10 ways to go from party to Soiree!

I am an Event Director by day and a party planner whenever there is a reason to celebrate! Which for me, is often :o) Today, I thought I would share with you my favorite hobby. I love celebrating people and what better way than a party??

Here are my personal TOP 10 Party Planning Guidelines.

1) Theme: Starting with a theme is most important because this will be your guide in making any decisions about the party. I always try to choose a theme that best fits the guest of honor. For instance, The Buddy, is a spunky almost 2yr old that loves to climb on anything that will hold him and to Slide...HE LOVES TO SLIDE! I put the two together and settled on a Chutes and Ladders theme!

{Invite made by Pen & Paper Flowers}

2)Color Scheme: Choosing a color scheme is always my next choice. It will help you in choosing party supplies. My favorite place to get party color combination options is in magazines. Fashion magazines are always a great resource for great new color combos. My favorite right now are Navy blue and lime green, Bright Orange and Pink as well as Grey with anything (Think Grey with Yellow, Grey with Pink, Grey with Turqoise)

FREE invitation printables

3) Invite/Favor: These two aspects should receive a lot of your attention. These are the 2 things that your guests will remember the most about your soiree.

When creating your invitation, please make sure that you give all necessary details pertaining to the party. Hosts sometimes list the park but no address...or whether there will be food served. Another popular addition is a rain delay. Hosts are choosing the next available weekend as a reschedule date in the instance that it rains on the party day. I haven't done this yet, but would be interested to try it in the future.

Party favors are a keepsake of the memory you provided for your guests. I highly recommend taking the time to think about a favor that compliments your party as much as possible. I also love a favor that has a use. For instance the favors at my Cupcakes and Cocktails 30th Birthday party were hand towels rolled up to look like cupcakes. The favor was easily taken apart and used as a hand towel.

4) Location, Location, Location: My Motto is - You Never Know Until You Ask - Party locations are all around you. It is always fun to think outside of the box when determining a party location. For instance, this weekend we are invited to a 4yr olds birthday party at the local firestation. My 30th Birthday was celebrated at a boutique that let me use the store during closed business hours. My guests felt like VIP shoppers and I got the atmosphere I wanted! Just remember: You Never Know Until You Ask :o)

5) Inspiration... Is EVERYWHERE. I find party slogans, themes and invitation wording all around me. From store ads/windows, to rhymes in my son's books, to movie quotes. If you start an inspiration file and stow away anything you find that you like, you will have an inspiration file of ideas to pull from when its time to celebrate someone.

{Kate Spade Store Ad}

{Inspired party detail}

6) Organization is Key. I have a very detailed To do list that is constantly being updated. It is helpful for me to get it out of my head and to write it down. It is also a great feeling to cross things off.

7) Timing. By timing I mean the time of the party. Are you planning to feed your guests a full lunch or just cake and ice cream. The time of your party will let your guests know what to expect. Even breakfast could be a cheaper option to feed guests than dinner. Keep this in mind when determining what kind of party you are hosting.

8) Do It Yourself (DIY)... I love coming across a project and making it my own. You can adjust almost any idea to fit your theme and these are the details that your guests will talk about to their friends later. The biggest compliment I have ever received after hosting a party was when I was told that I had thought of every detail. People appreciate the little things and you can't always purchase those at the party store. There are lots of fabulous party blogs out there to inspire you as well!

Homemade Cupcake Toppers

9) Delegate. Has anyone ever asked if they could bring something? OR if you need any help with anything? Your answer better be YES! I would love your help! There is no reason to carry the entire process on your own and it makes people feel great to be a part of things, so let em!

10) Enjoy. You have worked hard to celebrate the guest of honor and you should enjoy it! If you follow 1-9 you should be in great shape by Par-tay time!!

{ Enjoying my 30th birthday party with my sister}

I would LOVE to hear your party planning tips because I am all about new ideas!

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