Where are all of my party planners?

So I am in the midst of planning Tyler's 1st Birthday.

I tend to get carried away so I need people to bring me back down to reality. I don't want to break the bank on this party. I want to have a nice, fun, bash for all of our family and friends. (about 100 adults 40 kids if that makes a difference at all)

We are having a barnyard theme:

Petting zoo and pony rides are coming already.
Getting Hay to make a pumpkin patch. Kids can pick and decorate their own pumpkins.
Farm animal tattoos.
Bandanas given out to the kids.
Sheriff badges given out to the kids.
Candy table as the favor (or part of the favor) with also Animal shaped cookies on a stick for each kid.

I will have red checkered table cloths. Cow print balloons with red/black balloons.
I also saw some animal balloons that I want to get.

My question is this - where is it ok to skimp?

Do I need the barnyard paper plates? Napkins? Hot cups? Can I just do colored? I feel like that stuff is so expensive and gets thrown right out.

What am I lacking? What do I still need? What should I get rid of, if anything?

Message edited 7/15/2010 9:22:08 PM.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

You need to talk to Christine...she has the best websites and ideas!

I think you can stick with white and red solid plates, utensils, cups and napkins and forget the decorated ones.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

I think red (or really any primary colored) paper goods will suffice. You can get that stuff at Amazing Savings.

I also think primary colored balloons will be better than the animal print ones. Like the paper goods, they will just be thrown out or pop

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Diana - I will send you other stuff I found over the weekend. I really need to get my butt off the computer and start cleaning up my house for tomorrow! LOL

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Message edited 7/15/2010 9:26:00 PM.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

I like to do patterned napkins and everything else solid colored. It saves money but also adds a little something and I don't feel it is too plain.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

OMG I thought I had a lot of people on my list at 80

I dont know if you need the tattoos, bandanas and the sheriff badges...maybe just the bandanas. Or you could buy cowboy hats from Oriental Trading.

Paper good what I do now is buy solid dinner plates from Party City but the theme cake plates. I buy a few packages of theme napkins and alternate solid color matching napkins. It doesnt save that much, but it helps. With your theme though, you could do all red which would match the cow print and red ballons and red gingham tableclothes.

I think the animal shaped cookie favors are more than enough so you could save alittle there without all the candy.

Message edited 7/15/2010 9:28:07 PM.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Message edited 7/15/2010 9:30:05 PM.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Posted by dm24angel

Posted by Diana1215

Posted by Tine73

Diana - I will send you other stuff I found over the weekend. I really need to get my butt off the computer and start cleaning up my house for tomorrow! LOL

I cannot get off that one website. OMG. The best ideas ever! James is going to KILL ME!

Thanks! Send me everything ;)

WHAT WEBSITE???????


My theme is taking over my life.... LOL


So basically I have no suggestions for you. LOL

Only thing I " might" cut out is the sheriff badges, but I bet that ain't gonna save ya too much

eta- and even the bandanas...not really needed , yoru doing great with the theme as is. And keep the Candy table cheap?

I mean in the end though, if you want these things, your not gonna save much. I think food, balloons, tablewares and entertainment are the hugest money stealers. kwim?

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Crissy - I love the alternating of the napkins. GREAT idea!

Ok, so I will buy solid plates and get red napkins, and the themed ones also.

The badges and bandanas are super cheap from oriental trading. Oh and the tats were about 3 bucks for 75

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Posted by Diana1215

Posted by dm24angel

Posted by Diana1215

Posted by Tine73

Diana - I will send you other stuff I found over the weekend. I really need to get my butt off the computer and start cleaning up my house for tomorrow! LOL

I cannot get off that one website. OMG. The best ideas ever! James is going to KILL ME!

Thanks! Send me everything ;)

WHAT WEBSITE???????


My theme is taking over my life.... LOL


So basically I have no suggestions for you. LOL

Only thing I " might" cut out is the sheriff badges, but I bet that ain't gonna save ya too much

eta- and even the bandanas...not really needed , yoru doing great with the theme as is. And keep the Candy table cheap?

I mean in the end though, if you want these things, your not gonna save much. I think food, balloons, tablewares and entertainment are the hugest money stealers. kwim?

Donna - you asked for it....are you ready to sit at the computer for the next five hours. I have been on it since my friend called and told me about it at 2pm today.

You're really really really sure???

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Don't say I didn't warn ya! ;) Enjoy!!!

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

I am thinking about doing something along the same lines for DD's 4th birthday, but I have to ask, what the heck are you going to do if it rains? That is my biggest fear and the only thing that makes me hesitate...

I am planning on making the badges tatoos etc. part of the favor (looking into cowboy boot shaped cups to put them in). You also have the bandanas, hats and pumpkins as favors for the kids. I don't think that you need to do the cookies/candy bar if you are looking to cut extras. Candy adds up really quickly and if you are like me, you will buy more than you need just so you don't run out.

I also found these that I plan on giving as favors.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Get red cups/plates.
Fill in with lots of PLAIN balloon. The fancy one will add up quickly.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

And in thanks..here's some to aid your obsession

300 Birthday parties

Another One ..Half way down page I saw a barnyard theme

LOVE THIS SITE .....AMAZING ideas...

Dont kill me but heres one more

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Yes, definitely get solid color paper goods.

OMG, this party sounds amazing!!!

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Sounds like so much fun already. Kara's website is great, I love her circus theme birthday page. You can get lots of ideas from her.

I would keep the napkins, cups, plates simple, white or clear color from costco. That will cost you and you get a lot at a place like Costco. Not sure if you want skimp on the cake meaning just getting a not so expensive cake at a costco or something and decorate it yourself. I found a website where a woman asked for a plain whip cream 1/2 sheet cake no decorations and no writing. She went to Michael's picked up safari plastic animals, brown sugar (to use as sand) some kind of airbrushing tool for the sky...it was beautiful. You can pick up some barnyard stuff and decorate the cake yourself. I would also do a pinata maybe just in the shape of a 1 if you can't find anything barnyardish. I would also add in cowboy hats for the little ones.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Posted by dm24angel

Posted by Diana1215

Don't say I didn't warn ya! ;) Enjoy!!!

was hoping it was one I already have saved so I could say " whew" ...but no such luck..

See ya's in a few days

( thanks!)

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

I want to do White Post for Ryan's 3rd, and maybe petting zoo for Colin's 2nd. So can you and Christine has out the details and pass it along to me?

I agree with solid papergoods - I think with everything you're having, they'll be a more classic fit.

Seriously interested in knowing how the petting zoo works out.

Maybe I should book my flight to Disney for Colin's already so I can say I planned his "party" ?

I will think on more fun ideas - I'm sure it'll be hard to hold back from going overboard but a lot of this stuff can be DIY.

Anyone have a pickup truck that you can throw the hay in the back and do a hayride? Oh, right, that's probably not legal

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

if you got gingham checked red and white table clothes that would be cute.

then you could do solid red and white cups plates napkins etc.

it's very cowboy on the range!!!

I am that you are doing both the pumpkin patch AND the petting zoo that's awesome.

thank God none of my friends are going to your party first

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

definitely go for just plain colored plates. you can probably get those in bulk at sams/costco, etc.

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

Re: Where are all of my party planners?

OMG, why oh why did you post that site!?? DD is only 3 months and now I'm already going crazy trying to come up with a theme!! Pretty sure it will be mokeys since her nickname is Banana..but now Idk!

anyway, I definitely would save on the paper goods. alternating with the pattern, white or red is a great idea! I usually check out amazing Savings for that kind of stuff because they have great prices and really cute stuff! also for the candy table, dollar tree works!