Whether you’re new to party planning or you’ve thrown a party or two, everyone makes mistakes. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 5 of the most common party planning mistakes – and how to avoid them!

1. Not asking for availability

One of the biggest upsets for any party is a lack of people. You can plan the best party, but when only a fraction of the people you invite show up, it can be devastating. Before you plan out your party – especially if you’re renting a venue – poll your invite list. Make sure that most of them are free. Ask for a good week in their schedule so that you can see what overlapping free dates your guests have. The day with the most available guests should be your party date.

2. Leaving music planning to the last minute

So it’s easy to think that you’ll just plug your Spotify playlist into a speaker or connect to a Bluetooth device, or if you’re particularly old-school, that you’ll just pop in some CD’s here and there. But music is an integral part of any party, and you’re going to have to give it some thought. Many guests will have opinions on the music, and if it doesn’t match up to what they want, they aren’t going to engage as easily. If your party’s big, like a wedding or bar mitzvah, you’re most likely going to want a DJ. If not, maybe assign someone to the music, like a friend or family member so that they can be on standby if a particularly dull or disliked song comes on.  

3. Overlooking children’s entertainment

A big pitfall is failing to think about entertaining the kids. They’re small and easily bored, so you need to get them something to do, preferably all together. If not, this could be a big downer for the kids, and the parents who will have to deal with them. There are a variety of party games and children’s entertainment that’s easy to implement: think pinatas, face painting, water balloons, or crafts tables. If you’re willing to add an ‘oomph’ factor for kids, try considering a bounce house with a kid’s cartoon or movie theme. Just make sure the ones you’re going to be renting are lead-free and are cleaned after use (you don’t want your kid guests getting sick after all).

4. Bringing allergies to the table – literally

You should always double check with guests that they don’t have any food or animal allergies. While you might miss more rare allergies like cinnamon and bird allergies, you should always check for the “big” ones. Avoid having live cats and dogs at the party, or serving peanut-based meals just to be cautious.

5. Dismissing a second or backup plan

Focusing on your perfect party plan is excellent. But neglecting a great backup plan can be devastating. There’s always a chance that bad weather, unexpected shutdowns, or some other emergency will change plans. Have a good idea of what you’re going to be doing in case that happens – from moving venues to canceling and rescheduling, and you need to know what’s going to happen if the worst comes to pass.

 

Being studious, spontaneous, quick-on-your-feet, and methodical are all critical parts of party planning. Enjoy planning the party, and the party-goers will enjoy the end result!

References and Resources:

DJ Services | Paul Michaels Events

Rained Out, Birthday Party Ideas | The Spruce

Lead in Bounce Houses | Center for Environmental Health

Ideas for Kids Party Entertainment | Child Mags

Lead-Free Bounce Houses | Hop N Party

5 Steps to Creating A Weather-Emergency Back-Up Plan | Brides