A theme, coordinating decorations, and the most important, good food!
For those who may be planning a party for the first time, I'll go over some basic questions to ask yourself when getting started.
Why are you having the party?
How much are you spending?
How much are you spending?
Who is coming?
When and where are you having the party?
What will they do there?
What will they eat there?
Why?
Is it a baby shower? A birthday? This should be the easiest question to answer! Only you can answer it though so I'll move on to the next one.
How Much?
The budget is one of the most important "behind the scenes" factors. You need to come up with a budget before even considering who you will be inviting because if you cannot afford to throw a large event, you don't need to be inviting every Tom, Dick, and Harry that you know.
Who?
Is it a family affair? Maybe you just want a few close friends to get together? Once you have your budget in place, you can begin to compile your guest list. This will then help you to decide how much food, how many (if any) treat bags or guest favors to have, and other such details.
When and Where?
The weekends are generally the best days for parties because of most work schedules. Granted, many people have to work on weekend, but it's usually easier to have a party then instead of when people are trying to get their errands done during the week. Outside parties are wonderful if kids are involved: parks, splash pads,or backyards just to name a few suggestions. Outdoors gives them space to run around and burn off the sugar rush! Make sure you check the weather report or that you know the general climate of an area beforehand, though, so you aren't stuck in the rain or in the sweltering heat with no shelter or repreve. If you are planning an indoor party, consider how many guests will be attending when you are planning your location. No one likes to be packed in like sardines when they're supposed to be enjoying theirselves.
What Will They Do?
It's always good to have some sort of activities planned (even just to have them as a back-up) in case the party hits an awkward lull. If you are planning a birthday party, crafts, face painting, and games are the most popular ways to keep kids busy occupied if they're not indulging in cake and ice cream. Adults generally occupy themselves by talking, but if you have many guests who may not know each other, games are a good way to get everyone to mingle.
What Will They Eat?
And I saved the most important for last! The food you serve can say a lot about the party you throw. You may have spectacular decorations, but if you don't have good food, I can guarantee you that the ice sculptures and balloon animal zoo won't mean a thing to anyone. Consider your guests when making a menu. Kids are generally pleased with simple foods, but adults get picky. Will you have vegetarians/vegans? Do your guests have food allergies? Nut allergies are very popular and very dangerous to mess around with. Those are just a few things to keep in mind!
Now that I've gone over some of the basics, get planning!
