subject: Tips For Planning A Fun Birthday Party [print this page] Planning a birthday party can be a lot of funPlanning a birthday party can be a lot of fun. No matter what the guest of honor's age is, it is a sure bet that they will really appreciate the time and effort you put into helping them celebrate their special day. If you think that planning the perfect birthday party has to be difficult, time consuming or expensive, think again. Many times it is the simplest parties that end up being the most successful and enjoyable. Here are some easy tips you can use to quickly put together a birthday party that everyone will enjoy - including you.
Set a Theme
Although a theme is certainly not a requirement in order to have a successful birthday party, it can make planning it a lot easier and more fun. Once you have decided on a theme, you will usually find that making decorating, food and party favor decisions becomes much easier. For younger children, a favorite cartoon character or television show can become the inspiration for the party's theme. For adults and teenagers, hobbies like sports, movies or fashion often make great party themes. Choose decorations that complement the theme, such as movie posters hung on the walls in plain large picture frames for a movie party, or a tablecloth, napkins and plastic cutlery in the guest of honor's favorite sports team's colors. You can also choose your party favors, food and games to match the theme. One fun example for a football themed party is to serve "tailgate" party foods. Or, set the table in a tea party fashion for a young girl's princess themed party.
Choose Fun Party Foods
Fun foods can really add to the overall enjoyment of any birthday party. Although a birthday cake is almost an essential component, you will also want to plan for other snacks as well. If you're having a cake and ice cream party, often times all you need are snacks like chips and dip, pretzels or small pieces of cheese or fruit for snacking. If you'll be serving a meal at the party, try to select easy to serve foods that are easy to eat. Sandwiches, Sloppy Joes, tacos or sandwich wraps are all good options. You can also get several pizzas with different toppings and let everyone pick what they like the best.
Planning Games
Although not everyone enjoys playing games at a birthday party, they can certainly add an element of fun and excitement. However, it's generally a good idea not to plan more than 1-2 party games. For small children, "pin the tail on the donkey" or breaking a piata might be all you need. Relay race games work well for older children, while memory games and even some card or board games can work well for teens and adults.
Preserving Birthday Memories
No matter what kind of party you plan, you should always make sure to take plenty of photos. Displaying birthday photos in collage picture frames around your home can help you relive the happy party memories all year long.
