Guest Blogger: Melissa from The Party Works

We are happy to have a guest blogger posting today.  Thanks Melissa for inquiring with us, we are thrilled to have you here today!

Party Planning Tips for Busy Hosts

Planning a party is no small feat. Whether you’re planning a birthday party for a child or a wedding shower for your best friend, you’re going to have to dedicate some time to prepping and making arrangements for the party to ensure it goes over well. Unfortunately, party planning and preparation isn’t always easy to fit into a busy schedule. Who has time to shop for party decorations and order the perfect, handmade invitations? Luckily, there are ways to make your job as a party planner easier. Here are some tips for busy party hosts who don't want to sacrifice quality:

1. Go green when it comes to invitations – Sending out invitations via email or via Facebook will save you some time. You won’t have to buy or make the paper invitations, and you won’t have to spend the time sending them out. Plus, you’ll be doing the environment a favor by going paperless.

2. Try out some online shopping – Ordering party supplies and decorations online will save you some time and allow you to skip taking multiple trips to different stores to make sure you have everything you need for the party.

3. Consider your catering options – Catering doesn’t have to be expensive. There are most likely plenty of restaurants in your area that provide affordable catering for large groups and parties. Even Chick-fil-A caters, to give you an example of an affordable option. Plus, catering will save you from having to prepare all the food yourself, which can be quite stressful and time-consuming.

If you’re not interested in having the party catered, you might also want to consider ordering a pizza, depending on what type of party you’re hosting and whether or not that would be appropriate. Additionally, picking up a few desserts from a local bakery will save you some valuable time.

4.  Get an accurate head count – How much food and other supplies you’ll need will depend on how many people will be attending the party. On the party invitations, ask that guests RSVP before the party, so you can get a pretty accurate head count. If you invited people on Facebook, you’ll be able to see who plans on attending, and this will give you a good idea of how much stuff you’ll need to buy and get ready for the party.

5. Set up for the party with some friends – Getting the food, decorations, and supplies set up before the party can be difficult, especially if you’re trying to do it all by yourself. So, ask for some help from friends or family members who you know won’t mind pitching in. You’ll be able to set up for the party a lot faster if you have two or three people helping out.

There’s no need to let planning for a party stress you out or let it eat up all of your free time. Follow the timesaving tips above and get excited about being the host of a fabulous party!

Author’s Bio: Melissa is an event planner and guest blogger who writes about event planning tips, party planning for kids, and how to make kids’ parties extra special with things like Mario party supplies.