🎉How To Throw A Themed Party 🎉
Throwing a themed party is a fantastic way to celebrate any occasion with flair and creativity. Especially for birthdays! I recently threw my second son's first birthday "party." Honestly it was not really a party since it was just us and a couple family members. But since we moved, I really have put a lot of time in making sure the boys feel special at all times.
So below I have sort of a step by step guide on how you can do this on your own. It's always nice to be able to hire someone to do it all for you but sometimes, life says nah, you should do this on your own. Either way, the goal is to make someone feel special and this will do just that!
Step 1: Pick a THEME! & Whats the Vibe?
This is the beginning to help set everything else in motion. I knew that my son enjoys watching Bluey so that would definitely be the theme. There are so many themes to choose from! Including like color themes, or shows, eras, brands, songs, etc. This also set the vibe of what you want to happen at your party.
Step 2: Set a Budget. 🤑
Now that you’ve picked a theme...how much money do you want to spend? Your budget will guide decisions on decorations, food, entertainment, guest count and more. Essentially for Manoah's birthday, I knew that I could do the decor myself to save money. Be realistic and prioritize essentials to avoid overspending. Overall for this birthday, I spent about $375 (including the cake).
Step 3: Plan the Guest List
This matters! This helps set the tone for the vibe!! Since I knew we were in a new city with no real friends yet, immediate family was the focus. So, it would be a very chill day. But if your event is lively, make sure your guest list reflects that. Can the venue accommodate the amount of people and the activities you want to happen (i.e. dancing, etc)? Send out invitations well in advance, and make sure they reflect your theme to build excitement.
Step 4: My Favorite Part: DECOR!!!!
This is the place to grab your guest attention as soon as they walk through the door. And the part where you can get creative! Go all out for the theme! What color tablecloth and napkins? Is it fancy? Do you need flowers, charger plates, menu cards? I have found that the more you add to the table intentionally, the better it looks. Even think about the cake being decor. It also has to taste good too. Do not just throw a whole bunch of stuff on the table, lol it will just look cluttered. Last tip: if you are stuck, go to Pinterest!!! It gives amazing inspiration. Honestly, it is usually where I start once I have a theme.
For Manoah's Bluey party, here are a list of the decor items and where I purchased them:
Balloons & Bluey Stickers - Amazon (get a balloon pump machine)
# 1 Balloon - Michaels (they inflated it too)
Backdrop - Hobby Lobby
Flowers - Trader Joes
Tablecloth, Napkins, Charger Platers - CV Linens
Bud Vases - Save on Crafts
Tumbler Cups with Straw - Walmart
Bluey Plates, Napkins, Bluey Ears, Streamers- Oriental Trading
Custom Bluey Cake aka the SHOWSTOPPER! - Local Baker Sugar Euphoria
This is the place to grab your guest attention as soon as they walk through the door. And the part where you can get
All in all, I think it came out beautifully and exactly how I wanted it. Pinterest was definitely helpful with ideas, but we always make it our own with creative touches. Check out my pinterest page for some pointers. I am always pinning . It is my favorite social media page (even over Instagram and Tik Tok!).
Of course there are a few more important factors such as food & beverage, timeline, etc. I have put together a perfect party planning timeline on etsy to help. That way you don't forget any of the details to plan your special moment.
The most important thing to remember is to HAVE FUN!! Your enthusiasm will be contagious, ensuring everyone has a great time. Be attentive to your guests and make sure everyone feels welcome and included.
Take a look at the final result of the Bluey Party below & Happy Party Planning!
xoxo,
Michelle O.
