Two things about me you should know. First, I believe it is important to share the special moments with family and friends. It’s rare that we can gather to share our joy. So, it’s important to choose the right times to celebrate.
Second, I have never celebrated a birthday. My birthday brings me more anxiety than joy. To me, the perfect birthday celebration is a day spent with my family, followed by a romantic dinner with just my spouse.
In the last few decades, ever since I became a mother, birthdays took on a new meaning. It was a great opportunity to use all my passion and creativity for creating and planning personalized events on his first birthday. It was a great joy to be able express my love for him in this way.
Since my son has been on the planet for almost five years, I have developed a passion for creating fun and exciting birthday parties. After a few successful birthday parties, I thought I would share my top five tips on how to plan a fun and memorable party.
1. Budget
Budget. What is your budget for the party? Are you planning to host the party at home, or a special location?
2. Choose Your Guest List
Budget and guest list go hand-in-hand. Budget usually dictates how big the party will be. Personal, I have always liked to keep the number of guests small. So I can spend my budget as lavishly as possible on my guests. My son’s 4th birthday was a “Builder Birthday”, complete with a cake from a construction site and activities that allowed him and two of his friends to build wooden toys. The children each received their own hard hats and personalised aprons, something I would not have been able do from a financial standpoint if there were a large group of people in attendance.
You can use your budget to determine how many guests you would like to invite.
3. Set The Theme
I am a big fan of themes. Having a theme is a great way to inspire you as a planner.
In honour of my son’s favourite fruit, and his obsession, I chose blueberries as the theme for his first birthday. We had blueberries all over the place. A garland of balloons was made up of blues. The birthday cake consisted of a blueberry stack with blueberry sauce, and the entire buffet featured blueberries. It was a lot of fun!
Find a theme which reflects your guest’s personality and incorporate it into all the details. I’ve found that guests appreciate it when they can make the connection between the details and the guest they are celebrating.
4. Build Your Timeline
Birthday parties can be great when there is a good flow. When you create your timeline, consider how you will divide your time to keep everyone moving.
We had several activities planned for my husband’s 40th birthday. The theme was “Backpacks and Beer” with personalisation. We had a whisky sampling, a pinata with his favorite snacks, and a game called “Guess What’s In The Backpack”. He’s known for carrying everything in his bag.
It’s also a great time to consider food. Are you going to have different snacks for each activity? Separate time for a meal at a table? Or can you serve finger foods throughout the event?
5. Find Out If You Need Or Want Help
The catering was one of the best decisions I made for my husband’s 40th birthday. It meant I could relax and enjoy the party without worrying about food and drinks. If you have the budget to do so, hiring someone to help with the planning and execution of the party can ensure that you are fully present during the celebration.
Bonus Tip: Have A Lot Of Fun
Enjoy the event with your loved one. You have planned a wonderful day for them. Enjoy yourself, join in the fun, and eat delicious food!
