Parties are brilliant and exhausting at the same time. They’re expensive and they do take time to organise, but they’re so worth it. Parties make people feel special, they allow us to celebrate our milestones whether that’s a birthday, Easter or a kids Halloween party. If you love the idea of hosting but aren’t sure where to start, or are just looking for ways to simplify the process of throwing a party, read on to find out more.
Plan ahead
A little planning goes a long way when it comes to parties, so you’ll want to sit down and figure out a few things before you jump into the fun bit of thinking about decorations and themes. Decide the scale first because everything else flows from that. Is this a small get together for close friends, a kids party for twenty, or a mixed crowd where grandparents and toddlers will all be underfoot.
Give yourself realistic lead time, if anything’s handmade like party bags or favours give yourself at least three weeks, and if anything’s being ordered from sites like Shein or Temu order earlier than you think because delivery can take time.
These sites are great for themed party decor without spending a lot and you can always give it away when you’re done or reuse it another year. Make a simple checklist and split it into sections: food, decorations, logistics, helpers, and clean up. Tick things off and trust the list. It keeps the brain quiet even when there’s a lot to think about!
Food and who brings what
This is the biggest cost and also where most of the stress comes from, so spend time here. If your budget’s tight, potluck works brilliantly if it suits your crowd. Ask guests to bring a dish, but be specific rather than just saying bring something. Use a sign up message or shared note and assign categories so there’s a balance of mains, sides and puddings.
Say roughly how much to bring and whether it needs to be served hot or cold. If guests are happy to reheat, make sure there’s oven or hob space, or a slow cooker available. If there are serious food allergies or you want less faff, hire a catering company. Even a drop off service or a local sandwich shop doing platters will save hours and the worry of cross contamination.
For children’s parties where food needs to be simple and safe, a caterer can be worth the extra cost just to avoid the anxiety about allergies. Think disposable, think clever. Cheap paper plates are fine, but consider borrowing plates and cutlery from friends if it’s a small sit down meal, it looks nicer and saves waste. If you do use disposable, buy good quality ones that stack well and can hold a hot portion without collapsing.
Label dishes clearly and put a little card by anything that contains nuts, dairy or other common allergens. Make big, forgiving dishes rather than lots of fiddly bits. A couple of big trays of lasagne, a big pot of curry and a large salad will feed a crowd and are easier to store or reheat. Freeze extras ahead of time so if something goes wrong there’s a back up. Remember, people are usually happy to take leftovers home so bring a stack of takeaway boxes and some cling film for guests to help themselves.
Decorations and saving money
Reuse what you have first. Keep a box labelled party decorations so streamers and bunting are easy to find as it saves money and it’s actually less hassle than rebuilding a theme from scratch. When you’re buying new, check Vinted for pre loved themed items, and again look at Shein or Temu for cheap themed extras if they’re needed.
Shopping sales is key, if you know you want to start hosting more parties then buy things out of season for next year and store them in a labelled box. Generic items like tablecloths, balloons and plates/ cups can all be used regardless of the theme if you add a couple of more special decorations alongside them. Homemade touches can go a long way, you dont have to be majorly crafty.
Simple bunting, a printed cake topper, or a handful of paper pom poms made a week ahead look thoughtful and don’t cost much. If you’re making things, just be sure to start early as it all takes longer than you’d think. Party bags can be assembled the weekend before rather than the night before when everything is a big rush.
Home party or venue
For small numbers home is usually easiest and cheapest. For larger groups think about a venue because you’ll save on mess, table and chair hire and you might have staff to help. If the guest list will spill onto the neighbours lawn, a hall with good parking and kitchen facilities is worth the hire fee. If holding it at home, map out where people will sit, where coats will go and where kids will play. Clear a space in advance and put away fragile things. A crate or large box for coats and bags is a small thing that stops cloakroom chaos.
Helpers and clean up
Ask for help early rather than trying to do everything. A few people on hand for an hour to move furniture, set out food and man the drinks station makes the start so much calmer. Ask one reliable person to be the clear up captain so rubbish gets sorted as it goes and nobody’s confronted with a pile of plates at the end of the night. If it’s a big event, consider paying someone to stay for an hour at the end to load the dishwasher and to stack up chairs, this is so worth the cost if it means nobody’s tidying at midnight.
Quick practical tips for throwing a party
If you’re looking to save money or just having a smaller party, use a playlist rather than hiring a DJ, curate two hours of music and let it run. When you’re in a music listening mood you can build your party playlists way ahead of time and then they’re all done for when you need to use one.
Another idea is to put out snacks first so people arriving early can nibble while set up finishes. And send clear instructions to guests about parking, entrance and any coat rules as that way you avoid ten messages on the day.
A well-planned party is still a lot of work, but it’s just less frantic. Keep the parts that mean the most and make everything else easier. If you plan a little, ask for help, and give yourself time you’ll have more space to enjoy the actual party.
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