From kids’ birthday parties to formal get together (think holidays!) I am a planner. Yes, I admit to writing notes and making a party checklist to ensure I don’t forget a thing. And this is where I share my Party Planning Tips. Tried. True. And shared here with you to make life a little easier…
Isn’t that train cake fabulous?! I made it for my son’s last birthday. Party Planning Tip #1 – give yourself permission to make your life easier. A frosted, double layer, exquisitely decorated cake might have made June Cleaver proud but do I really need to do that to have a great party?! Nope. Boxed cake mix + chocolate pudding + Wilton train cake mold + royal icing + smarties + licorice for tracks. AND I let my three kids decorate the cake themselves the day of the party (kid activity + giving Mom one less thing to do!). So what if you take a short cut in party prep – will anyone but you know?!
Party Planning Tip #2 – make a party planning checklist. I do (and it really helps you keep party organized).
2 Weeks Before
- Set date
- Invite guests
- Set theme (birthday, weekend bbq, holiday meal or wine & cheese)
Week Before
- Confirm r.s.v.p’s
Week of Party
- Set the menu (be mindful of your guests food sensitivities and food likes and dislikes)
- Grocery shop for party food (bonus points if you can incorporate make ahead foods)
Day Before Party
- Make any foods ahead if you can (ideas?…Cheese & Broccoli Strata, Sparkling Raspberry-Lemon Tea,Spaghetti Pie Recipe (you can make my Spaghetti Pie weeks in advance and freeze) or this Parent Club reader favourite Slow Cooker Mac N’ Cheese
- Prep party area (clean surfaces, vaccuum, tidy up)
Day of Party
- Clean bathrooms (June Cleaver would)
- Hide toys (everyone does)
- Prep food
- Decorate party area (table cloth, napkins)
- Run the dishwasher (and then empty the dishwasher!)
- Put out the dinnerware (plates, cups, forks, knives, spoons, serving spoons)
And add a signature “something” which makes for an unforgettable party…my suggestion…
And that Kidtinis Mocktail Recipe is a huge hit. Every. Single. Party.
And don’t forget that a smudge-proof kitchen makes life easier…
Disclosure: I am part of the Frigidaire Canada Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my ownWith their patented Smudge-Proof™ Stainless Steel finish, Frigidaire Gallery® and Frigidaire Professional® stainless-steel appliances have a new anti-smudge technology that resists those little fingerprints and is easier to clean than traditional stainless steel surfaces.
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ca/en/smudge-proof/index.html The How: How does the technology work? Frigidaire® uses high-grade stainless steel coated with layers of polymers, resulting in a sleek, beautiful stainless steel finish that is both durable and resistant to fingerprints. As a result, homeowners can have the look of stainless steel without the traditional maintenance typically experienced with standard stainless steel.
those are some great tips
My kids like mocktails.. they feel like they are adults at the party.. lol
What a great timeline I should do this to avoiding getting stressed out when leaving things for the last minute.
Great timeline. I never clean the bathroom until day of too. I would love to have a stainless steel refrigerator and stove. Looks so nice and no fingerprints too.
Those are all great tips! I am in the middle of planning my boys birthday party right now actually.
Great tips! I always leave all the planning to the last minute and then I panic.
That cake is too cute. I am going to have to try to do that for my almost 2 year old. He loves trains.
These are great ideas. I made ahead as much as possible.
These are great tips. It’s amazing how difficult parties can be if you don’t follow the simple steps it takes to make them work. Parties really are a case where planning pays off big time.
I’ve thrown parties which I didn’t plan for adequately. I managed to pull them off, but boy, where they a nightmare behind the scenes! Always plan ahead!
AHH I love throwing a party! Thanks for all the great tips!
Those are great tips! I don’t host parties as much as I used too; because it just takes so much work. but these tips would help make it run much more smoothly!
I like the timeline you laid out. I am usually more last minute with my party planning.
These are such great tips, I’d love to make that train!
Great tips. I love the timeline you have laid out.
Great tips! Planning a party is so important to not feel overwhelmed on the day of the party. I love the chocolate train! Too cute!
Great tips! I love throwing birthday parties at home. I think the kids have such a fun time. Thanks for sharing.
I am all about the quick and easy party tips! I don’t even make my daughter’s cakes, I buy them!
I am a big planner as well. I like your list. Thanks for sharing.
Great Tips! I’m planning my daughters birthday now, this is fantastic advice.
Haha!
I love that you said to remember to clean the bathrooms…I love having parties. Matter of fact, as I type this my teenage sons have about 30 friends in back yard whooping it up 🙂
The train cake is so cute. I like the mocktails too, nice bonus
The mocktail is a really cute idea. Your tips are right on the money.
We are going to be hosting a BBQ with my mom group in a few weeks! These are awesome tips and I’m hoping and praying that I don’t go insane with the planning and that I can still enjoy myself during the BBQ. Love that train cake! Your son is lucky little guy!
What a cool idea! The mocktail sounds like something my kids would enjoy. Thanks for the share.
Smudge proof stainless steel is the only kind I would want to get. I saw some discounted appliances at Home Depot last week that were so smudged they made me not want them at any price! This would be way more ideal.
I like your party planning tips too. 🙂
love the train cake, wish I saw this 6 years ago!! Entertaining is really simple if you break it up like you did.
Those mocktails you made for kids are the cutest drink idea I’ve ever seen for a kid’s party.
I am usually so unorganized. These are great tips for party planning.
Great tips for party planning, thanks for sharing!
What great tips and recipes, yummy!
Great list of tips! I think I’d enjoy that mocktail myself!
nice tips, thanks for posting this.. and… the mocktail looks inviting.. drooled over.. !!! and hide toys.. hahaha
I love your plans. It is a good thing to plan ahead to make sure you don’t forget anything. Great party plans. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for these awesome tips. I have a party coming up and it’s nice to get fresh idea especially on party planning.
I have party to plan for next weekend. Minecraft themed. lol Thanks for the tips
I never go all crazy with party planning. I’m more of a day of type of person. Less stress, less worry.
The train cake is amazing! What a cool idea! Thank you for all the great tips!
Thanks for the tips. I never though that kids can have a cocktail drink during parties. The mocktail looks refreshing and I’m sure the kids will love it!
Great tips. I am loving that train. I know my kid would love those mock tails
Great tips for a fun Summer party..love your Kidtinies.. they look amazing..thanks for sharing, now if they rain would stop here we could actually have a great party
yummy! What fun and unique recipes!
I think that planning food ahead of time is sooo important!
The cake is adorable, I have a baby shower I am planning, good tips for me to look at. Will have to write some of these down, I need help.
These TIPS are great and I especially like the kids cocktails. Thanks