Here are a few ideas that I came up with:

• Always try to have a separate celebration for their birthday. It doesn’t have to be anything big or fancy, just an acknowledgment that it’s their special day and they are loved and appreciated.
• If you do throw a birthday party, try to do a theme that has nothing to do with the holiday season what-so-ever. Throw a Hawaiian themed party, or a pirate theme or something totally off the wall that your child wouldn’t expect.
• Plan the party at a place that does almost all the work for you. We did this for my daughter’s birthday this year. Things were exceptionally hectic and we knew we wanted to throw her a part, but that the party needed to be easy for us. Our daughter didn’t mind and had a fantastic time at the skating rink with all of her friends. We literally showed up with presents and goody bags and the rest was taken care of. There was no set-up, clean-up, cake making or anything. We go to relax and enjoy the party with her. I even went skating!
• If the only possible solution is to have their party coincide with a holiday celebration, do everything you can to single them out and put some attention on them. Make them feel special any way that you can. Sing happy birthday, light the candles, open a birthday present or two and maybe play a couple of birthday party games.

Do you have kids with December birthdays? If so, what have you done to make them feel special?

Post from: She Knows Parties

• How many people can you accommodate at the location?
• Is there another location, besides your home, that might suit your needs?
• How much can you afford to pay?
• Do you want an outside or inside location?
• Will the location allow you to decorate if your party is themed?
• How long does the location allow you to stay for your party?
• Is there a place to park?
• Do they allow alcoholic beverages, in case you are serving those?

Now, how about a nice long list of possible places to host a party?

• Ranch
• Country Club
• Banquet Hall
• Restaurants
• Gardens
• Winery
• Park
• Zoo
• Art gallery
• Community Centers
• Other People’s Houses
• The Beach
• The Pool
• Conference Center
• Museum
• Houseboat
• Skating Rink
• Church Meeting Room
• The Zoo
• Your Back Patio
• Castle

Now that you have the where, let’s go onto the guests list and invitations!

Post from: She Knows Parties

The most important thing to consider is what type of party you are comfortable hosting? If you are not into the formal thing one bit, then there is no need to throw a formal party. If you plan a party around your talents, your desires and your style, then the party will be successful and fun.

Here are some questions to asked yourself when you are trying to decide on the party type?

• When you have attended parties in the past, which one did you have the best time at?
• Do you like to entertain in a formal or informal environment?
• Can you accommodate a large or small group? Which do you prefer?
• Is this a “just because” party or is it for a holiday, birthday or other celebration?
• Is this party for just family, just friends or a mixture of both?
• Do you enjoy themed parties?

Here is a list of some different type of parties to consider (I’ll go into each theme in detail as this blog grows.):

• BBQ Cook Out
• Formal Wear Party
• Family Get-Togethers
• Children’s Party
• Adults Only Party
• Gag Gift Exchange Party
• Informal Dinner Party
• Graduation Party
• Dinner and a Movie
• Pool Party
• Potluck Dinner Party
• Holiday Party (Christmas, Mother’s Day, New Years, Fourth of July)
• Celebrate a Special Event Party (such as a new business, promotion or for someone who is retiring)
• Anniversary Party
• Office Party
• Wedding Shower
• Baby Shower
• Victory Parties for Teams
• Raise Money for Favorite Charity Party
• Scavenger Hunt Party
• Cocktail Party
• Prom Party
• Progressive Party
• Bar Mitzvahs
• Karaoke Party
• Block Party
• Open House

Just to name a few! Well now that you know what type of party you are going to throw, it’s time to decide where the party will be held.

Item pictured above is the Caspari Mix N Match Plates and Napkins 12 Assorted Packages.

Post from: She Knows Parties

When you take the time to really think about the party you are throwing, it can make a real difference. It helps the party to run smoother. Your guests will feel more welcomed and at ease and it helps you actually enjoy the party you are throwing. If you do a few simple steps to plan out your party, you can eliminate stress and those last minute trips to the store because you forgot something.

So, what all does party planning involve? I’m going to cover Party Planning 101 in a series of 10 posts, which will go into detail of planning the perfect party. You will not need to go through every step for every party. For example: choosing the party games. If you are hosting a fancy dinner party for your spouse’s boss, most likely you’re not going to be playing charades.

Here is a list of the Party Planning 101 steps:

• Party Etiquette
• What Kind of Party?
• Where Will You Host the Party?
• The Guest List and Invitations
  
• What Kind of Decorations Will You Have?
• What Kind of Activities/Games Will You Have?
• What Kind of Entertainment Will You Have?
• What Kind of Food and Drink Will You Serve?
• What Will the Dress Style be?
• What Order Will the Party Go in?

Are you ready to start planning some awesome parties? Great! Let’s get started.

Post from: She Knows Parties