How to Plan a Party Without Losing Your Mind
As the weather begins to warm up and we start thinking about BBQ’s, Christmas Parties, New Years Eve celebrations and Children’s pool parties, we thought it would be a good time to put together a guide on how to plan these super fun events! Planning a party can feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle —blind folded. But don’t worry; with a sprinkle of humour and a dash of planning, you’ll be the life of the party (or at least, the reason it doesn’t crash and burn). Here’s your guide to throwing a bash that’s more “legendary night” and less “never speak of this again.”
Why Are You Doing This To Yourself?
Are you celebrating a birthday, Christmas, or just the fact that it’s Friday and you survived the week? Knowing why you’re throwing this shindig will help you avoid those awkward “so, what’s the occasion?” questions. Themes aren’t just for kindergarten parties—they’re for adults who need an excuse to wear costumes and pretend they’re still in kindergarten. Whether it’s a “Toga Tuesday” or “Ugly Sweater Soirée,” a theme adds a fun twist and a reason to judge your friends’ fashion choices.
Set a Budget…or start a GoFundMe: Budgeting is like playing Monopoly: fun in theory, until you realise you’re broke. Figure out what you can afford without needing to sell your kidneys and stick to it. If all else fails, remember that homemade decorations are a thing! K-Mart also have a wide variety of decorations for a decent price and don’t forget about stores like the Reject Shop, who often have lots of different themed items. Buying décor can often be quite costly, so consider hiring your items if you want to stick to your budget. We have a great selection of backdrops and party items available and our inventory is always expanding! You can check it out here.
Pick a Date
Date: Choose a date when people aren’t likely to have other plans, like Easter or Footy Final Weekend. Just kidding, pick a date that’s convenient, but not so far away that people forget they agreed to come. If you are hosting little Benjamins 5th Birthday Party, be conscious of school holidays, as its not a great feeling when you realise it’s the last day of school and you have no way of getting your child’s invitations to his classmates – trust us, we know!
Make a Guest List: This is your chance to be a social architect. Invite a mix of people who won’t start a fistfight over who’s Spotify playlist is better. Remember, too many people and you’re hosting a rave; too few, and it’s just you, awkwardly sipping punch. We always find that when it comes to children’s parties, its hard to know whether you invite the whole class of just a few friends. It depends on the space really, at a park and the whole class would be fine. At home in your tiny backyard might be a different story. We have invited the whole class and found that around half of them attended. It’s a bit of a tricky one!
Send Invitations
Invitations can be as fancy or as casual as you want. A simple text, an elaborate e-vite, or skywriting—whatever floats your boat. Just make sure the details are clear so you don’t end up answering “Where is it again?” a hundred times on the day of. Make sure you include a date to RSVP by, it makes it much easier when planning your food.
Plan the Menu
Food: Whether you’re whipping up a five-course meal or just popping frozen appetizers in the oven, make sure there’s enough to keep your guests from chewing on your furniture. We really love the Coles wrap and sweet platters. So easy to order online two days prior and just pick up on the day. Remember, food is the one thing everyone will remember about your party—unless something goes horribly wrong.
Drinks: Stock up on the basics: beer, wine, and something that burns a little on the way down. If you’re feeling fancy, create a signature cocktail that’s more fun to drink than it is to pronounce. And don’t forget the non-alcoholic options—designated drivers are heroes. Parents probably won’t approve of their 5 year olds sipping Pina Colada’s, so we really love Poppers and mini bottles of water with personalised labels to fit your theme. Not a lot of prepping for them and a slim chance of spillage!
Decorate Like You Mean It
Decorations: This is where your Pinterest board dreams become reality. Or, if you’re not crafty, it’s where you buy a few balloons and call it a day. The goal is to make the space look festive, not like you accidentally wandered into a party store and bought everything in sight. Personally, I know I am guilty of this. I just walk into a store and something comes over me. I hear “pretty shiny! Pretty shiny!” in my head and buy all the things… I think everyone has just come to accept my over the top parties now.
Music: A good playlist can save a bad party. Aim for a mix that pleases everyone, so you’re not just listening to your one friend’s weird techno remixes all night.
Entertainment: Games, karaoke, or that one friend who always ends up dancing on tables—plan something to keep the energy up. Just remember, the goal is fun, not making it onto the evening news. In the last couple of years we have had parties at Whiteridge Farm, the Park and at the Pools so the entertainment has been at the actual venue already. Our favourite one was at the park recently, where we had Wild Rangers come out and put on a show for the children with snakes, crocodiles, ring tail possums and a few other animals. It was fantastic and everyone was so absorbed with the wildlife – I think some of the parents even enjoyed it more than their kids!
Last-Minute Panic - It’s Part of the Process
Final Prep: The day before the party is when you realise you forgot something important, like napkins or sanity. Double-check everything, then sit back and relax—or more likely, scramble to clean your house before guests arrive. This is also something we can help with, we have all sorts of items for hire like Chairs, Chair Covers, Tablecloths & Napkins and can often accommodate a last minute pick up request.
Backup Plan: For outdoor parties, have a plan B that doesn’t involve everyone cramming into your bathroom if it rains. We like having a marquee as a back up – some of ours even have sides that you can attach to keep the weather out.
Be the Host with the Most
When the party starts, your job is to circulate, mingle, and make sure everyone’s having a good time. Remember, you’re the glue holding this social experiment together, so keep the vibes positive and the drinks flowing. Talk to parents – even if its awkward. Sometimes it’s the first time meeting your child’s friends parents, so they are probably feeling weird too.
The Aftermath AKA Clean Up
Cleanup: The fun doesn’t stop when the guests leave—it just gets quieter. Enlist help if you can, because there’s nothing like waking up to a mountain of dirty dishes, questionable stains and lollipops stuck to the carpet. We like to use eco cups, plates, cutlery etc so it can just go straight into the recycling bin when the party is over. So quick and easy to clean up afterwards. Or you could consider hiring them from us so you don’t have 14 loads of plates and cutlery to go through the dishwasher. You will pay a cleaning fee, so just send them back and we will handle the mess!
Follow-Up: If the party was a hit, send out a thank you text with some of the best photos. We like to send out a thank you text to parents for the gift and to thank them for coming. It’s just nice to show that you appreciate celebrating with you.
Final Thoughts
Planning a party doesn’t have to be a stress-fest. With a little humour, a touch of creativity, and a whole lot of snacks, you can throw a bash that’ll have people talking (in a good way) for weeks. Just remember: the key to a great party is making sure everyone, including you, has fun. If you need help, you can contact us on our socials or give us a call. We are always here, ready to help you plan the best celebration ever.
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