I had many grand ideas for my daughter’s second birthday party. This was actually her first party, because her first birthday was canceled due to, you guessed it, COVID. It was only right that we would have a BIG, makeup celebration in honor of her turning two. The theme would be so unique that it wouldn’t appear when you searched Pinterest for party ideas. The decorations would be so magnificent that you’d have thought they should be featured in a magazine. The fun, and the festivities, would be so over the top that you’d say I could make a living out of party planning!
Low and behold, a myriad of challenges left me severely limited in meeting all of my own expectations: A strict budget, two very demanding little ones and, therefore, very little time, and energy. Oh, and also being generally poor at planning to begin with. Better yet, volatile weather in the forecast and ANOTHER virus taking over our household made postponement a real possibility in the weeks and days before the event. The odds seemed stacked against us having a party once again.
Honestly, part of me thought it would be better to postpone. We would have to let people know that we were sick and so, understandably, many of them would not come. What kind of celebration would this be without all of those guests? On top of that, maybe having more time to plan and craft would at least grant me a few ‘oohs and ahhs.’ Was I turning into a party-momzilla?
I decided that, despite the circumstances, it was now or never. Rain or shine, sick or well, grand or average, we’re having this party. And so we did. And, despite feeling completely under the weather, it was one of the happiest days I’ve had in a long time.
So, what made it so wonderful and what could I have done better? Whether you are a first-time or a seasoned, party planner, I hope that my experience reminds you that while stress is sometimes unavoidable, it doesn’t have to get the best of you. Here are some of my key takeaways:
1. Remember what this is about and who this is for.
I don’t quite remember HOW we decided that the theme would be ‘Bluey,’ my favorite show 😜, but I knew it was the RIGHT theme when I showed her my idea board for Bluey cakes. I will never forget how her eyes widened and her mouth just slightly opened, turned up in a smile. I could feel her heart skip beats as she asked to see more. It was moments like these that made me realize: this is not my party. She could care less if every single one of her friends had a Bluey party also. Bluey is her jam, this is her party, and it will bring her so much joy! Don’t stress over a theme. Don’t stress over all of the variables that will surely disrupt your plans and perfectionism. This is not for you, make sure your little one knows it’s all about them!
2. Decorations don’t make or break a party.
Yes, oohs and ahhs are a great ego boost. Generally, you have to pay big bucks to a professional in order to get them, and we just don’t have that kind of money 🤷🏻♀️. So, my wind-blown streamers and paper-flag banners had to do, and I think they were just the right amount of festive! Of course, it’s always nice to have great pictures to post, but what’s better to show the world? Balloon arches and decked-out dessert tables, or utter excitement in the eyes of your child?
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That’s what I like to see.
3. Ask for help..
..and trust others to do what they’re good at doing or want to help with. So many people want to contribute to your child’s big day whether that’s setting up, picking up food, bringing drinks, etc. Have an itinerary for the entire day and assign friends and family to different tasks. The less you have on your plate the day of, the better.
4. Don’t over-structure and be flexible.
My sister-in-law planned a scavenger hunt for the kids, and karaoke jeopardy for the adults. We ate tacos from Kmemo Taco Bar (ahh-mazing!). We then sang before cake and a piñata. That left all of our guests free to mix, mingle and play as they pleased between activities. Our venue was a small, local park, so the playground was great for kids to run around. We also rented a bounce house from Sacramento Bounce House Rentals for the day. It required no setup or maintenance on my part, so it was a super easy and affordable addition to the party. The kids were completely entertained without being forced to participate in anything. Everyone was happy!
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5. Don’t dwell on the hiccups but celebrate the wins.
The sheet cake I ordered was embarrassingly GINORMOUS. It was a total waste of money, and reflected my poor planning. On the bright side, thanks to Amazon and the Safeway Alhambra Bakery, her Bluey cake was everything I could have hoped for. Many things will go wrong. But so much will be right. Let it be!
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At the end of the day, the heart of a party is the people. Good vibes stem from the JOY everyone brings in their natural desire to CELEBRATE your beautiful baby. Let that be your focus, and it will all fall into place.
Happy party planning!
