Parties and celebrations are exciting and enjoyable special occasions that don’t come often. While it is fun and delightful to attend someone’s party, it becomes stressful when you have to plan one of your own. If you wind up having to plan a party for your friend, a family member or your partner, the process becomes a lot more nerve-wracking because you can’t afford to disappoint them. 

 

To help you impress your guests with amazing party planning skills, we’ve compiled a checklist of things you need to do when planning for your next party. From preparation work to stunning balloon decorations, we’ve got you covered. Read on to get started!

 

#1. Budgeting

 

Parties can cost a lot of money and burn a hole in your wallet if you’re not careful with what you’re spending your money on. So, before you even set foot into the world of party planning, always remember to first allocate your budget. 

 

Simply come up with a list of things you foresee yourself spending on and do your research to find out the price that it will amount to before you allocate the budget you’re willing to spend on each category. Start with your venue rental budget, party decorations such as balloons and garlands, food and beverages, entertainment, transportation and delivery fees, as well as cleaning fees if necessary. There are also many party planning packages in Singapore that you can consider purchasing to simplify your planning process. 

 

Do remember to always set aside extra money and be ready to adjust your budget as you go along as prices can change. If you end up spending less, you can always save that amount, or allocate it to something else that may require you to spend a bit more. 

 

#2. Party Theme

 

 

After getting your budget settled, it’s time to decide on the theme of your party. All you have to do is put together a bunch of things you like and blend them together with a cohesive colour scheme. It shouldn’t be all that tough if you already have a preference. 

 

Party decorations don’t have to look like the next award-winning interior design. Moreover, having many zones in your party venue decorated with different themes means you get to take a variety of photos with many different backdrops. Your guests can also have fun taking photos in different areas for their Instagram. 

 

When all else fails, you can simply get a bunch of balloon decorations and customised balloons to add a pop of colour to your party venue. 

 

#3. Party Activities

 

 

Imagine a group of people sitting together at your party with nothing to do. How boring? A party will not be a party if your guests are just sitting around thinking of what to say and what to do. So, why not do yourself a favour and plan some activities for them to have fun together? 

 

Even putting together a nice playlist for the celebration is a good way of engaging your guests. You can even consider having board games, card games or showing a funny film on the screen so that your guests won’t be left bored. 

 

#4. Guest List

 

This step is pretty straightforward, simply think about the number of guests you can accommodate and who you wish to invite. Then, write it down somewhere and don’t forget to send them invitations with the date, time, venue and dress code. 

 

#5. List of Items You’ll Need

 

Depending on the theme of your party, there will be a variety of things you need to get. When coming up with your list, ask yourself a series of questions to really figure out what you need.

 

1. What decorations do you want? Balloon decorations, photo booth backdrops, flower arrangements, customised balloons, or garlands?

2. What kind of equipment do you need? Tables, chairs, rugs, cocktail tables, dessert tables, speakers projectors, screens or lights?

3. What miscellaneous items will you need? Trash bags, disposable utensils, tape, weights for your helium balloon decorations, batteries or chargers for your speakers?

 

After you’re done listing the things you need, you can start looking for a venue that can house all your decorations and your guests. It’ll be a plus if the venue can provide you with the logistics you need, such as tables, chairs, lights, food, screens, speakers, etc. 

 

#6. Venue Booking

 

 

Now that you’ve gotten most of your planning out of the way, it’s time to make your party happen. A party can be held in many places, you can choose to have it in a dedicated event space, a cafe, a hotel room, or at the chalet. Just be sure to contact them and make your booking before someone else takes up the date. 

 

#7. Renting, Buying, Ordering

 

You can begin researching where to get everything you need once the venue has been reserved and the logistics list has been finalised. Look for companies doing rentals or selling decorations such as your balloons, fairy lights, candles, garlands, and flower arrangements. Consider getting what you need from those who deliver so you don't have to go through the trouble of collecting everything yourself.

 

Especially with birthday balloon decorations, it will be good to opt for balloon delivery because they are bulky and require a bigger vehicle for transportation. Balloon decorations can get tangled or burst if not handled properly, hence leaving it to the professionals will be ideal.

 

Look into caterers and food delivery services as well for your party food. Consider the price differences between caterers and choose the one that offers the best value for money. You can even compare their prices to what you would pay if you cook everything yourself. However, only cook if you are capable of doing so. Take note of your guests' dietary needs as well, so that everyone can enjoy the food.

 

#8. The Layout of Room and the Day’s Timeline

 

Now that you have everything out of the way, it's time to sit down and plan out your party space. Think about where you want to put the decorations and how you want them displayed before the big day to speed up the decorating process.

 

Consider the day's events and the timeline of when things will occur, from the time you wake up to the time you get home; plan out the time you have and what you need to do at each time period to stay organised and efficient.

 

#9. Party Time

 

 

With everything planned out well, you’ll have no trouble putting your party together. Once your decorations, logistics and food are all in place. It’s time to party with your guests! 

 

Party planning entails numerous steps and careful consideration. If it becomes too much for you to handle on your own, you can always enlist the help of a professional party planner to do everything for you. This will save you a lot of time, and you will be able to spend your time on things that are more important to you.

 

Hello Joi specialises in all things celebrations in Singapore, bringing smiles to all. From planning and coordination to styling for dessert tables, weddings, proposals and birthday parties, prepare to be enchanted by the amazing decorations styled by Hello Joi. Get in touch with us today to glam up your celebration!