Birthday Event Planning
Birthday events are the ultimate way to celebrate an important milestone in a person’s life. Either formal or casual, birthday celebrations can be an intimate affair with a handful of close confidants or large events with dozens of guests. There are many challenges associated with planning a birthday party event regardless of the guest of honors age. We provide details and advice for planning your next birthday events. With proper organization the next birthday party you host will be a success.
Choosing a Venue
Securing the birthday party location is the first thing that you do in order to avoid purchasing items (food, decorations, etc.) that you may not need or be able to utilize. Hosting an event in your home is usually the most affordable option, but having an event in your house means that you will be solely responsible for setting up and cleaning up the party. Alternatively, you can have the birthday party at a commercial location such as a restaurant or bar. When choosing to host a party at a professional establishment always call at least two weeks in advance to book the location for your event. Be prepared to pay a deposit to secure the date and time. Also, as the restaurant manager if there are any types of decorations (glitter, balloons, etc.) that are not allowed at the venue.
Send Out Invitations
Once you have secured a location for your birthday party it is time to send out invitations. It is extremely important to choose a location, date, and time prior to sending out invitations to ensure you are giving your guests the correct information. Old fashion paper birthday invitations are still popular, and guests enjoy getting customized mail that will become a memento of the event. Digital (email) invitations are easy and extremely affordable or you can consider creating an event website. Large birthday parties with more than 50 guests benefit from the convenience of having all relevant information available on a website or blog.
Order the Food
Regardless of where you host your venue food is an absolute necessity. Events hosted at restaurants or other commercial locations often have special event menus. Often charged at a per person rate, these menus include a variety of foods including appetizers, entrees, and desserts. If you are having the birthday party at your home you can order catering packages from restaurants or local grocery stores. Investing in catering makes setting up your party less time consuming and some companies offer full service catering that includes setting up the food, serving the guests, and cleaning up the dining location when the party is over.
Choose the Cake
Choosing the birthday cake is one of the most important parts of planning a birthday party. While everyone recalls the food and gifts given with some clarity; blowing out the candles on the birthday cake is the corner stone of all birthday celebrations. Placing an order for a customized birthday cake should be done at least 48 hours in advance. Ideally you should order the birthday cake after you have chosen a venue and ensured that outside cakes are allowed. If you place an order for a cake with a bakery or grocery store online be sure to call and confirm your pick up time 24 hours prior to your event.
Decorate the Venue
When the big day arrives it is important to give yourself ample time to decorate prior to the parties start time. If you are holding the party at your home do as much decorating as possible the day before the event so that you have one less thing to worry about on the day of the birthday party. Some restaurants and professional venues will decorate the party area using items you provide or use decorations of their own for a small charge. Always verify that your outside decorations are allowed on the premises prior to decorating and, if your venue is rented for a specific block of time, be prepared to quickly clean up and leave the party area.
