Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: A Little Party at Your Home
• Part 2 of 3: Party with a lot of guests
• Part 3 of 3: An Unexpected Celebration
• Tips

Your friend's birthday is coming up and you want to throw a great party for her. You can organize a small themed dinner party in your home, a noisy party with a large number of family and friends, or an unexpected celebration. It all depends on the character and preference of your girlfriend. In any case, this holiday should be memorable, with good company, snacks and decorations.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: A Little Party at Your Home

1. 1 Discuss ideas. Start organizing at least 3 weeks before your planned date and ask your friend what kind of celebration she likes. At this stage, you need to decide what kind of party it will be and how many guests should be invited. Here are some ideas for a small party:
   • An ordinary holiday lunch.
   • Cozy dinner party or whatever is in the fridge.
   • BBQ or pool party.
   • Retro theme party.
2. 2 Choose a date. After choosing a theme for your celebration, answer the following questions: When is your girlfriend's birthday? Will you celebrate on the same day or a little later? What time of day are you planning a party? How many guests can I invite?
   • When planning your party, keep the interests of the guests in mind. If a friend's birthday fell on a weekday, then guests may be busy at work or study. Usually the best time for small gatherings in a cozy company is Friday. Barbecues and backyard celebrations are best organized on Saturday or Sunday afternoons.
3. 3 Make a guest list. Work with your friend to consider the guest list. Then divide your list into family and friends.Review the list and do not forget to add soulmates, children, siblings.
   • For a small party, the list should not include more than 25 people.
4. 4 Invite guests. Guests must be invited 2-3 weeks before the celebration. You can send invitations by e-mail, regular letter, call or write SMS. All guests need to provide the following information: the name of your girlfriend, the date and time of the celebration, the address of the party location with directions and parking, the deadline for receiving a response from guests, and your contact details (email address and phone number) indicating which is more convenient for you. get an answer.
   • If possible, organize a private Facebook meeting page and add guests. This will make it easier for you to coordinate the event, communicate new information, and communicate with guests.
   • If you send invitations by mail, then on the Internet you can find original ideas for invitations or print ready-made templates.
   • Get creative and make your own invitations. You can even come up with individual themed invitations.
5. 5 Buy groceries and jewelry. Make a list of essential items (jewelry, food) and always carry it with you. Everything should be ready a few days before the holiday. If you will be preparing food yourself, then decide on the recipes in advance and take them with you to the grocery store. Also, do not forget to order cakes or desserts at the pastry shop at least a week before the holiday and buy birthday candles.
   • Take an inventory of chairs, plates, cutlery, napkins, cups, and salad bowls. Buy everything you need so you don't have to go shopping for napkins in the middle of a party!
   • A week before the holiday, let your neighbors know that you have a party. They need to know what time the celebration will start and approximately when it will end. This is especially important if you live in an apartment or rent a house with neighbors.
6. 6 Make a holiday song list. The list should be long enough so that the songs are not repeated, and you can turn on the music and not think about it anymore. Get a friend's list of her favorite songs, or create a themed collection for a party. For example, for a dinner party, classical music is better, and for an evening in the style of the early 20th century, jazz hits should be chosen. You can also use online lists on sites like Pandora, Slacker, or Grooveshark.
7. 7 Arrange snacks and hang decorations. Rearrange furniture to make room for guests and snacks. Separate snacks and drinks so guests don't get crowded together. Next, line the snack tables with tablecloths and hang party decorations. Table setting is done in this order: first, napkins, cutlery and plates, then salads with appetizers, and then hot and main courses. The arrangement of dishes and decoration of the premises should be completed at least 2 hours before the start of the holiday.
   • Place the ice bucket next to your drinks, and remember to stock up on extra ice in the fridge. Alcoholic drinks (beer, wine and liqueurs) must be kept separately, but do not forget about soft drinks for children or those who are driving.
   • Cover hot food with foil to keep it warm. Other dishes and plates can be covered with foil or cling film to keep them fresh. If possible, it is best to prepare the fruit and vegetable cuts in advance and refrigerate them.
   • Arrange a few plates of snacks for guests to have a snack once they arrive. You should choose foods that can be left on for several hours (nuts, onion rings, chips, and gravy).
   • Conduct your audit a few hours in advance. Make sure the area is clean, there is enough soap and toilet paper in the washroom, and there are chairs and armchairs for all guests.
8. 8 Have fun and celebrate! All attention will be given to your friend, but you are the host of this party and must make sure everything goes smoothly. Don't be afraid to share some responsibilities with other guests (they may bring new plates of snacks and drinks, add ice). Also, feel free to send drunk or intruders away. Take them aside and ask someone to give them a ride home if needed.

Part 2 of 3: Party with a lot of guests

1. 1 Start planning your party at least 3 months before the party. For parties with more than 25 guests, more detailed organization is needed. Remove unnecessary stress and start planning your holiday as early as possible. First, you can make a list of the necessary preparatory actions and a schedule for their implementation: book a seat, organize entertainment (DJ, photographer, games, quizzes), send out invitations and get answers, buy jewelry and make a menu and / or buy food and drinks, find a bartender.
   • Get help. Don't try to deal with everything alone. Gather a few friends and family together to share the power. All organizational issues can be resolved via email or Facebook. Talk to your assistants regularly to stay up-to-date.
   • Make a budget to stick to. Together with your friends, you should know what you will have to spend money on. Use your preparatory list as expense items. Call businesses and stores to find out the cost of party supplies, rental prices and entertainment costs. Write down preliminary prices in front of each item, compare different offers and keep track of your spending.
2. 2 Make a guest list. Decide how many guests you and your friend would like to invite. Divide the list into family and friends.
   • Do not invite more than 20% of the number of people who can fit comfortably in your party area (usually 70-80% of those invited).
   • Do not forget about the other halves of the invitees, and also consider the likelihood of all potential guests agreeing.
3. 3 Choose a date and book your seat. This is a very important point if the party is not in your home. Depending on your availability, you will have to book your seat several weeks or even months in advance. If you do not want to have a big party in your house or apartment, then you can book a hall in a cultural center or in a cafe. An additional plus of such places is that there are already tables, chairs and kitchen utensils.
   • When choosing a place, consider the following points: the availability of parking, the possibility of ordering the preparation and serving of snacks, cleaning and preparation services, the area and convenience of guests.
4. 4 Send out invitations. In the case of a big party and the presence of guests from other cities, you need to send out invitations at least 60 days before the holiday. Invitations must be made in printed form, write the address and send by mail. Indicate how you prefer to receive responses (by phone or email). In the invitation, you must indicate the organizer of the evening (you), the type of event (girlfriend's birthday), date, time (start and end), place, dress code (casual, thematic, formal) and the way of answering.
   • Design your invitations to match the theme of the event, or decorate with a photo of your girlfriend. There are many websites on the Internet for creating invitations like Zazzle.com or Shutterfly.com.
   • Keep your guests informed of the latest news via the Facebook group.
5. 5 Invite a disc jockey (optional). For large events, it is best to employ professional musicians. A DJ will also help entertain guests. Invite only a respected DJ. They immediately indicate the cost of their services and send you a contract with the terms of cooperation.Don't make any payments until you get the contract.
6. 6 Make a menu. The menu depends on the type of party and the number of guests. For example, ask your friend if they can order pizza and ice cream, or if she wants more formal meals. Also, snacks always depend on your budget. You can save money and cook food on your own, or save time and nerves by ordering food in a restaurant. In almost all restaurants and cafes, menus are made per person, and additional payment for serving and serving tables is taken into account. It can cost you a lot, but it will save you time and nerves, because you will get rid of the need to arrange snacks before the start of the holiday and clean tables after the party is over. Keep in mind the following when planning your menu or ordering food in a restaurant:
   • The food should be of different types: appetizers and snacks, salads, main course and desserts.
   • Guests may include vegetarians or people with allergies to certain foods.
   • Drinks should be varied (alcoholic, non-alcoholic, coffee, tea, water and ice).
7. 7 Buy jewelry in advance. Make a list of the jewelry you need and start buying them a few weeks before the event. Look for jewelry online or at home decoration stores. If necessary, order themed items in advance to get them on time.
   • Common birthday decorations include birthday candles, Happy Birthday posters, ribbons, balloons, fun hats, and tablecloths.
   • If it's a jubilee birthday (21, 30, 40, or 50), use plates, hats, napkins, and balloons with your friend's age. You can also make a memorable photo album with pictures of family and friends.
8. 8 Arrange snacks and hang decorations. Make a to-do list and complete them 2 hours before the guests arrive:
   • Furniture: tables and chairs for guests, food and cake stands, place for cards and gifts.
   • Drinks: soft drinks, container with water and ice (lemon and orange slices can be used), coffee pot and boiling water for tea, additives (cream, milk, sugar, spoons), wine (red and white), beer, cocktails, refrigerator and additional ice.
   • Cutlery: plastic or glass dishes, glasses, cutlery (knives, forks, spoons), snack saucers, plates for the main course, salad bowls, salt and pepper shakers, dishes and knives for butter, jugs for drinks.
   • Accessories: large spoons and forks for serving food, cut knives, spare salad bowls, coasters, baskets and waste bags.
9. 9 Keep order. Divide the powers between friends: snacks, drinks, cleaning, gifts, helping in the kitchen and serving (if you celebrate in a restaurant, then these issues will be solved for you). The most important thing is that your friend's birthday is fun and carefree!
   • Chat with guests, start casual conversations. Try to thank everyone who came to the party.
   • If alcohol is among the drinks, make sure guests get home safely. You can ask a few friends to give others a ride or call a taxi. If one of the guests drank too much or behaves aggressively, then take him away and ask a sober friend to take him home.

Part 3 of 3: An Unexpected Celebration

1. 1 The surprise should be planned like a regular party. The organization will be the same as in the two previously discussed cases. It all depends on the number of guests. A small holiday should be planned 3-4 weeks in advance. It is better to provide at least two to three months for organizing a large party. Create a to-do list so you don't miss out on important details:
   • Choose a date and place.
   • Make a guest list, come up with a theme, order service and musicians.
   • Send out invitations, create menus, and come up with entertainment.
   • Buy jewelry, get invitations answered, and figure out what to do for your friend on the day of the party.
   • Clean up the room, hang decorations, and arrange snacks.
2. 2 Guests should be aware of. Inform all guests that this is a surprise. Contact the person who lives with or next to the future birthday girl. Try to find out your friend's plans for the day. Make sure she's free that day and invite her to a little holiday dinner, but be careful not to spoil the surprise.
   • You can also throw a party on another day. Invite her to a movie or concert, but in fact bring her to a holiday party.
3. 3 Create a distraction. To maintain that element of surprise, you need to figure out how you will distract your friend and lure her out of the house on the day of the celebration. Tell them that you are busy and arrange to check in later. Arrange with friends to invite the birthday girl to a cafe, movie theater, sports game, or spa. They should not be near where you are hosting the party and where all the guests will be coming!
4. 4 Prepare a surprise. Tell all guests to arrive 30 minutes before the birthday girl arrives. If possible, ask guests to park their cars in a different block so that a friend does not see them on the way home.
   • Prepare for a surprise: hand out whistles and confetti to the guests to use when the birthday girl arrives.
   • You can also ask guests to hide behind tables and chairs so that they can appear unexpectedly at the right time.
   • Find a photographer who can capture this momentous moment.

Tips

• Don't forget about activities such as team contests and birthday question quizzes.
• Prepare your speech and deliver it before serving food. Thank the guests, tell the story of your acquaintance and how long have you been friends, come up with an elegant joke or remember an experience you experienced with your birthday boy, state why you value your relationship with this person.
• Organizing a party is a big responsibility, but getting prepared and delegated ahead of time will save you time and hassle. It's important to understand that sometimes things can get out of hand, so approach the situation with humor and be flexible.
• Always keep order. Ask friends to help you clean up before and after the holiday. Remember to keep order during the party and wipe stains on tables in time.
• Don't forget to have fun and enjoy the holiday! Together with the birthday boy, you set the mood at the party. The success of the celebration depends on you!
• Tidy up or help a friend clean the house to decorate and arrange party furniture later.
• Check restrooms - make sure you have toilet paper and soap, and overall cleanliness.
• Always provide spare chairs for guests as well as tables and tables for treats.