Ok let’s be clear, there is no such thing as a completely stress-free event.
There are however some tried and tested tips that we can give you to make sure the party is as stress free as possible.
Firstly as a general rule, invitations for birthday parties should be sent 2-4 weeks before the party asking for RSVPs about a week before the party. If you do not hear back from some guests it is ok to message or call them to check if they are attending, this is not rude at all.
So let’s talk about the actual event, there are many things you can plan ahead to make your party day run as smooth as possible and limit the stress on you or that horrible feeling of "Have I forgotten something?"
Once your RSVP date for the event has passed and you know how many guests you have coming, we recommend you get yourself a box for all of the party essentials. This way you know that everything you need is in the one place, regardless of if you are having the party at home or in another venue.
In this essentials box you will have the following items:
- scissors
- string or ribbon to hang balloons and decorations
- cake knife
- candles and lighter/ matches
- pre-packed goody bags
- game supplies and prizes
- rubbish bags
- plates/ bowls/ cups.
A day or two before the party, you can assemble the balloon garland as this will take a couple of hours especially if it's your first time and you don’t want to be checking the time waiting for your guests to knock at the door.
On the day of the party, you only need to worry about 4 things: cake, food, drinks and decorations.
If you’re having the party at home, you can start setting up the decorations the day before. If not, then add them to your essentials box straight away so you don't forget them.