Now that you’ve made a checklist and reviewed your timelines, it’s time to move on to the other details of the party preparation. Experience is said to be the best teacher, so who better to give advice on this matter than these moms from the SP Parent Chat who’ve been there before? We compile their valuable tips for the first-time DIY-planner mom:
Budget
1. "You have to be realistic. Identify details of the party like the food, number of guests, entertainment, etc. based on your finance position. Work within your means.” - Kathleen Lazam
2. "Stick to your budget and whatever the budget is, the party will be all worth it," - Keih Liwanag
3. “Some godparents are more than happy to help by contributing, for example, the cake, or render their services for free by being the photographer for the day or helping out with the decorations. Take advantage of this resource.” - France dela Fuerte
4. “Buy prizes early and in small quantities. I did this for a few months before the big date and was able to spend from my own pocket rather than deducting it from the party budget.” - Erica Esguerra
5. “Instead of buying in bulk, I included small party items in my grocery shopping and finished buying the items in the list right before the day of the party” - Anne Abad.
6. “We held the party at home and rented tables, cooked the food and made the invitations ourselves. It gave us complete satisfaction especially when everything turned out to be a success." - Rosenelle Tajanlangit
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7. “Assign the budgeting to the spouse who is better at handling finances to avoid giving in to the many tempting add-ons.” - Joy Carillo
8. “Tips should be part of your budget. Remember to give tips if you’re absolutely happy with your suppliers. P100-200 tip per waiter is enough. Use letter envelopes and label with the name of the supplier, and hand it to the coordinator along with the final payment.” – Keih
9. “Simplicity is always "in" and celebrating at home is pure "labor of love". - Helen Caballero
10. “I saved on tables and chairs rental by borrowing from the barangay office.” - Janice Jasmin Ferrer-Matias
Food
11. “Opt for pre-packed food for kids, since they would rather play and have a tendency to not finish their food. Having it pre-packed makes it convenient for them to take home their leftovers.” - Clare Sandoval
12. Get a buffet set-up for the adult menu. The waiters who ration the food are there to ensure that guests do not get more than they can finish.” - Clare Sandoval
13. “Holding the party in the afternoon is more practical. Merienda menu is easier to make and not as costly.”
14. “To give the cake a personal touch, I bought one from the from the store, took off the icing and covered it with my own fondant.” - Evelyn del Mundo-Famorcan
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Goodie Bags and Prizes
15. “Count the number of kids present before bringing out the lootbags. Keep the rest out of sight.” - Mercy Rante
16. “Tag your giveaways with the names of invited children or have a claim stub.” – Fe Gloria
17. "To get adults’ participation in games, I gave away Starbucks GCs worth only P100. My guests loved it, because they got a prize for simply joining the game." - Pauline and Mac
18. “Since you will surely be busy entertaining guests, assign another person, a trusted friend or relative to oversee different areas like the buffet table or the giveaways.” - Onie and Helen
Photos
19. “In dealing with your photographer, run a checklist of shots that you would like to be taken during the party. Don’t leave things to chance; let the photographer know the "style" you want.” - Sunshine Ventura, Gladys Paz and Christine
20. “As an alternative to photo booths, you can set up your camera and printer to readily print photos that your guests can take home, or they can also write a message for the celebrant on it which you can then place on your guest book.” – Biancamer
21. “Some photographers offer a pre-birthday phootshoot as a package inclusion. An indoor or studio shoot is best for babies so they feel safe and comfortable. For toddlers, an outdoor shoot would be more fun." - Christine A. Guinto
Party host
22. “Have a briefing with your party host – whether hired or a relative doing you a favor - before the party and make sure he gets the instructions right. Print out a programme for his reference or write it down on an index card.” - Clare, Angel and Bernice
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Invites
23. “Posting the event in Facebook can help you save on the cost of invitations and monitor the number of guests. Simply tag the people you want to invite and they can choose to "attend", "not attend" or "maybe". This will serve as your RSVP and it even has a deadline for them to confirm, then sum up your attendees in an Excel sheet.” - Ela Mia Benedicto and Christine A. Guinto
24. “For people who are not in your priority list, invite them 3-7 days before the party. This gives them a little time to decide and there is a greater chance of them turning down the invitation.” - Christine A. Guinto
Etcetera
25. “Common things moms forget in the midst of all the happening are: have the guestbook signed – don’t forget the pen!; candles for the cake and matches or lighter; distribute souvenirs; putting some make-up on; and eating. To avoid these, make a checklist, keep your make-up kit in your bag and eat something light before the party begins.” - Mommy Zen
In spite of all these tips, realize that nobody is perfect and that there are bound to be bits of bloopers along the way, but they are nothing compared to the happiness and blessing you shared in celebration of your child's special day. As Mommy Bernice puts it, "a birthday is not about the colorful balloons, expensive food and giveaways, or the venue. It's a celebration rooted in the hearts of the people who love your child, the celebrant."
Photo by jessica.diamond via flickr creative commons
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