Because party planning in all its consuming, tedious and expensive potential can quickly zap all the celebration from my brain, I recently consulted three Kansas City party planning experts for their input on the top ways to make sure every step in the merriment coordination process packs just as much jolly as the event itself. The Lovely Apple designs and creates custom party decor for any event. Blessed Handmade specializes in event planning and other event services. Jami Nato is a blogger extraordinaire and is known for her creative DIY hacks.
So, where do we even start planning?
The Lovely Apple: It’s best to focus on what is going to be important to you and your guests … otherwise you’ll get overwhelmed. If great food is important to you, start there. Maybe you just *know* that you want your little one to have an amazing cake at her first birthday, so you’ll want to research bakeries. Or maybe it’s important to you to have lots of photos displayed at the party, so enlist a friend or professional to take care of that component! I also try to have a little schedule in my mind for how I want the party to flow – especially if you are on a time schedule in a venue. It can be simple … like meal/visiting from 5-6 p.m., serve dessert just before opening presents or your icebreaker activity so guests can eat while participating.
“Little Pumpkin”-themed party decor found here.
Jami Nato: Find out what the guest of honor loves, but try to make it uniquely them. For instance, my friend loves reading, so we did a book-themed baby shower.
Thoughtfulness runs far deeper than Pinterest savvy decor. Consider a spin on something you’re already going to need for a party – something as simple as rolling napkins instead of leaving them folded. If you know you’re going to throw a party a month in advance, plan the theme and color scheme right away. That way, when you’re out shopping anywhere that month, you’ll be able to make wise purchases and save yourself lots of time by not running around like a crazy-stressed fest when it comes time for the actual party.
What trends have been most inspiring to you as party planning experts?
Blessed Handmade Events: “Boho” is a definite trend that can be found in the full spectrum of events right now – from baby and bridal showers to first birthdays and weddings. And I love that there are so many ways this look can be defined as well as ways to add personal twists. I also love that the “handmade” look is still going strong.
There is just something about an event that has been quilted together with personal artifacts, thrifted treasures and handmade goodness. It creates a really custom look with a uniquely intimate atmosphere. A color trend that is currently taking center stage is black and white – more specifically black and white stripes. It can be paired with almost any other color combination and fits in both casual and formal settings and themes. Just using a small amount in a table runner, ribbon or bunting can make a bold statement in any event.
The Lovely Apple: We recently had a customer who was planning for her daughter’s 4th birthday. Her favorite song was Katie Perry’s “Roar.” So, a jungle theme developed except we spun it around to be “Roar for 4!” – incorporating the song lyrics on the invitations and other décor. My sister collected elephants when we were growing up and loves the lullaby “Baby Mine” from the movie “Dumbo.” So even though an elephant baby shower isn’t that unique by itself, I’ll be incorporating some of her elephants from her collection and framing song lyrics from the lullaby to display at the shower that she can later hang in the baby’s room. Another client’s children loved cooking together so she threw a combined birthday party for her son and daughter and planned the activity of pizza making to keep it from being too distinctly gender specific. (See it here.) I think if people can focus more on the person they are planning for, and less on specifically choosing something “unique,” then they end up with a unique theme.
What’s something moms forget or might not think of?
The Lovely Apple: Incorporate personal touches – like my mom always uses one of her mother’s crystal punch bowls at special get-togethers, especially for a shower. Or I used some antique farm toys at my daughter’s farm-themed birthday party that were my dad’s when he was little.
Jami Nato: The dollar store is your friend. I use brown craft paper for tablecloths often since you can make them whatever theme you’d like. They also have glass containers and other seasonal items you might be looking for.
Finally, how do we pull it all together?
Jami Nato: If you have a particular theme or style you’re aiming for and people are bringing dishes, ask that the dish be white or clear. Same with flowers; if you ask people to bring flowers, ask for all white or whatever colors you’re going with. It allows people to help, but you still have some control over the event style.
The Lovely Apple: I like to do as much as a I can ahead of time so I’m not running around during the party. Planning a party can easily be time consuming if you let it, so we love that we can make at least one element easier for our clients. So many of our customers just find a theme in our shop that they love, and that makes it easy for them as it can be a one-stop shop. We deliver beautiful products right to their door that are ready to go. Or, for the DIY type, we’ve started offering printable versions of a lot of our designs so they can assemble themselves and put their own personal touch to the items.
Party Decor: The Lovely Apple
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