PREPARING FOR YOUR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Planning a children's party is notoriously stressful! If you're stepping into new waters and throwing a large(ish) party with friends and family for your child, then here are the steps I went through recently for the first party we threw Big Bee.

The bees, flowers and butterflies are out in force for the spring themed party

Big Bee recently turned 3 (sob, sniffle, sob!). We decided to throw her a big party after a non-existent 1st birthday due to the first national Covid-19 lockdown, and then a ‘rule of 6’ outdoors option for her 2nd birthday. I’m sure many of you can relate. Other than planning a family gathering with the cousins for Little Bee's 1st birthday, this is my first larger scale toddler party...I was stepping into unknown territory. So, I picked the brains of some neighbours and family with older children, in order to get the lay of the land with expectations for little people's birthday bashes. Hopefully this blog will help those venturing into new seas like me.

Here is a little overview of all the steps I took in preparing for the party:

• Booked the venue, entertainment and cake (if you are outsourcing)

• Decided on the theme

• Designed and sent out save the dates (Canva is great for this)

• I was asked from birthday present ideas from different people, so for ease I created an Amazon gift list to share with them.

• Designed and sent out the invitations a few weeks before the day (remember to specify a RSVP deadline)

• Purchased party bags and contents approx. 4/5 items, plus some treats which are up to your discretion and budget.

• Plan decorations - bunting, balloons etc.

• Finalised the guest list

• Planned and ordered the food and drink

• Remembered to pack a speaker for background music before the entertainer started and for when eating. Also packed up a camera, and some candles and matches for the cake!

• Made the food and prepared the adults drink station

• Enjoyed the party and got some photos

• Said yes to anyone who offered to help tidy/wash up

• Afterwards: put my feet up, drank a large glass of wine and basked in the glory of having survived a toddler's party :)

• Created a thank-you video, took photos of Big Bee opening/playing with her gift(s), or created cards to send to the family and friends.

So, first thing first was to book the things that require advanced booking - venues, entertainment and cake. I heard whispers that these were booking up months in advance locally, so to avoid any disappointment and stress I booked the aforementioned in good time.

It was then onto planning a theme - Big Bee was really into bees and butterflies at the time and as her birthday is in spring it seemed very apt. It was then onto sending out some save the dates because our family and friends have very active social lives. I used Canva to create a spring like theme design and then used a similar design for the invitation and other additional bits that I created for the party too.

We booked a 1 hour premium little stars package with Captain Fantastic (who in our opinion were just this!) and arranged for them to start 15 minutes after everyone arrived to allow for any people who were delayed. We also had a chat with the entertainer before the day to discuss the morning and ask any questions I had and vice versa.

We sent the invitation out about a month before the day and included the following details: - date, time, venue, and an RSVP deadline. I also specified that an entertainer was coming in the hope that people would attend promptly. We decided to go with a morning party as we find that our little ones are a little bit more chipper then compared to the afternoon, and we specified 2 hours as we felt that this was ample time for our toddlers.

We carried the theme through to the cake and asked for spring with a white picket fence. It was a tall 7" one which is supposed to feed 16-20 people approximately, but we cut the slices in half as they were very large and found that we could do double this easily.

Such an amazing piece of art, and yes, it was painful having to cut into it! (Baked by and image from Olli's Cakes)

We couldn't not do party bags (there is something a little nostalgic about seeing children peer inside with excited anticipation, and then delve in as though they are going to rip the bag open) and purchased some from ASDA, and personalised them with a sticker that I designed and had printed through a store on Etsy. We added some little chocolate nibbles, cake wrapped in a napkin and things like bubbles, wall climber, colouring book, bouncy ball and stickers etc. For the babes in arms I bought a set of mini hardback books and then divided them up so that they had two each. Tied them up with some ribbon and attached one of Big Bee's personalised stickers.

The design I created for Big Bee's stickers to go on the party bags

For the party lunch we purchased some little cartons of orange and apple juice, had water and squash on offer too. For the adults we had tea, coffee, plain and fizzy water, squash and elderflower cordial. For the children's lunch we did platters of carrots, cucumber and peppers and bowls of grapes. We then had a variety of sandwiches - egg mayo, ham, cheese and avocado. We also catered for those with dietary requirements. I always want to eat when the children do, so in case I was not the only one we provided nibbles for the parents too (turns out I was in good company!). Pudding for all included some cupcakes, flapjacks and cookies.

On the day we ensured that we allowed enough time to set-up the furniture, finalise the food, lay the tables, hang decorations and blow up balloons. We also displayed the balloon column we had made locally. Plan for everything to take longer than you think it will take as to try and minimise the stress.

Party table ready with Big Bees spring balloons

Now for the aftermath...tip number one, put your feet up and drink a glass of whatever tickles your fancy! Tip number two (suggested by an experienced friend) create a little 'thank-you' video that can we sent to the people who gave gifts. We did this with Big Bee and then I sent a photo of her opening or enjoying her new gift to make it more personalised. We continued to send cards to family and elderly friends, but now that Big Bee is old enough she designed the cards all by herself.

Some other ideas given to me that I liked, but will keep up my sleeve for the next party are:

- hot dogs for the children

- sausage rolls and a glass of bubbles for the parents

- books or seeds for the children as a form of party bag

Happy planning your end!