Tips on Planning a Party

When you're strapped for time, it does not really help to have so much ideas running through your head. For the past couple of days, I have been scribbling lists of how we wanted to do the party. It took me a while to realize that I was not going to get anywhere if I did not have a clear road map of what we have to accomplish given the amount of time we have left.

I sat down and started listing down the bare essentials of the party we wanted. This is where one's ability to focus hard needs to work, because it's so easy to get distracted with all the pretty stuff available on the web. At this point, it's best to focus on the basics.

Make a list. 

This is an absolute must. It could be a file on your computer, post-it notes on your desktop, or even a task tracker app on your phone--either way, it has to be a real, tangible list, not a mental one. (Believe me, I've been there. And I forgot a lot of things.)

Here's what I've written so far (and I'm posting this on the sidebar for my easy reference):

• Finalize a budget 
• Finalize the guest list
• Finalize the date
• Finalize the venue
• Book restaurant
• Finalize the theme (overall look)
• Cake
• Invitations
• Favors for adult guests
• Loot bag contents
• Photographer
• Party Host
• Program/Games
• Prizes
• Logistics
• Gift Registry
• Website
• Chalkboard display
• Balloons
• Erin's birthday dress

Having written everything down has somehow helped calm my nerves. Try it.

Assess your resources, especially manpower.

Of course, while doing your list, you have to be as realistic as you can get. You can't do five things at a time, so it is wise to just let go of things you can actually do without. You don't need the added stress!

Lucky for me, I have my husband and my mom to help me with the preps.

Three weeks to go!