A Flexible Plan for Birthday Party Materials List

The worst birthday party materials list I saw had 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 pinata, and a themed party hat for every guest. The host had spent $120 on themed items. A birthday party needs food, plates, and a cake. Everything else is optional.

A birthday party materials list is a shopping list of items needed to host a birthday party, including food, tableware, decorations, and activity supplies. The best birthday party materials lists 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 Essential Materials List

1. Food: Pizza, chips, fruit, and drinks. ($30 to $50)
2. Plates: Solid color plates. ($5 to $10)
3. Napkins: Solid color napkins. ($3 to $5)
4. Cups: Solid color cups. ($3 to $5)
5. Tablecloth: Solid color tablecloth. ($5 to $10)
6. Cake: A cake with a candle. ($20 to $40)
7. Banner: A “Happy Birthday” banner. ($5 to $10)
8. Balloons: A balloon cluster. ($5 to $10)

Total: $76 to $140.

The Optional Materials List

1. Activity supplies: A game, a craft, or a pinata. ($10 to $30)
2. Favor bags: A small bag with a snack or a small toy. ($1 to $5 per bag)
3. String lights: For ambiance. ($10 to $20)
4. A photo display: Photos of the birthday person. (Free)

What to Skip

1. Themed plates, napkins, and cups. Solid colors are enough.
2. Themed tablecloths. A solid color is enough.
3. Themed centerpieces. The cake is the centerpiece.
4. Themed favor bags. A solid color bag is enough.
5. Themed pinatas. A regular pinata is cheaper.
6. Themed party hats. The guests will not wear them.

The Verdict

A birthday party materials list works when it has the essentials and skips the rest. Food, plates, napkins, cups, a tablecloth, a cake, a banner, and balloons. 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 materials do I need for a birthday party? Food, solid color plates, napkins, cups, a tablecloth, a cake, a banner, and balloons. Everything else is optional. The birthday party decoration kit gives you a tablecloth, banner, and balloons.

How much do birthday party materials cost? $76 to $140 for the essentials (food, plates, napkins, cups, a tablecloth, a cake, a banner, and balloons). Skip the themed items.

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 should I skip on my birthday party materials list? Themed plates, napkins, cups, tablecloths, centerpieces, favor bags, pinatas, and party hats. Solid colors are enough. The food and the cake are the party.

How many materials do I need for a birthday party? One plate, one napkin, and one cup per guest. One tablecloth. One cake. One banner. One balloon cluster. One activity (optional). One favor bag per guest (optional).

What is the most important material 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.

Can I make a birthday party materials list for under $50? Yes. Pizza ($20), solid color plates and napkins ($8), a grocery store cake ($15), and a banner ($5). Total: $48. Skip the balloons and the favors.

References

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