[Updated on June 22, 2020] 42 things to do when planning your next party sounds like a huge commitment just to have a bit of fun, doesn’t it? I bet you didn’t realize that there are at least 42 things to do, did you? Most party planning checklists break them down into manageable categories, such as “One Month Before the Party”, “Two Weeks Before the Party”, etc. and you don’t realize how many steps there are to party planning! My list is categorized that way, too, but I counted them for you!
Yep; when it comes to party planning, there are 42 things to do! Why would I make a list and NOT make it have 42 things, items, fixtures, etc.! That would be sacrilege on this blog, Toot Sweet 4 Two!
Welcome to new readers! I do lists of 42 for home inventory purposes and the occasional offshoot, which this list of 42 Things to do When Planning your Next Party is. I wrote this post to be a companion to my household inventory post, 42 Party Supplies for Your Next Party, which is a good list of things needed for parties, so be sure to check it out while planning your party.
[convertkit]Why do I create lists of 42 for home inventory purposes? Well, we lost our home in a wildfire in 2007 and it took me 9 months of working nights and weekends to create our list of personal property items to submit to our homeowner’s insurance company. This passion project is my way of helping others who have suffered catastrophic losses move forward with their lives.
This time last year, I wrote a post called Effortlessly Easy Party Cheeseboard. In that post, I outlined how to put together a quick and easy party cheeseboard for a crowd. I wrote that post because I threw together that cheeseboard at the last-minute using things I already had on hand. So, I decided to share it with readers.
At last year’s Thanksgiving celebration, I thought I’d better have appetizers before we sat down to dinner, but I really hadn’t planned that far ahead. I thought I’d better do the appetizer thing last year because one year, in the not too distant past, I forgot to turn the oven up to the correct temperature while roasting our turkey and didn’t discover it until it was time to eat!
We didn’t have a back-up plan (and no snacks), so we had to wait several more hours before our turkey was cooked! Even after 20+ years of hosting parties, I still do the occasional dumb thing in my toot sweet life!
We didn’t eat at midnight, or anywhere close to that hour, because, in our family, we have our holiday meals early – 2:00 p.m. So, that year, we had our dinner around 5:00 p.m. Still a decent hour, but everyone had arrived at 1:00 p.m. thinking they were having a 2:00 p.m. dinner, so they didn’t eat lunch! Starving! Did I say they were starving?
We have dinner at 2:00 p.m. for a number of reasons:
- Family arriving from out-of-town and not staying the night, so wanting to get back on the road to home at a decent hour
- Elderly relatives who fade fast because of health issues and want to go home before evening
- Young ones who get rowdier as the day (and evening) progresses
- Because it’s tradition and we’ve always done it that way since we were little!
Holiday family gatherings are a party in my book. And, since we’ve just finished the holiday season and the Super Bowl is about a month away, I thought I’d give readers still another break from my endless 42 Lists of inventory items in your home (whew – I need a break from it, too!). So, I love parties, I love to throw parties, I think I’m fairly adept at throwing parties and I thought a checklist for Party Planning was in order.
Please note that there’s a FREE printable party planning checklist available at the end of this post (this post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.).
42 Things to do When Planning Your Next Party
Here’s the party planning checklist:
One Month Before the Party
- Set a date and time and choose a location
- Decide on a theme and set a budget
- Create a guest list
- Plan a menu including appetizers and drinks
- Recruit and/or hire help
- Hire entertainers
- Rent equipment and/or ask to borrow equipment
- Plan a parking strategy
3 Weeks Before the Party
- Send out invitations
- Take stock, plan buffet/serving areas, plan seating areas, and create seating plan (if needed)
- Check your linens and serving pieces; clean if necessary
- Decide on music, games, and activities
- Purchase gifts and door prizes and wrap them
- Plan centerpieces and order flowers, if purchasing from a florist
- Order cake and balloons
2 Weeks Before the Party
- Purchase party supplies and decorations
- Send out reminders to guests who have not responded
- Make a grocery list including liquor (don’t forget charcoal and propane, if grilling)
- Purchase all non-perishable groceries
- Make and freeze any food items ahead of time
1 Week Before the Party
- Make party favor treat bags and/or fill piñata
- Clean your house and outdoor area
- Set the stage and decorate
- Notify the neighbors (if they weren’t invited)
- Confirm delivery dates and services with hired vendors
- Ask someone to take pictures (if a photographer isn’t hired)
- If making centerpieces and decorations, do as much as possible ahead of time
- Create a detailed timetable for preparing and cooking party food
1 to 2 Days Before the Party
- Set up serving tables, buffet tables, and bar, including all serving bowls, platters, utensils, punch bowls, etc. Assign each serving piece to a menu item by placing a small piece of paper (such as a Post It note) with the name of the food on the serving dish.
- Do last-minute tidying of house and party areas
- Designate an area to store guests’ coats, purses, umbrellas, etc.
- Purchase perishable supplies
- Do any food prep that can be done ahead of time, i.e., make dips, chop vegetables, chill wine and beer plus thaw pre-made frozen foods
- Check your bathrooms: remove personal items that you don’t want guests to see or use AND remember to check your stock of toilet paper and guest towels!
- Plan for garbage: set out additional designated trash cans
- Have cleaning supplies and first aid supplies handy for accidents
Do the recipes in the photo above sound like good party food to you? Here are links to the recipes:
Effortlessly Easy Party Cheeseboard
Baked Mac & Cheese with a Crunchy Buttery Sourdough Topping
Bacon-Laden Million Dollar Baked Beans
One-and-Done Grilled Balsamic Chicken Breast Tenders
Homemade Depression-Era Crazy Chocolate Cake {aka Wacky Cake}
Party Day!
- Pick up cake, balloons, and ice!
- Have rental equipment delivered and set up
- Set guest tables: tablecloths, centerpieces, flowers, etc.
- Finish food preparation; set food on serving tables and place cold beverages on ice
- Clear away last-minute clutter and make sure the dishwasher is empty!
- Get dressed, light candles, turn on music, and have a good time!
Here’s your FREE printable checklist: 42 Things to do When Planning Your Next Party.
Below is a pinnable image made just for Pinterest. Plus there are others scattered throughout this post. Will you do me a favor and share this post on social media? Thanks so much!
Don’t forget to sign up to receive my newsletter in your inbox. As a thank you, I’ll send you a freebie! Look for the sign-up boxes near the top of this post and again at the bottom of this post. Thanks so much!
Here’s an additional freebie I’ve created just for you – 12 FREE Birthday Cards to Print at Home is a downloadable mini ebook full of coloring pages and printable cards. That way you have things for your littles to do to help you with the party (making birthday cards) or the coloring pages can be part of the party activities.
And whatever party you are planning, here’s hoping it is fabulous!
Tootles,
Related Posts from Toot Sweet 4 Two’s Archives:
Homemade Depression-Era Crazy Chocolate Cake {aka Wacky Cake}
How to Roast a Picture-Perfect Holiday Turkey
Lorraine’s Partytime Hot Chicken Enchilada Dip
You Might Also Like:
Easy Jalapeno Popper Bites from Trish at Mom on Timeout
Everything Bagel Mini Pigs in a Blanket Recipe from Michelle at Smart Savvy Living
Spinach Artichoke Dip Pinwheels from Kim at Three Olives Branch
Leave a Reply