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How to Plan the Perfect Surprise Party
If you're planning a surprise party
for someone special, here are some tips that will make
planning and organizing the event easier for you, and
unforgettable for them!
1. Start early. Pulling off a surprise party takes
time and a lot of planning and organizing, so starting
six weeks to two months in advance is a really good
idea.
2. Find a theme. There are lots
of party-planning Websites on the Internet that can
help, or you can find party-planning books at your local
library or bookstore. When searching for the "perfect"
theme, here are some things to keep in mind: the occasion,
the time of year, the number of people you plan to invite,
the age, interests and hobbies of the "guest of
honor" and the people you'll be inviting.
3. Decide on a color scheme.
Once you've got your theme, figure out your party colors.
Don't go overboard, stick to two or three colors. For
example, if you're throwing a "Mexican Fiesta"
red white and green, or red yellow and green would be
perfect. By incorporating your colors into your theme,
even inexpensive decorations and paper goods will create
the ambience you want to create.
4. Plan your budget. Even if
you don't have a lot of money, with a little creativity
and ingenuity, you can still create a memorable, exciting
event by investing your time and thinking outside the
box. For example, before rushing off to the local party
store, look for items you've already got around the
house that could be used in a different way. For example,
your child's red wagon could be filled with ice and
used as a drink container if you had a western, cowboy
or old-fashioned theme. Clear or colored Christmas lights
can be called into duty and strung outdoors on the deck
or patio. Even summer toys such as a sand bucket and
pail or water toys can be used to hold flowers, candles
or decorations. Don't forget to check at dollar stores,
yard sales and thrift stores for inexpensive containers,
party favors or decorations that can be incorporated
into your theme.
5. Send out invitations at least
4 weeks before your event and then do your follow
up a week before to help you finalize your arrangements.
Don't forget that you can send email invitations for
free -- just do a search for "free email invitations"
or "free online invitations" to see all your
choices. Make sure that your invitations incorporate
your theme.
6. Create a scrapbook. Ask each
guest to write a letter, or bring a copy of a photograph
that will have special meaning to the guest of honor.
Include a copy of the invitation, pictures of the planning
process and before party preparations, as well as a
list of the food, guests, etc. This will become a treasured
memento of the day. Don't forget to ask someone to be
the "designated photographer" or buy several
disposable cameras and let guests take pictures during
the party. These can be developed and added to the scrapbook
later.
7. Prepare food and drinks that relate
to your theme. Think about the "presentation"
of food and drinks as well. Serving dishes that either
relate to the theme or are in the color scheme will
add to the festive look and feel.
8. Get organized, ask for the help
you need and follow up. If you're having people
bring food or drinks, or participate in setting up before
the party, make a list of who is responsible for what.
Delegate as much as you need to to ensure that everything
gets done and that you get to enjoy the party as well.
Most people will be more than happy to bring something
or help, if you just ask them.
Once you've given someone a task to
do though, follow up with them, to make sure that everything's
getting done on time. Also, because nothing ever goes
exactly according to plan, make a list of everything
that would make the party "perfect." But put
a checkmark or star by those things that you know aren't
vital to the success of the party. If something does
go wrong, or changes have to be made, you can cross
these un-essentials off the "To Do" list first,
and still pull off a successful party.
Save your "party notes" and
when the party's over with, do a quick evaluation of
what worked and what didn't. Over time, your party planning
notebook can be used to mix and match ideas for almost
any kind of party, and by referring to your notes about
what worked, you won't have to rely on your memory alone
for creating well-organized and enjoyable events.
9. Buy Thank-you notes before the
party starts. As they arrive, or sometime during
the party, have each guest address an envelope to themselves.
If gifts are being given, you can either make a separate
list of who brought what, or write it in pencil in the
upper right-hand corner of the envelope. Having the
Thank-you cards already addressed makes filling them
in and sending them much easier! Another simple idea
is to take the guest of honor's picture holding each
gift perhaps with the gift giver -- you can include
the pictures in the scrapbook later, and send a copy
with the Thank-you note.
10. Have a good time. Once the
party starts, relax and enjoy yourself. No matter what
happens, everyone will have a better time, if they know
that you're having fun too.
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