Party planning
Types of parties we love:
Football party
Food boards
Couples
Small group
Baby showers
Wedding showers
I am confident when I say no matter what party you are throwing, no matter the size (well, let’s say 50 guests and under), I can teach you how to throw an amazing party easy and reasonably priced.
Great food options:
– Ouslers is a local Birmingham restaurant that makes amazing party sandwiches – they already come cut into the perfectly-sized finger sandwiches and I always love working with other local small businesses!
– Cheese straws are a great option and are good finger foods.
– Nuts are cheap and easy too, but don’t forget about allergies!
– Sam’s Club offers a huge cookie cake for under $20 and it is always a huge win for parties and class parties for kids! They also offer amazing cupcakes in large quantities for under $20! Sam’s Club always wins when it comes to costs!
– Little Caesars is a great option for a pizza party. $5 per large pizza is definitely an inexpensive way to feed a group. A large 14″ inch pizza is normally cut into 8 or 10 slices and serves 3-5 people.
– Have a pizza in the freezer? Drizzle a little EVOO on top to jazz it up and crisp the crust!
– Dips are great, especially for those low-carb options.
– Hot dogs are also a great and cheap way to feed a crowd.
– Candy bars are fun and not just for kids! It’s also a great way to add color to your party!
– Ice cream bars are really fun too, especially in the summer months.
– Make sure to stock the bar with waters, beer, white and red wine and champagne. Don’t forget the ice!
If ever there were a time to use that Sam’s Club or Costco membership, this is it. I can assure you that from my research, the prices on frozen and fresh appetizers, drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), snacks, and meat, are cheaper than if you buy at your local grocery store.
Invitations
Of course, the old standby Evite is an option for e-mailing invitations, but there are some really beautiful electronic invitations with added bells and whistles that you can pay a small fee to send.
Decorating
I personally LOVE discount stores, like dollar stores, can be a great source for party essentials like paper products and decorations, but be careful when purchasing because sometimes these products are not good quality.
I like to purchase flowers and greenery at the grocery store. They add a fresh touch to party decor and are very budget-friendly! The 3 for $12 bunches of flowers from the grocery store flower shop are among my favorite party decorations. I break them up into small arrangements and place them around on tables. Trader Joe’s and Dollar Tree both offer inexpensive vases and containers.
Music
Use Spotify for music to set the mood – there are lots of great party mixes ready for you to use.
Other party ideas
Ashley and I have thrown hundreds of parties and we love to do that together, but our new plan for kids’ birthday is making a memories while traveling. Kids parties can get expensive really quickly and, while they are fun and memorable, we enjoy making memories with our own families while traveling for birthdays. So think outside the box – parties don’t always have to look like the “normal” ones.
