Weve compiled a step-by-step guide that walks you through the entire party-planning timeline.
FORM YOUR PLAN WITH PLENTY OF TIME
1.
Is this a smaller and more intimate affair?
Are you allowing plus-ones?
The decision affects your budget and overall plan for your event, so this is step one.
); and entertainment costs.
Zahn says to decide on your saves and splurges in advance and to create a spreadsheet to track costs.
This ends up being about $15 to $20 per guest for drinks.
For lower-key parties, let your guest list dictate the time of day.
Are they late-nighters or more of a happy hour group?
Do they have big families that occupy most of their weekends?
If your group is older, starting at 8 or 9 p.m., for instance, wont work.
This piece of your party can be a splurge or save depending on your budget.
Grab some country-western items from the dollar store and voila instant DIY photo booth.
Pay her $50 instead of splurging on that expensive photographer.
White, black, metallic and clear pieces typically give me longer mileage.
DRILL DOWN ON SPECIFICS
9.
Keep costs low by using digital invitations like Evite, Paperless Post or Punchbowl.
Plan the menu
The key to planning a menu is keepingeveryguest in mind.
Planning a dinner party and have two vegans on your guest list?
Perhaps include two plant-based items and notate that on the dinner menu you craft, says Zahn.
From there, focus on cohesion and variety.
Hire a bartender, if possible
If youre hosting a larger event, Pogash suggests hiring a bartender.
We never want to overserve, he notes.
Consider hiring a photographer
So often an event happens without good photos to memorialize it.
confirm attendees are comfortable with photos or video being taken and always ask before posting on social media.
Plan engaging activities
Planning a 70th-birthday party for your husband?
Leave yourself a reminder to follow up the day before pickup/delivery.
Asking your kids to pitch in isnt a bad idea if this is an informal gathering, he says.
Her list includes exactly what time everything is happening, including rental delivery, and chefs and crew arrival.
She also includes each vendors phone number on this list, so she has them handy if needed.
