Party Plans
Planning a party should be fun for all, including the birthday child! If your child enjoys these types of activities, make sure to include him/her in all of the pre-party planning, such as developing the guest lists, planning the games, selecting the decorations, even preparing the party treats.
If your child is younger, consider creating a countdown calendar to keep track of the number of days until the party. Think how excited he/she will be by the time the big day arrives!
Make sure you deliver or mail your invitations at least 2-3 weeks in advance so that your guests can respond and plan accordingly.
Set a budget. Before you make any purchases or deposits, put together a list of all your expenses by item. If the total expenses are more than your budget, think of how you can creatively reduce your expenses by trimming some of the less important items. If necessary you may also need to trim your guest list.
Schedule
Consider limiting your party activities to no more than two hours. At this point the energy level of most children starts to fade, and all of those amazing party activities you have planned will cease to be fun. A two hour party will provide enough time for your child to greet all of his/her guests, play a few games, open gifts, celebrate with refreshments and cake, and say goodbyes.
Guests
It's tempting to not want to leave anyone out when planning a party for your child. Will this be a family event, or school friends only? What about brothers and sisters? Remember, it's important to keep the party size managable. If the weather permits, an outdoor event might provide more flexibility if you're working with a larger group. Together with your child develop his/her "wish" list of attendees, and then determine what will work best for your party setting. If the party is a large event with lots of guests, remember to include friends or family who are willing to lend a helping hand.
Decorations
Think about how you can "transform" areas of your home, yard, or other party space so that your guests truly experience the party theme. Reinforce the party theme with coordinating wall and table decorations. Glamour Galore includes banners, hanging cutouts, centerpieces, balloons & more.
Are you creative? Transform your home into a salon or magazine photo shoot studio. Make glitzy signs out of feathers & jewels to indicate stations for hair, nails, makeup, wardrobe, etc. Be sure to have plenty of music for the real VIP feel! Check the internet, the library, or your local craft store for additional ideas on how to make the most of your in-home salon.
Activities/Games
To encourage participation from everyone at the party, it's always a good idea to stick to simple games that children may already know or can learn easily. Consider starting with something less active to allow the party goers to warm up to each other. It's also good to have these kinds of activities or games at the end of the party also, so that your guests can start to wind down prior to refreshments and saying goodbye.
Purchase a plain t-shirt for each guest. As the girls arrive, direct them to a decorating station where they can design their own t-shirt. Be sure to have plenty of fabric markers, glitter, jewels and glue on hand! This is a great ice-breaker for guests who may not know each other, and the girls can model their shirts in a fashion show at the end of the party.
Think of simple ways to adapt standard party games to complement the theme of the party. These include Lipstick Treasure Hunt (guests hunt for a list of different makeup products) and Pass the Purse (like hot potato).
Make sure you have enough activities to last the length of the party, and then some. Running out of activities can quickly take your event from loads of fun to a party downer. Remember board games and craft materials can always be used in a pinch.
Other Ideas
For an in-home beauty salon, ask friends or older siblings to help with the party. Create stations including hair, nails, makeup & wardrobe. Have your guests rotate between the stations, so by the end of the party, each girl has had a complete makeover! Before & after photos make great party favors!
After the makeovers are complete, top off the party with a full-blown fashion show! Set-up an open "catwalk" area for the girls to show off their new look. You can have a selection of dress-up clothes available, or they can model the t-shirt they made earlier in the party. Spotlights & plenty of dance music are a fun touch, as well as lots of flashing cameras! These photos can be included in your thank you notes, and make a great memento for your guests.
Create a memory book or box of the event. Take lots of photos, everything from the guests, to the food, to the games, and the gifts. Make special note of the current events of the day. Include a few small decorations or momentos.
Party Wearables
What would a glamour party be without lots of makeup! Be sure to have plenty on hand for the girls to use on themselves & eachother! Feather boas and glitzy necklaces & bracelets make great favors as well. If you're planning to incorporate fashion into your party, dress-up clothes (maybe old prom dresses) can be a fun way to glam-up the party!
Favors/Prizes
Look for Mini Hairbrushes, Bath Confetti, Nail File Keychains, Body Glitter, Bead Necklaces, Marabou Rings, Nail Polish Kits, Lip Gloss Rings, and much more!
Game prizes are fun for both winners and losers. Keep the prizes simple so others do not feel left out. Make sure to have some silly prizes on hand for the losers as well so they have something to take home.
Food
Treat your guests to a fancy feast fit for the VIPs that they are. Snack on chocolate-covered strawberries and sip punch out of champagne glasses. Use cookie-cutters to make sandwiches into fun shapes (stars, hearts, etc).
Don't Forget
What's a birthday cake without the candles? Make sure to have plenty on hand.
Unexpected
No matter how much you plan, be sure to expect the unexpected, both good and bad. Be prepared with a good attitude and a camera!
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