How to plan a party

Plan a party event

updated: December 2024

Load up the pickup truck and make your way to the beach—it’s party time. Time to plan a party or event, but you might wonder, “Where do I begin, Aunty Mari Jayne?” Right here with this article my friend. This article was carefully curated with everything you need to plan any party or event. So read below on how to bookmark this page and lets get going! 

To plan a party event, you should:

    1. Determine the Purpose
    2. Set a Budget,
    3. Choose a Theme,
    4. Select a Date and Time,
    5. Create a Guest list,
    6. Find an appropriate Venue,
    7. Choose the Food and Drinks,
    8. Decide on Entertainment,
    9. Send out Invitations,
    10. and Decorate on the big day.

Whether it’s a Graduation party, Birthday Party, Retirement Party, Baby Shower all have a special guest who could use a lei to dazzle on their big day. Please consider supporting our company

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Our Mission

We believe that every occasion deserves a touch of elegance and fun. Our articles are designed to inspire and assist you in planning your perfect party or event. We carefully curated printable lists, party or event theme lists, Venue lists, supplies lists, product recommendations and more to help you create unforgettable moments.

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Plan an Event with our tabs above

Let us help you make planning an event a lot more flawless. Use the Pink tabs above in order to navigate the Step-by-Step tabs on how to plan a party or an event. Take a pen and paper and click each tab to walkthrough planning an event until finish.

Purpose

What is the purpose of this party, to celebrate an occasion? Celebrate a person? To bring loved ones together who haven’t seen one another in a while? Let’s answer some of these questions and write them down on a piece of paper (obviously you don’t need paper but i personally work much better with a reference when things get going i tend to get too many things going on once. A list is always the key to success for me.

Who’s the party for?

Who’s this party for?
Are you celebrating a person, multiple people or is this a holiday event?

How many people?

How many people are attending?
Jotting down the actual number of guests is crucial to prevent any issues. It will assist in establishing the budget, selecting suitable venues, and deciding on food and beverage choices, among other things.

Budget

Technically the budget would have come first since you already know the amount, you’re willing to spend but in this section, we are going to make sure you have all of your essentials in mind before moving into details that could liven up an event but alter your budget in a big way. Maybe unnecessarily so let’s dig right in.

Its December of 2024 and Here’s THE list. Yes i said it, THE list. why? because i did the dive for you at the time of this post and this Article can be an awesome reference start no matter your event needs Favorite with your browser now!

How to favorite this webpage in your browser •ChromeSafari •Microsoft Edge  

Let’s get an idea of what can be included in this budget by throwing together an estimate. Take a look at these examples below, make some quick choices, write them down (more tailored picks in respective tabs)

    1. Venue-Club rooms, Restaurant, Office, country club
    2. Food and Drink-Drinks, Snack, Appetizers, Entree’s, Caterer, Dessert
    3. Decorations- table cloth, centerpiece, banner, Balloons, etc
    4. Entertainment- Machine rentals, Party Machine purchase, Photo booth, Face paint, Bounce house, etc.
    5. Prize/Raffle/ Giveaway- can be a fun way to treat your guests if the occasion calls for it.’
    6. Invitations-
    7. Bridal Party- Dresses, gift, Bachelor/Bachelorette party
    8. Gift- for the event’s special guest or guests. Party favors, wedding party gifts.
    9. Your/Your familes outfit- I prefer to plan for as much upfront as possible to avoid any delays in the planning process. Feel free to add and remove as necessary

Below are some example budget amounts for a moderate sized work party of 40 employees

    • Venue- $1500
    • Food and drink- $1000
    • Entertainment- paired with venue
    • Decorations- $200
    • Prize and raffle- $3000

Making this a $5700 work party budget. With the amount we want to spend in mind we can be more aware when we are getting out of budget.

TIP: Having actual guest numbers have been important in my planning.

Basic BBQ Supplies

There’s a lot of small details that slip your mind when the festivities begin, the kids get excited and loud and again guys having a list somewhere to double check has made a huge different for me, even after all these years I still use lists. So with that in mind I have some more lists of needed items

create a printable version of the supply checklist.  With the link scroll to the bottom to download some helpful pintable’s. 

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Gone are the days when we chased down a piece of foil or plastic bag blowing in the wind

Let’s Celebrate in Style!

We’ve curated a selection of coolers, grills, and more to suit every occasion and every guest. Whether you’re planning a grand celebration or a simple picnic, the perfect cooler is just a click away. We did some of the dive for you in hopes of making your planning journey that much easier, Happy planning!

AD: 1. Igloo 110 Qt.
AD: 2. Coleman 65 Qt.
AD: 3. Heytrip Strapped
AD: 4. AJP 10 set folding chairs
AD: 5. FDW 8' tables
AD: 6. Weber travel grill
AD: 7. Blackstone 2 burner
AD: 8. Cuisineart 54"
AD: 9. Grillart Wire Brush Gas/charcoal
AD: 10. Blackstone 27 piece griddle set
AD: 11. Romantacist 28 piece grill set
AD: 12.
Gerber gear-
bamboo cuttingboard
AD 13. Cuisinart CMT-100
Collapsible Marinade
OR foord storge

Theme

Do you need a theme? No, you don’t need a theme just the basic party supplies list, to throw any party but a theme can wrap together all of your hard work, into a relatable conversation piece. Adding so many additional layers of fun for your quests. Choosing a theme can help you find exciting games, party favors, decorations and more. If your budget allows for entertainment then consider the décor as a layered source of entertainment. 

So if you’ve decided you want a theme for your party or event then oh boy do I have an extensive list for you, a list of over 175 different party themes. I just want to add that i put all of these themes together in hopes that the list would inspire you to organize your next bash even sooner, with a little help. Let’s take a look at our list of the hot themes for different types of occasions Lets go

Coming soon! More in depth posts about themes..

Common children's Event Themes

This section is the result of a lot of hard work. It lists over 40 different children-specific event themes, as well as themes that may be helpful for all ages. It can be difficult to come up with a creative and unique theme for a children’s event, but this section provides you with a wide variety of options. 

We’re excited to hear from you. Which country are you in, and what types of parties are popular in your area?

Common Event Themes

CraftyEvent Themes

Get up and go Event Themes

Experience Event Themes

Wedding & Anniversary Themes

Halloween Event Themes

Common Events

Date and Time

Its almost 

New years

Choosing a suitable date and time that aligns with your guests’ availability is key. While it’s impossible to accommodate everyone, being able to view work schedules and vacations can help. For those essential attendees, confirm their availability before finalizing the date with the venue. To streamline the organization process, consider:

    1. – Utilizing group chats or text messages
    2. – Using apps like Google Calendar for coordination
      • Offering a selection of dates and times
      • Creating/Sharing private event calendar

Google calendars-How to offer multiple dates and times to email recipients.

      • Google Mail >New message> > Offer multiple dates and times to meet

Alternately:
Create a shared calendar You can create a unique and private calendar for your family to add blackout dates and more.

share Google Calendars (computer only) follow this link for google video on how to share your Google calendar

Guest List

Making and organizing the guest list

The guest list is the most crucial element—what is a party without its honored guests?
 
To maintain organization, some helpful strategies include
AD: STOFINITY Wedding Seating Chart Board
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Please consider donating these no longer loved items to your local schools.

Venue

Venue’s, in my humble opinion don’t make or break an event but it can definitely elevate the day. For instance, thinking of my husband’s Christmas work party, we celebrated at a driving range coordinated by a party planning committee. None of the staff looked stressed or busy when greeting us at a welcoming table. 

Spending more on a Professional can equate to less time spent on details. When you have kids it feels like an endless stream of parties and events which isnt a bad thing, just a busy time. So depending on the year, I’ve worked my tail off to make it the perfect day and I’ve paid for the bells and whistles then just showed up. I remember them all equally joyous and special so whichever route your choose I have you covered.

Get up and go Venues

Ready to get moving? This list features a variety of active and athletic venues perfect for anyone who prefers action over inaction. Discover your next favorite spot to unleash your inner athlete.

Inexpensive Venue
An Experience

Food and drink

picture by Mari Jayne Products

Try not to lick the spoon

I’m looking forward to trying some new recipes this year. I love browsing Pinterest for new recipes, but I never seem to take a good picture of the finished product. If I remember to take a picture at all, that is. I’m not going to lie I do have pictures of my absolute favorite dishes but those are my own recipes I haven’t actually thrown a recipe together for, sometimes I don’t believe that my family loves my cooking so much. It was just 10 years ago that I only knew how to cook Saimen(ramen noodles) and order takeout. If your new to cooking don’t get overwhelmed and give yourself twice as long as the listed “total cook time.” Why twice as long? Yes dinner may be finished early, may not be, but in my opinion its more enjoyable to finish early, cover your food and get cleaned up for dinner. As I always say there is no success without failure and you CAN cook! So grab a food thermometer and get going. 

Scrolling through the amazing Pinterest database can be time consuming and overwhelming, there’s are so many different amazing choices but sometimes looking at some recommendations help narrow the search. Hopefully these Food and Drink lists give you somewhere to start.

Image by Mari Jayne Products

Appetizers

Classic Hawaii Appetizers

Sides

Stuffed Shrimp
By Tonisrecipes
Blackberry Goat Cheese
Puff Pastry twists
By: abrightmoment
Mini Caprese Skewers
by panningtheglobe
Jalepeno poppers
By: DeliciouslySeasoned
Classic Hawaii Sides
Soups, Salads & Noodles

Vegetable sides

Potato Sides

Bread Sides

Meat Sides

Entrée

Apple & Cranberry
Roasted Chicken
By Tablefortwoblog
Chicken Cattatorie
by: DIY recipes
Chicken Avocado
Melt Sandwich
By: BetterHomeBase
Italian Gringer Sub
Sandwich By:
House of Nash Eats
CAROTE 21Pcs Pots and Pans Set
Rubbermaid Brilliance set of 4-4.7 cup
2-Pack Chafer Wind Guard by Peurif
Electric Warming Tray - Full Surface

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Classic Event Entrees

Breakfast Event Entrées

Chicken Entrée

Pasta Entrée

Sandwiches and wraps

Dessert

Entertainment

Let’s explore various types of entertainment you can offer!

Is Entertainment Even Necessary?

While it might seem like a trivial aspect of party planning, having entertainment is crucial to ensure your guests stay engaged and enjoy their time. Luckily, you might already have some great entertainment options right at home. Whether you opt for classic board games, outdoor activities, professional entertainers, or live music, or a mix, the right entertainment can make your party the talk of the town. So, dig into that hall closet or book a performer, and get ready to host an unforgettable event!

Here’s an extensive and growing list of  Party or event games:

Board Games & Card Games

Board games are a great way to keep the conversations flowing, laughs going, and the good times rolling on a budget. You don’t have to own every single board game; ask your close friends and family to borrow theirs and every party you can buy some of the ones you don’t own. I’m currently the only board game owner in my family, so I’m working on my collection of fun games. I recommend having a variety of entertainment sources to keep the party following. If you want the party to end at a certain time that can easily be accomplished by setting a schedule which you can also include on your invitation. 

Some of the games didnt make it through the summer, which is okay. I figure it costs less than a seat at the movies.
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Outdoor event Games

Entertainer Types

In this section we’re going to go over the  different entertainer types. Hiring an entertainer can elevate your party to the next level and leave every guest feeling like it was a well spent Saturday. Entertainers charge by the hour and are typically important to book far in advance, see the entertainers site to find out how long in advance you must book and the earliest you are able to book your date. Here are some options to consider:

Music Types

AD

Music the universal language that can set the tone for your event, and can even layer your theme further. Consider these musician types:

Invitations

Invitations can be a great way to start the event out on the right foot. Giving your guests enough time to prepare is important but having all your details secured and finalized before beginning is even more important. Here’s a list of invitation options:

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Decorate

Now we’re all done planning lets talk about decorating on the big day. your going to want to decorate from large to small and then top to bottom, to avoid damaging any decorations. Assigning staff, family or friends to specific tasks helps streamline work and avoid any confusion.

  1. Turn on some decorating music cause its a party!
  2. Table, and other furniture placement
  3. Wall or ceiling decorations
  4. Balloon arc and balloon placements, Décor and entertainment supplies 
  5. Food and beverages including warmers and cooler placement (typically require additional tables unless the venue provides this.)
  6. Trash set up and decoration trash clean up

Free Printable's

your ready to print and start so here’s some simple party or event planning printout’s. A few of them were made by us for you. Hope they’re of use, happy planning.

Wedding seating chart– courtesy of microsoft

Party supply list- courtesy of Microsoft and Mari Jayne products
Party Planner- Courtesy of Microsoft and Mari Jayne Products
Guests and To do checklist- courtesy of microsoft and Mari Jayne Products

Mari Jayne Products

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