The Only Birthday Party Checklist You’ll Ever Need

Are you in the middle of planning a party, and feel like you’re in over your head? Or perhaps you just don’t know where to start, and are feeling stressed that you won’t be able to create the best party for your loved one’s birthday. Don’t worry, the event experts at Kiss & Tell Photobooths are here to help, and we have put together a comprehensive birthday party checklist – so that you’re perfectly equipped to organise a successful and memorable party.

1.) Basic Preparation

The first thing you need to do when you’re planning a birthday party is to figure out the basics. These include:

• What day are you planning to throw the party on?

Are you going to surprise the person with the party a few days before their actual birthday, or do you need to hold it on another day because their birthday is on a weekday? 

• What time will the party be?

This depends on the type of vibe you’re going for. If it’s a wild party then you can probably start a bit later, but if you would prefer a more relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere then something like 6 pm is ideal. Or maybe you’ll even want to have a day-time garden party!

• Who are you inviting?

The guest list is incredibly important, as it determines the feeling of the event, and you have to make sure you choose the right people so no one gets offended. Will the person want a big party or a small gathering? Would they prefer just friends, or family too? 

2.) Location

The location is one of the first things you need to decide when throwing a birthday party for someone, as it can influence the theme and scale of every other aspect of the party. Are you going to hold the party in someone’s house or backyard, or is a paid venue the right way to go? This depends on the budget, and the type of party you’re throwing – perhaps for a 30th or 60th a special venue is the best choice.

If you do choose to hire a venue, then there are all sorts of other things to consider. Firstly, is there a specific time that you’ll be allowed in to set everything up? If so, it might be a good idea to scope out the venue and measure the space beforehand so you know where everything will go – such as the tables and any other entertainment. 

3.) Decorations

Choosing the theme of the party is more of a fun decision, but it also will determine the success of the event – so pick a good one! Make sure you choose something that the birthday girl or guy will love, as their opinion is the most important one. However, you also need to make it accessible for the other guests – so maybe something extremely specific like a Game Of Thrones themed party is the wrong way to go. 

Once you have decided on a theme, then you can buy the decorations. The basic list of essential decorations includes:

• Welcome signage
• Balloons
• Table settings
• Lighting
• Streamers and centrepieces
• Theme related decorations
• Speakers/Sound setup

4.) Food & Beverages

One thing that no birthday party can do without is a birthday cake! Firstly, decide whether you’re going to order a professionally made cake from a bakery or cafe – this may depend on your budget. If you’re lucky enough to have a talented baker friend who will do it for free, then that’s obviously the way to go. 

If you’re throwing a lavish party, then hiring a caterer to do the other food for the party may be essential. If you’re doing it yourself, then you’ll need a team of helpers so that you can get all the food out at the right time. Maybe choose a variety of things you can easily stick in the oven – like party pies and spring rolls, as well as platters of cheese and dip. You’ll also need to plan what drinks you’re providing and whether you’ll hire a professional bartender or enlist the help of a friend who can mix drinks. 

5.) Party Entertainment

Entertaining games and activities can ensure that your party is a success, so you should put some thought into it. Also, if it’s a kid’s birthday party then you really need to put some effort in and come up with multiple games and activities to keep them busy. 

Here are some ideas for enjoyable party entertainment: 

• Photobooth package:

A party photo booth is an ideal way to entertain adults at a party, as they can take various silly pictures with props and different effects – and the social media lovers amongst the crowd will love it as well! Photo booth hire is an easy choice for any party, as you can just place the booth in the venue and the attendant can explain how to use it. You’ll barely have to organise anything, and your guests will have a ball!

• Games & Prizes:

This idea may seem like it’s only suitable for children’s parties, but trust us when we say that adults love to get competitive. So if you hold some games or competitions that have fun prizes, then your guests will surely look for any opportunity to get involved. This could include a murder mystery game, a dance competition, the classic Truth or Dare, or trivia quizzes. 

• Food or drink activity:

This is a more unique idea where you make the food and drinks into a party activity. So for an adult party, you could have a wine tasting table or a cocktail mixology class. If you want something less alcoholic, then you could have a ‘make your own’ table with cupcakes to decorate or pizzas where you can choose your own toppings.

Making Your Party One To Remember

Now that you have completed most of the items on your birthday party checklist, you may have decided to hire a photo booth for your event. This is the ideal way to ensure your party is a success, as you’ll have a wide variety of options to choose from and a professional will take care of all the difficult parts. 

Here at Kiss & Tell Photobooths, we were one of the first photo booth companies in Perth, and our expert team will make sure that your event is a hit. Why don’t you contact our friendly team today to find out more about hiring our photo booths for parties?