1. Decide if your party should have a theme. Themed parties make it easier for your guests to feel comfortable and included in the group. There are also a lot of fun! If you are throwing a themed birthday, some common themes are 1980’s, toga/Greek, black & white, masquerade, jungle/amazon, and Western. If you are 18 or older, consider throwing a “sexy” costume party. Most adults refer to this as a “costume party.”
2. Plan the food. Party food is usually junk food like cake, ice-cream, chips, salsa, dip, chex mix, candy, brownies, and cupcakes. But of course you can switch it up according to the motive of the party. Get creative!
3. Don’t forget the beverages! When you think of drinking at a party, you probably think of beer and shots, but it doesn’t have to be just that. Stock up on fruit punch, water and different kinds of soda while you’re out party shopping. For alcoholic drinks, beer is the least expensive of your options. You might also want to pick up some hard liquor, wine, and mixers.
For children, you must consider taking different juices.
4. Purchase decorations. Decorations are always based on the theme and the motive for the party. Most party decorations can be found at your local party store or an online party store and are relatively inexpensive. Make sure you decorate your party well if it is themed. The more, the better. If your guests feel like they really are in the jungle or that they really are in the 80’s, they will have even more fun.
5. Prepare yourself with supplies. So you’ve got your food, your beverages, your decorations, what else?
- Keep food out in large amounts on trays, in bowls, and on plates where your guests can easily access them.
- You will want to keep your beverages cold and in an easy-access place as well. For hard and bottled liquor, keep these out on or behind a counter that you can easily regulate and maintain.
- You’ll want to get paper or plastic cups, plates, and bowls. You do not want to pass around your mother’s favorite china at a party because it will get dropped.
- Go for plastic when purchasing knives, forks, and spoons so that you can recycle them along with the paper dishware at the end of the party.
6. Plan some activities. After they arrive, your guests will most likely be amazed by your attire and your selection of food, beverages, and decorations, but they will want something to do after they’ve gotten through with the greetings. You can see some ideas that will literally get the party started here
7. Get the music right. One of the biggest questions you’re probably thinking about is what music you should play at your party. It’s possible to book a DJ. Think about what music your guests would like. If your guests have a wide difference in music tastes, you can play different types of music throughout the evening. Popular party music is often rap, hip-hop, dance, electro, house, and basically anything that has a beat that your guests can dance to.
You can also choose one of our custom birthday songs for the moment when the birthday cake is on the table. Just find your name in a birthday song https://birthdaysongswithnames.com/
