Gobsmacked Parties Paper

How to Make Your Party Stand Out Without Breaking the Bank
by Laurie Gattis
featured in LITTLE ONES magazine Feb-Apr 2008

So you want to throw your little one the birthday party of their dreams, but don’t want to break the bank? You are not alone, but you are in luck. You can absolutely throw a fabulous birthday bash with proper planning and a little extra time. If you don’t have the time, hire a party planner to assist with the details to ensure your event is memorable and stress free. Here are some tips from Charlotte children’s events planner, Laurie Gattis from Gob-smacked parties, to set your party apart without spending a fortune:

1. First create a BUDGET. People often don’t realize what they are spending until it’s all said and done. Picking up items without a plan quickly adds up to a hefty bill. Decide what factors are most important and put your money there.
2. A THEME pulls everything together and provides direction for the entire event.
Don’t go overboard with themed products - they add up fast and are not necessary. Purchase one main item adorned with their favorite character and use a coordinating color for the remaining items. No one will notice that you didn’t buy all ‘Elmo’ and the presentation will look nicer.
3. Shorten the GUEST LIST. The most common rule of thumb is to match the number guests to the number of candles on your child’s cake, and possibly 1-2 more. Cut the number of children to save on cost.   Remember quality vs. quantity here.
4. The INVITATION will set the stage for your event. Don’t forego quality here. If the invitations you have your heart set are more than you would like to spend, consider creating your own. A trip to the craft store may provide inspiration. These stores typically offer coupons in Sunday’s paper. Many party venues offer free invitations. These are fine to include alongside your personalized invitation if needed, but don’t let this serve as your primary invite
5. Keep the FOOD simple. Pick a time that doesn’t require serving a meal. Always have snacks sitting out to avoid hungry grumpy children, but only serve cake and ice cream. Serve juice boxes to eliminate the need for cups
6. One way to save a chunk of change is to have the party at home. As tempting as it may be to book a one-stop party site where you only provide the child, cake and check, pulling things together at home can help control cost. Some would rather spend their life savings than consider this, but it doesn’t have to be an enormous undertaking. If the weather is mild, like Charlotte year round, you could have the event in the backyard or at a local park or playground. Always have a plan B for bad weather. The pool is an excellent option during the summer months. You may prefer to use a clubhouse rather than your own home for a nominal fee.
7. Always use what you have and BORROW what you don’t before buying anything new. Gattis says, “We borrowed several mix-matched card tables for our last event, then covered each one with a tablecloth and rented matching chairs to save.” Using scattered throw pillows is a great option for kids. Enlist the help of friends and family to assist with activities and set up.
8. Use tons of BALLOONS to create a festive environment. If the party is inside, fill the entire ceiling - the impact can be astonishing. If outside, place huge bouquets around the yard and use as table centerpieces. Only buy a single themed mylar balloon for the guest of honor. Solid crepe streamers are another inexpensive item to add to the décor.
9. Consider having cupcakes or cookies that the kids can decorate. This is always a huge hit, and saves money while providing an activity.
10. FAVORS are a gracious gesture saying “thank you for helping me celebrate my special day”. Put a little more money into nice favors that also serve as party décor. Give a single enjoyable favor rather than several small items. Create a CD with your child’s favorite songs to play during the event, and make several copies to give as favors.
11. Regarding décor, chances are if your child is requesting a themed birthday party, they have plenty of themed items to help you decorate.   If the theme is teddy bears, take all of your child’s bears and group them together as a centerpiece with a bouquet of balloons. Perfect for a teddy bear tea on the lawn!
12. Have the guest of honor dress for the occasion. Order a personalized t-shirt for the birthday child or have them wear a costume that matches the theme. To add to the excitement, request that the guests dress in costume as well. This costs nothing, and helps create the mood.

The secret to hosting a Royal Princess Ball on a pauper’s budget is to only put funds toward the items that really make an impact. Using a little creativity and a few tricks of the trade will ensure that your next party is the talk of the town.