Planning Birthday Party Essentials Without Overcomplicating the Day

The worst birthday party planning I saw was a host who bought twenty different items for a five-year-old’s party: themed plates, themed napkins, themed cups, a themed tablecloth, a themed banner, themed balloons, themed centerpieces, themed favor bags, themed favors, a themed cake topper, a themed piñata, and a themed party hat for every guest. The host had spent $120 on themed items. The kids ate cake, played games, and did not notice the themed plates. A birthday party needs food, plates, and a cake. Everything else is optional.

Birthday party essentials are the minimum items needed to host a birthday party, including food, tableware, a cake, and a few decorations. The best birthday parties have the essentials and skip the rest. The worst have every themed item available.

The short answer: buy food, solid color plates and napkins, a cake, and a banner. Skip the themed items. The birthday party decoration kit gives you a tablecloth, banner, and balloons in one purchase.

The Essentials

Food

Pizza, chips, fruit, and drinks. The food is the party. Pick food the guests will eat. The flaw: pizza gets cold. Order it to arrive during the party.

Tableware

Solid color plates, napkins, and cups. The birthday party decoration kit includes a tablecloth. Pick a color that matches the theme. The flaw: solid colors are less festive than themed items. Add a themed cake topper if you want more festivity.

The Cake

A cake with a candle. The cake is the centerpiece of the table. The candle is the tradition. The flaw: the cake is the most expensive item ($20 to $40).

The Banner

A “Happy Birthday” banner. The banner is the one decoration that shows up in photos. Buy one. Skip the rest of the themed decorations.

The Optional Items

Balloons

A balloon cluster in the theme color. The flaw: balloons are for the photos, not for the activity.

The Activity

One game or one craft. The activity is the entertainment. The flaw: more than one activity and the party feels rushed.

The Favors

A small bag with a snack or a small toy. The flaw: bad favors are worse than no favors. Skip them if you cannot afford good ones.

What to Skip

Skip the themed plates, napkins, and cups. Solid colors are enough. Skip the themed tablecloth. A solid color is enough. Skip the themed centerpieces. The cake is the centerpiece. Skip the themed favor bags. A solid color bag is enough. Skip the themed piñata. A regular piñata is cheaper. Skip the themed party hats. The guests will not wear them.

The Verdict

A birthday party works when it has the essentials: food, tableware, a cake, and a banner. The most common mistake is buying twenty different themed items for a party where the guests only care about the food and the cake. Buy the essentials. Skip the themed items. The food and the cake are the party.

FAQ

What do I need for a birthday party? Food, solid color plates and napkins, a cake, and a banner. Everything else is optional. The birthday party decoration kit gives you a tablecloth, banner, and balloons.

How much do birthday party essentials cost? $30 to $50 for food, plates, napkins, cups, a tablecloth, a banner, and a cake. Skip the themed items. The essentials are enough.

Should I buy themed plates for a birthday party? No. Solid color plates are enough. Add a themed cake topper if you want more festivity. The guests will not notice the themed plates.

What is the most important item for a birthday party? The cake. The cake is the centerpiece of the table and the tradition. The candle is the moment. Spend $20 to $40 on the cake.

What should I skip for a birthday party? Themed plates, napkins, cups, tablecloths, centerpieces, favor bags, piñatas, and party hats. Solid colors are enough. The food and the cake are the party.

How many activities should I plan for a birthday party? One. More than one and the party feels rushed. One activity with free time for eating and socializing is better than three activities with no time to eat.

Do I need favors for a birthday party? Only if the favors are good. Bad favors are worse than no favors. If you cannot afford good favors, skip them. The guests will not mind.

References

• Party City, “Party Planning Checklist,” partycity.com
• The Bash, “How to Plan a Party,” thebash.com
• Oriental Trading, “Party Essentials,” orientaltrading.com