Planning parties are so much (for those like myself at least). Before I can get really detailed into planning any event or party I need to establish the first three steps of party planning. These three essential party planning steps will help guide and outline the rest of the decisions necessary when planning a party.
Set a budget
The first step of planning any party is setting the budget. It’s a no-fun but important step – setting your budget will determine the rest of the event. It will also keep you from overspending (something I’ve been guilty of). Whatever your budget is, log it – use a notebook, spreadsheet, or a note on your phone and track it. If you do this you’re more likely to stick to it (or close to it). Don’t worry about the number for now, I’m going to provide options for a variety of budgets.
Decide the guest list
Next up, time to make a list of the people you want to invite! Remember to keep your space and budget in mind for this. You want to make sure you’ll have the proper accommodations to fit everyone you invite comfortably and that you can afford to host a party for all of them.
Pick a date + time + location
With your guest list and budget in mind let’s pick a date and time as well as location. I find it easiest to host my parties at my own place because it allows me a lot of freedom and it’s cheapest since it doesn’t cost me or my guests anything. If you’ve got a great budget you can choose to rent a space, Airbnb, or restaurant. Keep in mind the rules for each space – there may be limitations on what you can serve, bring, or decorations you can put up.
