Birthday Party Ideas

Birthday parties are big business these days. According to Hallmark, the leader in greeting cards and gifts, Americans spend more than ten billion dollars each year on birthday parties. There are not only a lot of dollars being spent on birthday parties, though, but generated as well. Birthday party planners can be hired like caterers or wedding planners. It is a fun job for creative types and fans of celebration and you do not need a lot of money to start up. Whether you are a birthday party planner or planning the party yourself you need birthday party ideas.

There are seven common elements of a birthday party. You need a theme, a location, food, cake, entertainment, goodie bags, and cards for invitation and thank you. A successful birthday party requires thought and planning to come up with good birthday party ideas to address each element.

The theme needs to be chosen first because everything else is designed based on it. If you are having a Batman party, of course you need a Batman cake. Themes are broad and limitless. Superheroes, sports, holiday, cartoon characters, movies, pop culture, beach, racecar, tiki, swim, time period and costume parties just to name a few! The theme is usually chosen based on a passion of the birthday boy or girl.

When choosing a location, the first thing to consider is the number of party guests. The location needs to be large enough to fit everyone comfortably. Summer parties are fun to have outdoors but in colder weather you can move furniture around to make room for a big table for snacking and playing games. A good alternative to having the party at home is to have it at an attraction such as a skating rink, movie theatre, restaurant, Build-A-Bear, or bouncing and inflatable facility. Outside the home locations are convenient because there is no clean up to be done after a long day of party planning and partying.

Food can be as elaborate or simple as desired. Adult parties or adult mandated children’s parties should offer a little more sophistication such as a salad bar, taco bar, or fresh fruit choices, but a kid only party doesn’t require anything fancier than pizza delivery. The kids are so excited they don’t want to stop to eat anyway. They just need to have something that sticks to the ribs to counteract some of the sweets! Pizza, hot dogs, chicken drumsticks, and burgers are all excellent choices that are easily eaten with little mess.

Don’t stress out over the cake. If you want to make it, go ahead, but it’s only going to be appreciated by you. You have enough other things to handle that you should order the cake, to match the theme of the party, from the grocery store, bakery, or ice cream shop. Or if you want to make something, make cupcakes and arrange them in the shape of a cake. Kids love cupcakes.

Popular birthday party ideas for entertainment include magicians, clowns, bounce house, and swimming. Additionally, prizes can be given out for playing games. If prizes are given out for games and a plan is made that every kid gets a prize regardless of whether or not they win, it is not necessary to give out goody bags. Goody bags can consist of small bags of candy and small toys, pencils, coins, etc, or can come in the form on one bigger thing like a giant lollipop, doll, action figure, or book.

When coming up with birthday party ideas and buying all your supplies don’t forget the invitations and the thank you cards. Available in themes to match the party, you’ll round out your role as perfect party hostess by sending out fun cards to invite your guests then thank them for coming.