How to host the best birthday party: Our top tips

Whether you’re planning a party for yourself, a close relative or a special friend, we know how much you’ll want to get it right. In the following guide, we’ve outlined a few steps to help you organise an unforgettable event. To see our foolproof tips and tricks for planning, hosting and delivering a great birthday party, read on.

1. Choose a theme

At least a couple of months before the date of the party, it’s a good idea to decide on a theme for the night. Choosing a theme can help you plan how to decorate the space, the type of food and drink to serve, and the required dress code for your party guests.

Stuck for ideas? If you’ve been watching Stranger Things on Netflix or you’re feeling particularly inspired by a recent film or series, it could become a memorable party theme. Or why not choose a celebrity or famous band as your theme for the night instead?

2. Set a budget

Before you get carried away with your big plans for a party theme, it’s important to make sure you won’t be spending more money than you can afford to. We’d recommend looking ahead and working out how much you’ll be able to commit financially, plus ensuring you’ve made time to build your credit history to guide and prepare for your future spending first.

3. Think about food

To plan your party food successfully, you’ll first need to think about how many people you’re catering for. You could choose to pre-order from a catering supplier or grocery shop, but we always recommend preparing party food at home.

Not only is it the most cost-effective method, but you’ll also learn new recipes and skills along the way. As well as securing an idea of how much food to prepare, we’d also recommend checking out vegetarian buffet recipes to make sure you’ll be looking after meat-free guests too.

4. Consider entertainment

Most guests will be happy to spend the evening socialising and chatting among their circles but providing entertainment can help keep the party going and add structure to the night. Whether you choose musical acts, party games, a classic piñata or a photo booth, it’s always worth incorporating something a little bit extra on the night.

5. Remember to relax

Rather than spending your evening worrying about something going wrong, try to remember to kick back, relax and have fun – especially since small mistakes or mishaps will most likely go unnoticed. Everyone will have a far more enjoyable time if you’re engaging with the party and making sure it’s clear that you’re happy to be hosting.