There are few days as special as your baby’s first birthday party. But making the most of this wonderful occasion for your child isn’t easy, particularly if you’ve never done it before.

At first glance, there are so many things to consider; the theme, the invites, the food, and then there’s the age-old problem of who to invite. This is why so many people, unfortunately, make the mistake of forgetting to focus on what really matters.

We’ve put together the ultimate first birthday party checklist to help you organize your 1st birthday party. To make it ultra simple to navigate, we’ve divided the tasks into the most appropriate time frames for you.

No need to thank us – just get that pen and paper handy and start planning that party!

1 Month Before

SELECT DATE AND TIME

You’ll (no doubt) want to invite a fair few people to the party, right? We suggest that you get this task polished off as early as possible in order to ensure your child’s first birthday makes it into their diaries. Always try to avoid dates that are public holidays or midweek, if possible.

MAKE A GUEST LIST

First, focus on your immediate family and friends, and only extend out if you feel you need to. Depending on how busy or far-flung your family and friends are you might want to do this step earlier. Providing those closest to you are included from the start, you won’t run the risk of upsetting anyone on this occasion.

MAKE A LIST OF PHONE NUMBERS

Grab your favorite, trusty spreadsheet application and make a list of everyone’s phone number and email address. This will come in handy very soon.

Not a spreadsheet wizard?  Don’t worry, we’ve made a First Birthday Party Planner excel template you can download here.

SELECT A PARTY LOCATION (HOME/OUTDOOR)

If you’re feeling adventurous and the big day happens to fall during the spring or summer, go for an outdoor location. Always plan with a back up location in mind just in case mother nature has other plans. It’s better to plan safe than to plan sorry.

DECIDE THE PARTY THEME (IF THERE IS ONE)

A theme isn’t always necessary and may be a step too far if you’re pushed for time. However, if you want to set a theme for the party, go for it. Fairy tales, characters and scenes from popular television programs are usually a big hit.

SET A BUDGET

Time for the money element! You won’t need a big budget for a first birthday party. Simply ensure you have enough to cover the venue (if it charges for space), food and decorations. Be realistic – there’s no need to overdo this.

BOOK OUTDOOR VENUE (IF REQUIRED)

If you’ve decided to go for an outdoor venue for your first birthday party – great! Just make sure you book it with plenty of time ahead. Popular venues tend to get snatched up when the weather gets warmer.

3 Weeks Before 

CREATE & DELIVER INVITATIONS

Remember that contact list you put together a little while ago? It’s now time to use it! Unless you want to go the traditional route, digital invitations will save you a huge amount of time. Create a nice email or text together to get them sent out.

Plan your baby’s outfit (if it’s a themed party)

If you’ve chosen to host a themed party, it’s time to shop for the outfit. If you know of someone who has a spare piece of clothing you could borrow, that’ll help save a chunk of your budget, too!

Have a basic party menu ready

Finger buffet food is the key here, but be sure to make a list of what you’re likely to have on the table before you place your order.

Choose a caterer or sort out recipes

Save money: do the food prep yourself (ask a friend for assistance). If you’re open to spending a little to gain more time: bring in a caterer. Make the choice that works in harmony with the venue and your budget.

Choose a first birthday cake

There are some lovely first birthday cakes you can pick up at a relatively low cost. However, make sure you go for a fairly large cake to ensure there’s enough to hand around at the end of the party.

Plan for your “Thank You” cards

Sending a “Thank You” card in the mail is a really nice gesture. So, now’s the time to think about ordering the style of cards you’d like to send. You can also begin purchasing postage stamps for each card.  Having the cards and stamps on standby mean this won’t be forgotten in the post-party wind-down!

Phillips personalized digital “Thank You’ cards are available here. 

Decide on 2 or 3 party games

The best way to fill time during the party is to plan for two or three party games. Potato-sack racing, hide and seek or Pinata are classic ways to keep the older kids (and adults) entertained.

2 Weeks Before

SHOP FOR PARTY BAG GIFTS AND DECORATIONS

A party bag can easily and cost-effectively be made a little bit more special with a ribbon and birthday-themed sticker or two. Add those to the simple gifts that’ll be contained inside.

SHOP FOR OTHER BIRTHDAY RESOURCES

Think of anything else you might need – paper plates, tablecloths and cleaning products (particularly the latter!), and add them to your birthday shopping list.

ENLIST THE HELP OF FAMILY & FRIENDS

Don’t do this alone! Rope in your family and friends to help; they’ll likely jump at the chance.

ORDER A BIRTHDAY CAKE

You could, of course, get a cake from a supermarket. However, if you want to make the day that little bit more special, order a unique cake featuring your baby’s name, instead.

CONFIRM PICK-UP DATE/TIME WITH BAKERY

The local bakery is a great choice for the cake, most will be able to work to your schedule if you give them plenty of time.

ORGANIZE EXTRA FURNITURE AND SOFT TOYS IF THE PARTY IS AT HOME

If you’re going to hold the party at your house, make sure you’ve got enough emergency chairs, additional toys and baby blankets to ensure it goes by without a hitch.

BOOK OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BOUNCY CASTLES OR SWINGS

If you’ve gone for an outdoor venue and have decided to hire in particular activities, now is the time to get them ordered to avoid disappointment.

BOOK ENTERTAINMENT SUCH AS MAGICIANS AND CLOWNS

Entertainers will require at least a couple of week’s notice when booking, so get in touch with them now to ensure they have your preferred date and time available.

BUY PRIZES FOR THE PARTY GAMES

A party game isn’t much fun without a prize for the winner, so make sure you shop for simple, low-cost prizes. Again, chocolates and sweets are always winners here.

1 Week Before

GET FINAL HEADCOUNT AND RSVPS

By now, you should have received most of your RSVPs. If necessary, followup with anyone who hasn’t responded so you can get that all important final headcount.

CONFIRM BOOKING WITH VENUE/CATERER IF APPLICABLE

If you originally put off confirming the venue while waiting for the exact number of people attending, now is the time to confirm the date with the final headcount.

START ORGANIZING PARTY BAGS AND LABEL THEM WITH GUEST NAMES

Time again to turn to that spreadsheet of invites. Felt tip in hand, start putting together your party bags with all the necessary goodies and label them with guest names.

CHECK MEMORY STORAGE ON YOUR PHONE OR CAMERA SO YOU’RE READY TO CAPTURE THE SPECIAL DAY

There will be so many photo opportunities on the day, so make sure you don’t run out of space on your smartphone or camera. Photo-sharing sites like Google Photos offer unlimited storage and make sharing birthday party pictures really easy.

CHECK YOUR FIRST AID KIT – ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT A PARTY

It doesn’t really bear thinking about, but things can go wrong at kids parties. Be sure you have a fully-stocked first aid kit to hand, just in case.

SHOP FOR YOUR BABY’S BIRTHDAY OUTFIT AND PRESENT

If you didn’t need to buy a themed birthday outfit for your baby, you can leave it until now to shop for their ‘normal’ outfit. It pays to bundle this in with the present shopping, too.

CHECK TO ENSURE THE VENUE IS BABY-PROOFED

No sharp objects, open plug sockets or expensive equipment onto which drinks can be poured; leave no stone un-turned!

SELECT APPROPRIATE PARTY MUSIC

This part is fun – and there’s no harm in admitting it. Grab your music library or streaming service and set up a special playlist that features songs and that are appropriate for the occasion.  Make for sure your playlist doesn’t include any lyrics not suitable for children’s ears!

1 Day Before

CHECK CANDLES, CAKE KNIFE AND MATCHES FOR THE CAKE

Everyone will be looking forward to the reveal of the birthday cake, therefore, make sure you’re ready to make this first one ultra special with all the trimmings.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN PARTY OUTFIT AND ACCESSORIES

Time to focus on yourself! Spend some much-needed time looking for an outfit and accessories for yourself. Mom can look great too!

RE-CHECK GUEST LIST

The last thing you want to do is accidentally leave anyone out, with so much going on, you might want to take one last look at the guest list. Is everyone definitely present?

RECONFIRM WITH YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS REGARDING ASSISTANCE

If you’ve scheduled support for pre-party preparation and activities on the big day, make sure you double check that those who opted in are still up for it (once they’re in, they’re in!).

KEEP YOUR BABY’S OUTFIT AND SHOES READY FOR THE BIG DAY

To avoid last-minute scrambles, leave the baby’s outfit and shoes somewhere obvious before the big day. That way, you can grab them quickly when the time comes to get dressed up.

WRAP YOUR BABY’S BIRTHDAY PRESENT

Grab your favorite wrapping drink (be it a glass of wine or cup of tea) and enjoy wrapping your child’s first ever birthday present.

GET TO BED EARLY NIGHT – IT’S GOING TO BE A LONG DAY TOMORROW

Now for the most important piece of preparation you’ll do the day before. Tomorrow will be long, emotional and hard work, so make sure you get plenty of sleep beforehand. Once that present has been wrapped, try to get some much-needed rest!

On the Birthday

START PREPARING PARTY FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS

To ensure maximum freshness, reserve the first couple of hours of the day to preparing the food and refreshments. This is where those handy helpers will be invaluable.

SET THE TABLE AND DECORATIONS

Transform the tables in the venue or your home with the decorations you purchased and make everything look great.

SET A SEPARATE PLACE FOR PRESENTS

When people arrive, they’ll probably be laden with presents, so make sure there’s an obvious area for them to be placed, ready for opening later on.

PICK UP THE CAKE

Head to your local bakery and get that cake. If you’ve done your homework, it’ll be ready and waiting for you. Just remember to be very careful driving it back – take someone along with you to hold it steady, if possible.

MAKE SURE YOUR CAMERA OR PHONE IS CHARGED AND READY TO GO

Keep your phone or camera on charge for as long as possible during the morning and make sure it’s working as intended an hour or so before with some test shots.

KEEP CAMERAS AND CANDLES READY

Keep both the birthday cake candles and camera in your pocket at all times – you’ll need to grab both quickly when required.

KEEP THE FIRST-AID KIT IN A SAFE PLACE

Again, we won’t dwell on the reasons for this one, but make sure you and a few other parents know exactly where the first-aid kit is located. Make it as easy to access as possible.

KEEP THE GUEST CONTACT LIST IN A SAFE PLACE

The spreadsheet you created a few weeks back containing guest contact details may not be out of service just yet. Keep a printed copy of it close by just in case you need to contact anyone, or if you need to check where someone important is.

And remember to get someone to take note of what gifts you received so that you can send out personalized “Thank You” cards after the event.

Order Phillips personalized birthday “Thank You” cards here.

The Day After The Birthday

Grab the spreadsheet containing the note of the gifts you received, now’s the time to find those “Thank You” cards and stamps you ordered 3 weeks ago.  Handwritten or personalized cards really create a lasting impression and are a joy to receive.

That’s all, folks!

Time for a super duper pat on the back. If you follow our guide to organizing your child’s first birthday, you’ll create a day that will live long in the memory of your family and friends. Most importantly, you’ll have numerous photos to embarrass your child with later in life!

 

Planning your kid’s first birthday party can be fun and easy. Parents nationwide trust Phillips Kiddy’s Kingdom to plan their festivities. We offer a wide selection of kids’ entertainment services featuring cartoon characters, balloon twisting, face painting, clowns, and inflatable rentals. Our friendly team has everything you need to host an amazing event. Call (844) 454-3397 or select a location near you for more information.

 

Looking for kids party planning inspo?

If you love kids party planning as much as we do, then you’re in luck!

For kids parties, take your theme literally and get really whimsical with your decorations and activities. Here at Phillips we love a great story, consider putting some thought and creative energy into bringing your theme to life. Have everyone dress in costume and incorporate party games that fit the theme. Food can be themed as well as decorations. If you’re having a safari-themed party, for example, have kids come dressed for a safari, hand out toy binoculars and safari hats, and decorate with animal-themed everything. Consider a scavenger hunt to find hidden animals for prizes, and plan your other activities to fit the inspiration. This probably doesn’t need saying, but when you’re coming up with kids party ideas, remember to ask your kids! They’ve probably got a ton of creative ideas.

If you’re still scratching your head for inspiration, here’s our simple kids’ party guide (along with some tips!) to help make your party planning easier:

Theme

Deciding on a party theme is the best, especially with your little one.  Click here to read some of our suggestions for creative kids party planning themes! Once you brainstorm and nail down the final decision you can start to collect decorations or begin making your own.  This will help create excitement leading up to the big day.

Get input! Once your child is old enough to give input (age 2 to 3), definitely ask them what they want!  But, don’t let them dictate the theme 100%. This may sound controlling, but trust me, kids come up with some pretty strange party themes over the years that I’ve had to nix. Parents generally love to see what their kids want to do, and then we work together to figure out the exact direction of the party theme. It’s a really fun process, and kids LOVE planning their own parties and giving input!

Be careful choosing a party theme that is too obscure. Maybe your child is into Curious George, who knows? While this could be a cute party theme, it might prove hard to execute without a ton of DIY work on your end. Ever seen Curious George party plates? No, I didn’t think so! So while I would give you an A+ for thinking “outside the box”, we definitely recommend staying away from a very obscure themes unless you’ve got the time to devote to it.

Stick to a single theme. Sometimes, parents go overboard and try to combine three of their kid’s favorite themes into one party because it’s what the child wants. “Congrats! You’ve been invited to Jasmine’s Slime-Puppy-Butterfly Party!”. This will leave your guests confused and lends itself to a party that looks like it has multiple personalities. Try picking a single theme and stick to it.

 

Order party invites here

Invitations & Guest List

Creating your own invitations can be a fun activity for you and the guest of honor.  Make sure you have the guest list finalized (grab a class list from their teacher! as well as family & friends) and double check it.  Make sure to send invitations out about 3 weeks before the event date.  Don’t forget to include an RSVP date!

If you’d prefer to take a more personalized approach to your party invitations, we offer digital customized birthday invitations!

Venue

So much time and effort goes into finding the perfect kids’ birthday party venue.  You’re out and about looking at local venues close to home (think halls, examples) and talking to friends and family for recommendations, when the best option and our favorite idea, especially for summer, is your own backyard!

Here are 5 cool ideas for back yard parties:

1. Set up a Giant Bubble Station: This simple-to-assemble activity is so much fun for kids. Fill a kiddie pool with a homemade bubble solution and use a hula hoop as the bubble wand.
2. Watch a Movie Outside: There’s something magical about watching a movie on a big screen set up in the backyard. Consider bringing your love for the outdoor movie to your own backyard by throwing a movie-viewing party for the kiddos.
3. Send the Kids on a Scavenger Hunt: Kids really love a scavenger hunt. As a parent, they’re an excellent way to keep little ones occupied for an indefinite amount of time. Inexpensive to execute, they can also easily be customized based on the ages of the kids at your party.
4. Water, Water, Water: There’s something thrilling about being soaked, or soaking someone else, with cold water. From water balloon fights to super-soaker battles to water gun tag (the person who is “it” used a water gun to tag the players and once you are hit you are “it”) there is no limit to the amount of fun that can be had with water.
5. Turn to the Country Fair: There’s a ton of inspiration at the country fairs we visit in the summer months. Consider using the games/activities spotted there in your birthday parties and family celebrations. From sack races to relay races to egg on a spoon races, there is no shortage of simple fun you’re sure to see at these types of events.

 

Entertainment

You can’t have a kids’ birthday party without some entertainment! Kids’ party entertainment can range from costume characters to face painters, magicians to clowns.  There’s also party rentals such a bounce houses and photo booths!  You can also make sure to include some kids’ party games such as relay races, scavenger hunts, or bean bag toss.  Summer parties are great for DIY crafts that the kids can bring home as well as beating the heat with a water balloon tosses!

Phillips Kiddy’s Kingdom offers the best entertainers nationwide. Take a look at our professional kids party services.

You can’t go wrong with booking your children’s birthday party entertainment with Phillips!

 

Food & Drinks

Food & drinks for the party can correspond with the theme!  Our Pinterest Boards are full of inspiration for food and drink ideas for all types of kids party planning themes.  Don’t forget to include some special beverages for the adults! If needed – make sure to order the birthday cake or cupcakes about 2 weeks in advance.

As you prepare the menu for your kiddos birthday party, try not to become overwhelmed by the many options. That’s right, everyone has different tastes, and satisfying everyone is nearly impossible. So, let’s make this simple, we’ve compiled a short list of some creative/standard options to spice up your next party. They’re great because kids love them, plus they’re super simple to make.

1. Popcorn
   To make our famous Phillips Princess Popcorn, we drizzle white chocolate over our popped corn and sprinkled it with colorful rainbow sprinkles. Pop it in the fridge to set, then serve.
2. Cupcakes
   A classic vanilla cupcake can be dressed up in a myriad of ways with icing, sprinkles, lollies or homemade cupcake toppers.
3. Cookies
   Another food that is so easy to theme – cookies! For shaped cookies, try Planning with Kids Easy Cookie Cutter recipe.

 

Party Favors

Can’t forget the kids’ party favors.  Each guest will leave with a special something to take home.  Whether this is a photo from your photo booth, a goodie bag or even a customized cake pop, it’s sure to have all the guests leaving with a smile on their face.  A special party favor will make them remember the party forever!

 

Order “Thank You” cards here

Thank You Notes

Something as simple as a handwritten thank you note may seem a bit outdated or old school, but is much appreciated by all party attendees. The thought behind a personal thank you note truly goes a long way! It’s also a great way to sit down with your young one, reflect on the party, and do one more last project together.

If you’d prefer to take a more personalized approach to your Thank You note, we offer digital customized Thank You cards!

 

Planning your kids party can be fun and easy. Parents nationwide trust Phillips Kiddy’s Kingdom to plan the festivities. We offer a wide selection of kids’ entertainment services featuring cartoon characters, balloon twisting, face painting, clowns, and inflatable rentals. Our friendly team has everything you need to host an amazing event. Call (844) 454-3397 or select a location near you for more information.

Kids Carnival Party Guide

Throwing an exciting themed kids carnival party for a birthday party or any other special occasion is a wonderful way to entertain kids. What could be more fun than balloons, games, and cotton candy in your backyard? The first is to enlist the help of friends, family, and a professional team specializing in kids’ entertainment. Below is a guide highlighting several details for throwing the perfect kids carnival party.

Ticket Booth

To create an authentic looking carnival, you will need a ticket carnival-booth. The guests can receive tickets for each game or activity area they plan to visit.

If you’d like to do it yourself, creating a homemade ticket booth is fun and easy! Here’s how:

What you’ll need:

• large cardboard box
• flat piece of cardboard
• wrapping paper tube
• solid color gift wrap
• crepe paper
• construction paper
• string
• scissors
• tape
• glue

What you’ll do:

1. Wrap the large cardboard box with the solid color gift wrap.
2. Make the sign by cutting the flat piece of cardboard to the same width as the box, and about one foot tall.
3. Cut several sheets of yellow and white construction paper in half lengthwise. Round the corners on one end of each strip. Glue the strips to the cardboard to create the sign for the ticket booth.
4. Draw the letters for the word “tickets” on black construction paper. Cut out the letters and glue them to the sign.
5. Cut the wrapping paper tube in half and glue both halves to the back of the sign to support it.
6. Use tape to secure the bottom of the wrapping paper tubes to the top of the large cardboard box.
7. Wrap the wrapping paper tube with crepe paper and use tape to keep it in place.
8. Create a bunting by cutting triangles out of colored construction paper. Tape the triangles to a piece of string, then swag the bunting across the ticket booth.

DIY instructions courtesy of SheKnows

 

Inflatable Castle

An inflatable bounce house castle provides hours of enjoyment and adventure for kids. A bounce house is filled with air and gives kids the chance to jump and climb until their hearts are content, in either wet or dry conditions.

Everybody loves a bouncy house, also called an inflatable bounce house. Bouncy houses can provide hours of entertainment and keep kids contained and happy so the adults can relax and have fun, too. Also known as moon bounces, inflatable castles, jumpy castles, jumpy houses or inflatable slides, these large-scale blowups are inflatable rentals literally made to be bounced on.

At kids carnival parties, you may request to have a paid staff member stay with the bounce house throughout the event to monitor safety and ensure the structure remains properly inflated. A standard size for a bounce house might be 15 feet by 15 feet by 13 feet, although they can be much larger with many different features. Often, the inflatables are decorated with popular superhero or cartoon themes, such as Mickey Mouse or Frozen. You can request a carnival colored bounce house as well.

 

Face Painting

Carnival face painting provides a creative and entertaining pit-stop at any event. It’s a treat for guests of all ages and gives kids the opportunity to become any character they choose. Talented artists use colorful paints to make custom designs and brighten the day. Hiring professional face painters for kids birthday parties are a great way to add color and entertainment to any kind of event, party, festival, or fundraiser, and are a wonderful treat for guests of all ages!  When hiring a face painter for an event, you want to think about a few things in advance:

Time:  Do you want all of your guests to have an opportunity to be painted?  Consider how fast your artist(s) can paint, and how long your party last, as we require a minimum of 2 hours booked time to appear at an event.  Many are able to do both Cheek Art as well as detailed Full Face designs, but it is wise to ask about the particular painting speeds of the artist you are hiring, as painting times often differ wildly from artist to artist.  If it is an event for children, consider that some of the adults attending may also be interested in having their faces painted.  If you have a large number of guests, you may want to consider hiring multiple artists so that all of your intended guests can be painted.

Designs:  Does your event have a particular theme, mascot, or logo?  In addition to being able to tailor design types to your time and number of guests, many face painters are also able to offer specific or custom designs.  Most artists are more than happy to tailor their selection of designs to reflect the type of event by request and with advance notice prior to your event.

Photo courtesy of Instagram

Kids Love Face Painting at Carnival Parties

Location:  Face painters require about 8’x8′ of space to work, preferably indoors or in the shade.  It is also necessary to have a reasonable separation between loudspeakers and the artists. Doing so will allow the artists to communicate with guests to find out what they would like.  While it is preferable that the event provide equipment such as tables, chairs, and awnings (for outdoor events), some artists are able to provide their own if needed.  Face painters will need access to parking as close as possible to the event for the transportation of materials, and access to water.  Keep in mind that long lines often form at larger events that can block foot and vehicle traffic. Please consider queueing lines or line assistants so the artist can work faster and more efficiently.

Materials:  Our artists use professional face paints that are non-toxic, skin safe, and that wash off easily with soap and water.  For children with sensitive skin, smaller designs on the cheek, hand, or arm are great alternatives. However, reactions to professional grade paints are extremely rare.  Also, because of the water-solubility of the paints, face painting may not be suited to certain events. Events such as pool parties, you may want to consider scheduling face painting when the guests are no longer swimming.   Then again, some kids love having their faces painted, only to jump in the water so they can be painted again!

 

Hire a Clown

Who doesn’t love a rowdy clown running around the party, spreading laughs and cheer? Professional clowns wear their emotions on their sleeve, encouraging kids to be silly and lighthearted. They provide a memorable experience for guests with their non-stop antics.

Instead of going out to a crowded carnival, why not bring the circus right to your backyard with a professional clown theme party? With a clown theme party, you can skip all of the lines and overpriced food. Don’t worry, you can still bring the magic and excitement of the carnival right to your own home.

Silly Clowns Are Perfect for Carnival Parties

Throwing a clown kids carnival party can be a lot of fun to set up. For starters, you’ll want fitting party hats, plastic silverware and a cake that all tie into your clown party theme. You can set up your backyard (or even a rented park or clubhouse) with clown party decorations to look more like a carnival. In place of carnival rides, set up a bounce house with a design that fits your clown party theme. You can rent a petting zoo for your clown party and let the kids actually pet some animals.

Of course, no clown birthday party (or any clown theme party for that matter) is complete without an actual clown for your party! Our clown theme party package is great for any circus/carnival/clown party. Our clowns are non intimidating and do not hide their entire face in makeup, so you don’t have to worry about anyone being afraid. Clowns will lead the kids through a series of fun party activities that are done in group and solo sessions. You can choose the clown’s activities for the party yourself, so that it’s tailored specially to your celebration. Our clown is also great for even a regular party, and will hold the kids’ attention with funny and exciting activities.

 

Photographer

Hiring a professional photographer or someone dedicated to taking pictures for the day will capture memories of the event. Hiring a professional allows parents to supervise activities and participate in every fun moment.

We offer a photo-op add-on to many of our party packages. After the entertainment, the kids can gather together for personalized photos that make a wonderful keepsake from the party with their favorite characters and guests! 

The photo op is available to any child in attendance who wants to join the group photo and to any adult with a camera. If you prefer to have a single photographer that is great too, and photos can be shared with the other attendees afterwards. If you have a professional photographer at your event we accommodate that too! And if you want to post your shots on social media, please tag us at #kiddyskingdom! Call today to add this to your entertainment package!

 

Planning a kids carnival party will provide an incredible day of entertainment for the children. Parents nationwide trust Phillips Kiddy’s Kingdom to plan the festivities. We offer a wide selection of kids’ entertainment services featuring cartoon characters, balloon twisting, face painting, clowns, and inflatable rentals. Our friendly team has everything you need to host an amazing event. Call (844) 454-3397 or select a location near you for more information.

Celebrating half birthdays are gaining in popularity and with good reason. If you are anything like me, I know you don’t need any more reasons to throw a party, but just in case, here are 6 reasons why you should definitely consider having a half birthday party, and how to get started if it’s your first time celebrating a half birthday.

Timing

If your guest of honor has a summer birthday while all of their friends are out of town, throw them a party for their half birthday. Similarly, a birthday party in the dead of winter might entice you to celebrate at the halfway mark.

Competition

If your actual birthday falls sometime during the busy holiday season, it might be better celebrating half birthdays in June instead so that your special day isn’t overshadowed.

Babies

The 6 month milestone for babies is a big one. It can be really fun to celebrate with a small half birthday party or photo shoot (or both!). There are some really cute 1/2 onesies online.

Surprise Party

If you are hoping to really surprise someone on their birthday you can definitely catch them off guard with a surprise party on their half birthday. I did this once for my husband and he never saw it coming.

Kids Love It

Kids love a day to feel special and that’s really what it’s all about. They love to tell you when they are [insert their age here] and a half, so it’s fun to commemorate the day that it happens. You don’t have to go all out but we love to celebrate with a little family party and a small gift or two.

It’s Unique

Why not, right? Everyone loves a party so who’s to stop you from celebrating a half birthday, your given birthday or even BOTH. Some people, myself included, just like to celebrate things. Plus it gives you an excuse to eat cake.

Wondering How to Celebrate a Half Birthday?

You can celebrate your half birthday with a small, at home celebration or a big, half birthday bash. Either way, here’s some simple ideas for planning your party.

You can purchase super cute “1/2” birthday candles online for your cake. Having only half of a cake can be a fun way to honor the half birthday too, just make sure you still have enough for all of your guests. You can leave the other half in the fridge for later…or eat it before…we won’t judge.

For decorations, just pick a theme and go for it. The theme can be all things “half” or whatever the honoree is into at the time. You can find banners that read “Happy Half Birthday” in any color scheme. You can even sing “Happy Half Birthday” before cutting the cake.

Cut the cost of celebrating in half!

We throw a little half birthday party at home for our daughters every year in addition to their actual birthday parties because… well, we just love celebrating! The first half birthday party I threw was when my oldest daughter turned two and a half. I decided to do it on a whim and just set up something small in our home. She loved it so much that it has become a tradition every year.

To celebrate, I usually hang a half birthday banner, blow up some balloons, and sprinkle some confetti around to decorate. Then we bake and decorate a half cake together. I can’t resist getting them a few small gifts too. They look forward to it every year, we love celebrating with them.

If you’re looking for reasons for celebrating half birthdays, think about it, I’d say there’s no reason not to. Who doesn’t love having another excuse to celebrate? Half birthdays can be a fun, new tradition to introduce to your family and friends, whether you make it a big or small event.

 

Planning your kid’s birthday party can be fun and easy. Parents nationwide trust Phillips Kiddy’s Kingdom to plan their festivities. We offer a wide selection of kids’ entertainment services featuring cartoon characters, balloon twisting, face painting, clowns, and inflatable rentals. Our friendly team has everything you need to host an amazing event. Call (844) 454-3397 or select a location near you for more information.

So you’re thinking about throwing a party. Sounds like fun! If you’ve ever organized any type of group before, you would know that it is almost like leading an army to war. There’s so many different questions that you’ll need to take into consideration i.e. What’s your budget? Where will you host the party? How many people should you invite? The list goes on and on. Well, never fear, your friends at Phillips Celebrations have compiled a list of tips for throwing the best party!

Plan Ahead

Now, let’s take a rewind. How many days do you think you would need to plan this all out? Maybe a day or two if you’re a pro, but if you’re a novice to party planner, consider giving yourself 1-2 months for planning. This time frame will allow for you to cross all of those T’s and dot every I, even those I’s you forget about until the week of the party. Trust me, those I’s are a pain.

Well, there are a few things to consider and take note of if you want to organize a party. This includes all types of parties; graduation parties, bridal showers, birthday parties, sweet sixteens, corporate events and all. So, here are ten tips for throwing the best party celebration.

 

10 Tips For Throwing The Best Party

1. If at all you want to hold any awesome party and you want anyone smiling when they leave, then you need to give yourself at least a month to execute your planning tasks. The truth is, not everyone has enough time to spend planning, this is why our team at Phillips Celebrations is alway available and eager provide the best party planning for our client’s events.

2. Select a theme – A set theme is what gives the party purpose. A well thought out theme make the party stand out. There should be a reason why everyone was called to gather. Pick a theme that will give your guests an idea of what they can look forward to when they arrive. It also helps your guests remember that day as well.

3. Pick a unique venue/setting – This is as important as the party itself. Here’s some question you can ask yourself. What venue best fits the ambiance I’m going for? How comfortable is it? Is the venue located near my guests? The perfect venue should not empty your purse. There are always awesome venues that will fit within your budget. Consider hiring a Phillips Celebrations party planner to tackle this task.

Think About Who You’re Inviting

4. Pick a start/end time – To keep a steady flow of people at your party and have most of your guests there at a particular time, you have to give people different start and end times. Tell your time conscious friends to show up at 10 p.m. if that’s the time you know you’ll be ready. Tell your friends who are prone to tardiness to show up at 8 p.m. if you want the party to start at 10 p.m.

5. Your guests are well, guests – Hospitality is important when planning a party. Think about each guest before you invite them. What are their likes and dislikes? What type of environment will make them most comfortable? Who would they enjoy socializing with? Taking these factors in account, is crucial. In boxing, it’s said that styles make fights. This theory couldn’t be more accurate in party planning as well. People make the party, so cater to them.

6. Curate great music – Everyone loves to dance, right? Even if you cannot afford a DJ, organize a good playlist. Having cool background is will allow your guest to relax and minimize that awkward silence before the crowd arrives. If you do opt to book a DJ, make sure they have a great idea of the genres of music that’ll get your guests grooving.

7. Plan plenty of fun games and activities – Do you expect your guests to entertain themselves? I certainly hope not, that’s your job. You should have a list of games to offer. Should you opt to hire an entertainer to perform, consider contacting Phillips Celebrations for a magician, clown, balloon twister or face painter to entertain your guests.

A Great Spread Is Key

8. Serve delicious food – The food should be tasty and enjoyable. People often remember the food years after the event takes place. Picking your menu can be a tall task because who knows every guest’s taste, allergies or personal preference. So, try giving the menu a theme with multiple options. Include standard dishes for your non risk-taking guests and something new and creative for the guests who like to walk on the wild side. If selecting the menu is not up your alley, consider hiring a Phillips Planner to get the best party entertainment and planning results.

9. Create a hashtag – Everyone’s always on their phone anyway, why not have your guests post videos and pictures on Instagram or Facebook prior to and during the party. This helps everyone relive the best moments forever.

10. Plan to finish on time – If your party is a hit, you’ll need to kick your guests out (nicely of course) because they won’t want to leave. Plan to get started cleaning up 30 minutes prior to the end of the party. This not only gets you home sooner, but also maybe one of your nice friends will help clean up, that always helps.

At Phillips Celebrations, we have your party covered with tried and true tips for throwing the best party. As the best party planners, you’re sure to get the best party planning.

Our team, at Phillips Celebrations, is passionate about creating parties and celebrations that honor and commemorate our client’s special occasion. We are happy to help you create a truly memorable event that works within your budget. Let us make your dream event a reality! For more information about planning your Phillips party or event, get started by picking a location for your event.