Planning a party can be both exciting and stressful, especially as a single mum. From finding a venue to choosing a theme, the to-do list never ends. Thankfully, even the most over-the-top parties can go off without a hitch with a little advanced planning.
Here’s how to throw the perfect party as a single mum.
Choose a Theme
There are so many reasons to throw a party. From birthdays and anniversaries to wedding receptions and graduation celebrations, the list goes on forever. When it comes to planning a party, advanced planning goes a long way. First thing you need to do is choose your theme. This will set the tone for your venue, guest list, food served and even the time of year.
Set a Budget
This is where you need to honest with yourself. Having a budget and sticking to it is probably the most important part of planning a party. Depending on the type of party and where it’s being held, you need to account for seating, the cost of catering and the actual cost of the venue. Most venues do require a non-refundable deposit, so make sure you’re certain about the date and the estimated number of guests attending prior to booking.
Create a Guest List
As wonderful as it would be to invite everyone you know, from a financial perspective, it’s usually not possible. A lot of variables go into creating your guest like, which include the type of party and venue and whether children are attending. In addition, you also need to think about the invitations.
If it’s a formal affair, you need to factor in the cost of invitations, which should be sent out at least two or three weeks to the event. If it’s a more casual affair, you can get creative and send out digital invites. One final thing to remember is that not everyone you invite is going to say yes, so that’s why it’s important only to invite people who are most likely to come.
Party Supplies
If you’re holding the party at home and want to decorate, you need to buy decorations. Keep in mind that even if your party is being held at a paid venue, you still have some leeway when it comes to decorating. Think about theme and the guest of honour. If it’s for someone else, try to incorporate decorations they would choose for themselves.
The Big Day
On the day of the party, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. Identify any potential safety risks, like a pool, if there are small children attending before guests arrive. It’s also a good idea to lay some grounds rules if there’s going to be alcohol served.
Instead of being a Negative Nancy, simply let everyone know that alcohol is limited primarily because you don’t want anyone getting carried away. If you feel uncomfortable doing so and are holding the party at an outside venue, simply enforce a cut-off point with the staff prior to things getting under way. You can then offer other beverages in a variety of flavours to keep party-goers’ glasses full.
Final Thoughts
Parties are meant to be fun, so the best thing you can do is make a plan and stack on track. If you wait until the last minute, not only will end up forgetting important details, but might also miss out on the party while trying to keep everything in check.