Basics
Why, Who, What, When, Where, How

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Basics: Why, Who, What, When

Parties come in all shapes and sizes. And party planning does not have to be overwhelming. Start with a few basic questions:

Why and Who are you throwing a party for?

To celebrate a birthday, life event, holiday or just because?
How many people are you inviting?
What are the ages of your guests?

What type of party is it?

Small and intimate or a big blow out?

Formal, semi-formal, casual?

When will the event take place?

Make sure the date works with important guests.
Check that holidays and other major events are not overlapping the party date.

Where will the event take place?

Indoors or outdoors? The time of year and the weather will help decide.

Will your venue be large enough to accommodate everyone?

How much money and time do you have?

Budget: How much money do you have and are willing to spend on the event? Are you flying solo or will you have other people helping with the cost? Your budget will determine many aspects of your planning.

Time: How much planning and preparation time do you have? Do you have many other things going on? Be realistic about how much time you really have to plan and prepare for your party.

Make a checklist of all the things you want to do for the party, including the date, time, venue, theme, guest list and activities. And then edit. Depending on the amount of time you have and help at hand, realistically edit the list of things you “can do” and “cannot do”. Staying organized and real is the first step to a successful party.

If you are limited on time or it is a large event, consider asking for co-planners. Or you can ask for help with specific tasks like someone to handle the RSVPs or help with the food shopping.

I have found that I got more help asking individuals to do a specific task rather than just asking for volunteers in general. Some people might think if they volunteer, their next 3 weeks will be all tied up 24/7, when all you really need is someone to pick up some ice before the party.