What ever happened to birthday parties at McDonalds?
Remember the good old days when jumping in the ball pit and slice of cake was
enough? Well those times are gone. And since I am firm believer of “When in Rome…” I have made an effort
to keep up with the trends and changes in entertaining. Martha Stewart has set the bar high.
And now a party isn’t ‘just a party’.
But luckily, that doesn’t mean parties can’t be fun, or
easy, or affordable. Parties may look a bit more polished nowadays, but with a
few easy tips, you will find that anyone can entertain with style.
STEP 1: CHOOSE A THEME
Having a theme for a party actually makes everything else
painless. Your theme doesn’t have to be elaborate like “A Parisian Slumber
Party”. It can be as simple as a color- “Pink” or a movie- “Up”. Birthday
parties, showers, and even weddings are easy to put together once the big
picture is chosen. So take a moment to choose a theme you like and that fits
the occasion. Need help deciding? Browse through sites like
Hostess with theMostess,
Pizzazzeri, or
Kara’s Party Ideas
STEP 2: THE INVITE SETS THE TONE
I know and love Evite; it is my ‘go-to’ site for pool
parties in the summer. But when planning a real party, you need a real
invitation. Paper in an envelope with a stamp. It is old fashioned and a bit
more time consuming, but it is the first glimpse your guests will have of your
party. Now the price range for invitations can vary greatly. (Anyone remember
the Bridal Shower invite from
“Bridesmaids” with the live butterflies?!) But there are so many cute,
affordable options. Try making them yourself; you could craft a post card, a
movie ticket, or even a puzzle to mail to your guests. Or shop
Etsy and
type in your party theme. You will be amazed at the number of adorable invites
you can purchase and print from home. An invite doesn’t need to be elaborate to
be appreciated!
STEP 3: THE DÉCOR
This is my favorite part of the planning. With your party
theme in mind, it is time to bring your event to life. Party décor has moved
from crepe paper and balloons to tissue paper poms and bunting. The best ideas
for party décor are homemade. And if you aren’t a crafty-type, have no fear,
Martha Stewarts’s party products or sites like
Etsy can actually provide
you with a ‘hand-crafted’ look right out of the box. Other must haves for party décor: fresh flowers, a wreath or
sign on the front door that coordinates with the theme, and paper goods that
tie in with the theme. And not everything you decorate with has to be bought.
Try shopping your home – you might be surprised that those old glass vases
become chic when filled with colorful candy or flowers. Candles, platters,
baskets, and unique containers can easily be incorporated into most themes.
STEP 4: FABULOUS FOOD
I will admit, I am not crazy about cooking. I like to bake,
but real food isn’t as interesting to me. But no matter what time of day you
are hosting your event; you need to feed your guests! If you like to cook, try
to recipes that tie in with the party theme. If you are like me, swing by
Central Market and grab some gourmet to go! The dessert really does need to
‘take the cake”. Whatever you choose- cupcakes, cake pops, donuts, petit fours,
whoopee pies, or even brownies, make them special and unique to your theme. As
an added bonus- your dessert can be part of the décor. Use the dessert as the centerpiece on
your party table!
STEP 5: REMEMBER ‘WHO” THE PARTY IS FOR
I really enjoy putting a party together, but at the end of
the day, if the party is for my Kindergartener, then it needs to be about her.
The food, the décor, the games… if she doesn’t enjoy them, then none of the
effort is worth it. So find a way to keep the balance. ‘Real’ parties can be
styled beautifully. ‘Real’ parties can be full of thoughtful themed details.
And the best thing about ‘real’ parties is that both the hostess and the guests
can have fun.
Want to see more things that I love about ‘real’ parties?
