The Ultimate Party Planning Checklist by The Party Edit
At the Party Edit we are all about creating memorable, fun-filled celebrations but we know the process can be at times stressful. I love throwing parties, but at times have felt stressed and overwhelmed when I feel not on top of things and disorganised, and usually that leaves bad memories of the party in my mind. Parties should be fun, filled with amazing memories not just for the guests but for YOU! I created this Ultimate Party Planning Checklist (which is also used by my family & friends) a few years ago after one particular bad experience and now I would love to share it with all of you!
The Ultimate Party Planning Checklist template will help you navigate through your DIY party planning journey, making it a lot simpler. It has a checklist for you to step through what needs to be done & when in the lead up, a party planner page where you can pop down the details from location & time to guest list, entertainment, cake, party supplies & more! It also has a run sheet so you can jot down the plan for the party to help organise you on the day & have fun, as we know it can get quite stressful and overwhelming at times when in the thick of it! It is a full comprehensive list of everything you need to consider leading up to, the day of and the days after the party.
Whether you are planning a party for your child, a celebration for a friend or family member such as baby shower, bridal shower/hens party or milestone birthday, we want to make your event memorable and fun-filled for you, the guest of honour and your guests!
Read on for all the things to consider whilst you plan your party and to download our Ultimate Party Planning Checklist.
So what makes a successful party?
Everyone has different ideas and expectations for their party. Don't go in with a rigid idea, be open to adapting & pivoting if need be, because if the last couple of years is anything to go by, plans can change! Ultimately though, you want your guests to have fun, the celebration and lead up to it run smoothly and most importantly, you enjoy it and are in control! You want to have these amazing memories of fun & laughter and not of overwhelm and stress. That is what we are all about at The Party Edit - helping you create memorable celebrations and making party planning a whole lot easier!
What are the main items to consider?
Our template has this all covered with areas where you can pop in your vision and ideas to keep you on track through your planning journey.
Some of the main items for you to consider:
What's the theme - Once you have decided on a theme it makes choosing everything else a lot easier, but we understand it can be challenging to pick one. We recently did a post on Instagram on how to choose a theme - check it out here and follow us for more party tips, hacks and to get some inspo. But in a nutshell think about: 1. Things that you / your guest of honour are passionate about 2. How the guests can relate to the theme 3. Your budget & how easily executed it can be.
Cake - I love making elaborately designed cake creations for my kids birthdays (call me crazy because I am no Betty Crocker!!), but when it comes to other occasions, I love to support small local businesses to design and create a fabulous cake and take the stress off my shoulders! Your local community Facebook groups will have loads of recommendations to choose from or if not ask yourself on one of these groups!
Party Supplies - Check out The Party Edit's website to give you inspo and choose from our extensive range of gorgeous premium party tableware & decorations, all conveniently delivered to your door. When it comes to tableware you want paper plates (large & small), paper cups & straws, napkins, cutlery, tablecloths etc..... And when it comes to decorations, balloons are always a classic choice with balloon garlands bringing a WOW factor and gorgeous backdrop for photos, and balloon bunches paired with some themed foil balloons are a great to decorate & bring your theme to life. Also consider banners, party fans, acrylic signs & arches and some gorgeous in-season floral displays. For big ticket items like acrylic signs & arches and floral arrangements, an easy google search in your area (or again local community Facebook groups) for party hire or party stylists will give you a list of some amazing small businesses to reach out to.
Table, Chairs, Marquees - think about the type of celebration - is it inside or outside, is it canapes, lunch or dinner? You can hire these out or reach out to family and friends to borrow them.
Invitations - I have received a lot of paperless, virtual invitations in recent times. As online becomes the way of the future it is an easy way to connect and invite people to celebrations and receive & collate RSVPs. There are a few digital platforms which do this very well like Paperless Post or you can check out some beautiful small businesses on Etsy where you can purchase a on-theme downloadable file for you to fill in and email out (or print off & deliver if you prefer).
Food & Drinks - is it a meal or nibblies/canapes and what cuisine? Do you want to self-cater or hire caterers? A few options here for you to think about in advance and plan for and again use your local Facebook Groups to get some recommendations.
Activities & Entertainment - Another one to lock in in advance is hiring an entertainer, as these guys get snapped up quick. Plan some activities to keep the guests entertained and pop it on your planner and run sheet to help you make your day run smoothly
Party Favours - you can always create your own or there are some amazing small businesses who specialise in creating gorgeous party favours for any occasion.
As always, if you get stuck, have any queries and need some help reach out to us at hello@thepartyedit.com.au or use our contact form. We would love to help you create a memorable, fun-filled celebration and make the party planning process a whole lot easier!
Happy Partying! 🎉🥳
