bathroom, backyard

The Day Before

• Set up party space and decorate
• Pick up birthday cake/cupcakes/dessert
• Set up kids activities
• Choose serving platters
• Continue preparing food for the party
• Charge your camera battery

Morning of the Party

• Pick up food, ice, balloons (anything that needs to be last minute because it’s perishable or short-lived)
• Frost and decorate cake/cupcakes, if you baked
• Take care of final details – party favors, tables and chairs, decorating, activities
• Finish preparing food and platters; Set out snacks
• Spot clean bathroom
• Have camera(s) handy

Party time!

• Set out ice & beverages
• Set out perishable food
• Take lots of photos
• Have fun!!  Your work is done (at least until clean-up).

The Shopping List

• Invitations (or you can e-mail invites)
• Decorations – table covers, décor (paper lanterns, streamers, balloons, banners)
• Paper plates, cups, napkins
• Disposable flatware, serving pieces
• Party Favors & packaging (ribbon, buckets, paper bags, cellophane bags, Chinese takeout containers, stickers, etc.)
• Groceries (food, cake, dessert, beverages, ice)
• Candles
• Supplies for kid activities (art supplies, piñata, games)

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