Birthdays are meant to be shared with loved ones. Just because you’re a grownup, doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy birthday parties. Children are thrilled when their birthday arrives. The thought of family and friends, cake and decorations, and of course gifts is enough to send any 5 or 6-year-old into a sugar rush frenzy. Turning 40, on the other hand, elicits a more subdued approach, but you can still have a lot of fun.
In this article, we’ll brainstorm some excellent ways to celebrate a birthday and offer some pro tips for birthday hosts.
Pre-planning
It’s always better to have extra time than to be working down to the wire on birthday party preparation. For a hassle-free party, start pre-planning about one month in advance.
Pick a weekend for the party date. No one really goes to birthday parties held on weekdays except toddlers and preschoolers who have no workweek obligations. However, if you are planning for a child’s birthday party, a mid-week party date may be a good option for the budget-minded party host. Birthday venues are cheaper rents on weekdays. When planning a birthday party, choose a weekend either before or after the actual birthday.
Decide whether it will be a formal or casual affair. With COVID-19 restrictions in mind, consider a backyard birthday party. With an elegant party tent rental, you can turn a backyard birthday party into a swanky semi-formal or formal affair. If you want to use a party theme, then have fun with it! Maybe plan for a Hawaiian luau backyard birthday party or a beachy one.
Make a Guest List and Send Birthday Invitations
You can do this either by snail mail or email. So many people use email these days, but it makes a nice impression to send an actual hardcopy birthday invitation. Plus, it’s more memorable and the guest is more likely to RSVP versus an email which is easy to delete or overlook in a busy inbox.
Budget for Food and Decorations
You’ve already bought the gifts, so now you need to set a budget for food and decorations. The average American birthday party costs $15-$30 per guest.
Are you going to have home-cooked food or barbecue? If so, this will lighten your financial burden because catering can run high into the $300 plus range even for small parties. The best thing to do is establish your budget in the pre-planning phase and stick to that budget as close as possible. This will help you avoid sticker shock after the festivities are over.
If you’re planning a buffet-style party, a party rental tent with long tables is ideal for the perfect serving food table. J&J Tent and Party Rentals not only has party rental tents, but also tables, chairs, linens, audio equipment, dance stages, and more to make your backyard birthday party a day to remember.
Plan for party games and entertainment like live music. Do you have a friend who has a band? Enlist their help! If it’s a child’s birthday party, there are plenty of birthday party game ideas on Pinterest. For a child’s birthday party, you may want to hire a magician or balloon sculptor. However, you may want to stay clear of the clowns, especially the ones with red balloons. There are some kids out there who are terrified by clowns. However, if your kid loves clowns, then bring in the clowns!
Party Tent Rentals
Don’t forget to consider party tent rentals if you choose to hold an outdoor birthday party. This is a great way to social distance your birthday party guests and everyone loves fresh air. J&J Tent and Party Rentals offers a wide variety of party tents, tables, chairs, linens, lighting, audio, and dance stage equipment rentals. Call us today at (919) 977-3691 to reserve your party tent and accessories to make your birthday a huge success despite COVID-19.
Want to learn more about party planning? Check out these blog articles:
