The Party Countdown: A Week-by-Week Guide to Preparing Your Party
The party countdown is simply a timeline during which certain portions of the planning should take place. For instance, party planning at its best should begin at least a month before the actual party. During this stage you should take the time to figure out what kind of party it will be. If you’re thinking of hiring or buying entertainment, this is the time to decide. That way you’ll have a better chance of landing the people or equipment you need and a price you want. Speaking of price, take this time to sit down and actually draw up a budget.
Decide and stick with how many guests you’ll invite and adjust the budget accordingly. Always give yourself at least a 10% cushion to avoid unexpected budget additions. A 20% cushion would be even better. If you’re going to be needing help of any kind, now is the time to look around start hiring. Once your guest list is complete, go ahead and mail them out with an RSVP. That way you’ll get a better idea of how many guests you’ll actually have.
The next big party countdown begins wwo weeks before the party This is the time to start making your final decisions on what kind of food and drinks you want to serve. Look over the RSVPs you received and take that as your guide to how much you’ll need. This section of the party countdown is also the time to decide on whether the party is going to have a bar, buffet, or sit-down meal. Go to the store during this period and get your utensils, napkins, cups, glasses, decorations, and any other supplies.
Don’t go shopping for your non-perishable foods and beverages until the party countdown is down to the week before the party. If you plan on decorating with flowers, this is the time to pre-order them. If you plan on serving any food that can be frozen beforehand, go ahead and do this in the week before the party.
Two to five days before the party is the time to begin preparing the house. Vacuum the rug, clean the toilets, wash the windows. If you’ve got an ice maker, crank it up and start saving it in a cooler. If you’re having a sit-down dinner, arrange the seating plans and place cards. Clean the clothes you’re planning on wearing. If you haven’t arranged for live entertainment, but plan on having music, now is the time to come up with a play list.
The party countdown is almost complete! You’ve reached party eve; the day before the big event. This is when you should make the trip to the grocery store to buy any perrishable food you’ll need. If you’ve decided to go the buffet table route, prepare the buffet table and add decorationst. Make sure the bathroom is well stocked with toilet paper and hand towels.
On the day of the party, before the guests arrive, finish off the decorations. Go over the house one more time and make sure it’s clean. Begin cooking any food that needs to be served hot. Set the table. Chill the wine. Make sure the medicine cabinet is stocked with headache pills, band-aids, and any other first-aid supplies that may be necessary. This is especially important if the party is for kids and there will a trampoline or moon jump equipment. Call anyone you have hired for the party to remind them when it is and make sure they are going to show up.
The party countdown has reached the moment of blastoff. Two minutes before the guests arrive is the time to put all the stress behind you and simply enjoy what happens as best you can.
