You remember it like it was yesterday – the birth of your child. You’ll never forget seeing their little faces and knowing you’d love them forever.
At the same time, remembering their birthdays and planning their birthday parties is a whole other matter. Every year you think you’re going to start sooner, book venues in advance, and invite friends before sports, and other activities get in the way. But every year, their birthdays just sneak right up on you.
Planning a birthday party for your child can be both exciting and overwhelming. From choosing a theme and inviting friends to choosing activities and decorations, there are a lot of factors to consider when planning the perfect party. Here are some tips to help you plan a birthday party that your child will never forget:
Tips for Planning Birthday Parties Early
1) Choose the Party Date in Advance
Choose a date and time as far in advance as possible. You want to get your party on people’s calendars in time for them to RSVP and save the date.
It is important to plan your birthday party well enough in advance to book your venue. Whether you’re booking a shelter at the part or an indoor games arena like Black Mountain Adventure Zone, to ensure that you are able to secure the date and time that you want, the sooner you can know the date, the better.
BMAZ is a popular destination for birthday parties, so it is important to book early to ensure that you get your preferred time slot.
2) Choose a Fun Theme
One of the most fun parts of planning a birthday party is choosing a theme. Some popular options include superheroes, princesses, pirates, dinosaurs, and sports. Consider your child’s interests and what they enjoy most when deciding on a theme.
A theme can help guide your decision-making for the rest of the party, such as invitations, decorations, and activities. It can also make the party more cohesive and memorable for your child and their guests.
3) Invite Their Friends
Once you’ve chosen a theme, it’s time to start thinking about who to invite. Make a list of all the friends you want to include, and consider the size of the party and the age of the guests when deciding on the number of invitations to send out. You want to make sure you don’t leave anyone out.
You can send physical invitations through the mail or create digital invitations to send out via email or social media. Make sure to include all the important details, such as the date, time, location, theme, what to bring, how to dress, etc.
4) Decide on Activities
A big part of any birthday party is the activities. At Black Mountain Adventure Zone, we have a wide range of exciting options to choose from. Some ideas for activities include laser tag, GellyBall, VR Games, Battle Cage, and more!
Consider your child’s interests and the age of the guests when deciding on activities. You may also want to mix in some quieter activities, such as craft stations or games, to give guests a break from the more physically active options. Again, a venue like BMAZ allows guests to play hard and then take a break
5) Plan Your Menu
No birthday party is complete without delicious food. Consider your guests’ dietary needs and preferences when deciding on what to serve. We offer a variety of party packages that include food options like pizza, hot dogs, and cupcakes. You can also opt to cater the party or make the food yourself.
If you’re making the food yourself, consider choosing options that are easy to prepare and transport, such as sandwiches, fruit, and snacks. Don’t forget to also have a selection of drinks available, including water, juice, and possibly a special birthday punch.
In Black Mountain, there are several caterers and restaurants that could provide excellent food for your birthday party.
6) Plan Your Decorations
Adding decorations can help set the mood and create a festive atmosphere. Consider purchasing or making decorations that match your chosen theme, such as streamers, balloons, and banners. You can also consider incorporating elements from the theme into the tableware, such as using superhero cups and plates or princess napkins.
You can involve siblings and friends in decorating to make it even more personal.
7) Coordinate Transportation Ahead of Time
The last thing you want to be arranging last-minute rides while you’re trying to decorate and possibly even keep the birthday party a secret.
If you are planning on having a large group at your party, you may need to coordinate transportation in advance. You can arrange for a carpool with your guests, or you can hire a bus or shuttle service to transport everyone to and from the party location.
8) Make a Schedule
To ensure that everyone has a chance to participate in all of the activities, it is a good idea to create a schedule for the party. This will help you to stay organized and ensure that everyone has a chance to enjoy all of the attractions.
Of course, you don’t want a party to feel regimented, so make sure you build in some flexibility and ability to punt on some activities in favor of whatever the kids are having the most fun doing.
9) Plan for Inclement Weather
They say if you don’t like the weather in western North Carolina, wait five minutes. Unfortunately, that may not work if you plan an outdoor party and rain sets in. It’s impossible to predict the weather that far in advance, so you want to have a solid backup plan.
Our sister company, Elite Action Gaming, brings GellyBall and tactical laser tag to you. It’s a great birthday option, but if you start to see rain or bad weather in the forecast, you might want to shift yours even to BMAZ.
Black Mountain Adventure Zone is an indoor facility, so we can accommodate your group during any kind of weather.
10) Hire a Photography
You’re certainly planning on taking a lot of pictures with your phone, but that might not end up being enough to really capture all the memories and moments. Especially for a milestone birthday, you might want to consider hiring a professor photographer.
In addition to ensuring you have beautiful photographs that will help preserve the memory of the event, hiring a pro will keep you from having to spend as much time looking at your phone, so you can really enjoy the part.
11) Give Away Party Favors
Send your guests home with a special memento of the party by including favors in their goody bags. Some ideas for favors include small toys, stickers, and treats. Consider choosing favors that match the theme. These will help ensure your kids and their friends remember how fun your parties are. The right party favors will make those RSVPs roll in even quicker next time.
12) Plan To Have a Blast!
You might be thinking about all you have to do to pull off a successful and memorable birthday party. That can certainly be stressful. But remember, it’s a party! The most important thing is to have a great time with your kids, friends, and family.
With a little advance planning, you can ensure that everything runs smoothly and that you and your guests have an unforgettable time! We would love to host your party at Black Mountain Adventure Zone. Contact us to find out more about how our parties work and when you can get yours on the books.