CLAPPILY: 1st Birthday Party Checklist

CLAPPILY: 1st Birthday Party Checklist: Planning a party can be a stressful business! There’s so much to organize and if you leave it until the last-minut e, it’s easy to forget ...

1st Birthday Party Checklist

Planning a party can be a stressful business! There’s so much to organize and if you leave it until the last-minute, it’s easy to forget about important party essentials.

That’s why Clappily – Your Party Planner have put together our free party planning checklist to help you stay organized. We’ve done the stressful bit of making a list of everything you need for your party. 

So, here’s us to listing down all your Kids 1^st Birthday party checklist to help you to make it a memorable one.

1st Birthday Cake 

Here's Your 1^st Birthday Party Checklist ⏬

Four weeks before the party 

•  Select Date: ________________ 
• Determine the time/length of the party (Most parties are 2-3 hours and be sure to select a time that will work best with your baby’s schedule – not during nap time) 
• Compile preliminary guest list & phone numbers 
• Select Party location (home / outdoor)
• Research & determine party theme option    
• Set a Budget
• Book outdoor venue or society club if required

    Three weeks before the party

• Make and deliver an invitation 
• Plan your baby’s outfit (if theme party)
• Have a basic party menu ready
• Reserve any rentals you may need (extra chairs, tables, etc.)
• Download Clappily – Your Party Planner app
• Choose a birthday cake
• Choose a caterer
• Plan your return gift & decoration
• Decide on 2 to 3 party games
• Apply for leave if you are working

   Two weeks before the party

• Order for return gift from Clappily mobile app or website
• Order for other birthday resources from Clappily mobile app or website
• Enlist the help of family & friend 
• Order cake from Clappily mobile app or website
• Review extra furniture, tableware and party supply needs to make sure you have enough for the number of guest coming to the party
• Book entertainment (if applicable) / Tattoo artist from Clappily mobile app or website
• Buy prizes for the party games

    One week before the party

• Get final head count & finalize RSVP’s
• Confirm booking with the venue
• Start packing return gifts and label them
• Keep gifts in a separate sealed bag
• Check camcorder, digital recorder and memory stick
• Check camera and memory card
• Do a surprise check at the party venue (if applicable)
• Shop for a baby’s birthday outfit
• Shop for a baby’s present
• Begin compiling music playlist
• Buy non-perishable menu list
• Create the schedule for activities/entertainment
• Check your orders status on Clappily – Your Party Planner mobile app or website

    One day ahead of the party

• Buy last minute perishable items, including ice
• Set tables and arrange displays
• Choose your outfit and accessories
• Keep older sibling's clothes ready
• Recheck guest list
• Reconfirm your help will be present
• Keep your baby's outfit and shoes ready
• Pack your baby's birthday present
• Set up any large supplies and non-perishable decorations
• Chill drinks
• Pick up flowers and arrange (if applicable)
• Print out a gift tracker sheet
• Recheck order status on Clappily – Your Party Planner mobile app or website
• Sleep on time

    The Big Day

• Start early if visiting a temple/orphanage
• Start preparing food and refreshments
• Set the table and decorations
• Set a separate place for presents
• Keep cameras ready 
• Keep phone lists handy
• Try to take a short nap before the party
• Inflate and arrange balloons early in the morning – waiting until the party day ensures they will float well. Pick up flowers and arrange (if applicable)
• Print out a gift tracker sheet
• Turn on music & party lights
• Don’t worry about Cake & any other product or services ordered from Clappily mobile app or website. It will come on given timing.

     After the party: Hurray!!😊

• Clean up party areas after guest’s leave
• Send birthday thank-you notes – including party photos.

Planning a bachelorette party? Here are 5 Must-Rules to make last sail of Bride-to-be memorable

 You’re a bridesmaid and your best friend has asked you to plan a hen party to celebrate her last few days of freedom with a bunch of girls out for a crazy party, excited much? However planning a bachelorette party can be tad stressful, especially if it's something you have never done before. There are an array of options to celebrate a hen party; a weekend getaway to Goa, night out at a club or a theme house party. Let us help you with some quick pointers to keep in mind before you begin planning the party. 

1. Be the Rachel & Phoebe to your Monica – Make a list of guests who will be attending the party, consider their personality types, likes & dislikes. You do not want to go out loud with people who’re a bit coy or vice-versa, prep a mix of interactive activities & games for everyone to enjoy.

Picture credits - Knottytale 

2.  Make sure you don’t be a Rachel while spending- You might be able to afford an expensive bachelorette party as a bridesmaid, but this could be a concern for others. Ensure you reach out to all women invited to discuss budgets before you make grand plans.  A quick tip for keeping costs down: Use a party planning app/service to design special packages and compare the prices with different merchants before making a final call, your fellow bachelorettes will appreciate you. 

Picture credits - Witty vows 

3. Use technology to make decision-making easier – Again, a party planning service would be a very good option to ease out the process. It could help you schedule an event that works for everyone (or for most people). Check the themes, food, games you require and Voila! Finalize plans with your friends based on their preferences & budget.

Picture credits - Divik Arora 

4. Channel the inner Monica - Let’s get it straight, an organized person can make each task streamlined. Let the most responsible person of the group plan out games and activities during the party. Ensure you plan the day out, weekend getaway or night out wherein you have enough time to enjoy & relax rather than running from one place to another. Of course get some help, but let the final execution be done by you.

Picture credits - Morvi Images 

 5. Phone-reminders are still in trend- Give plenty of notice, avoid conflicts with other commitments. Drop in reminders to the women invited to the party.  You don’t want to be ‘Phoebe’ or ‘Rachel’ who forgets to invite the guests and drops in late reminders. Don’t make your bride cry before her Bidaai. You could build an email excitement for a few days but we suggest to not overdo it.

Picture credits - Zazzle.com

So the next time if you plan a bachelorette party, don’t forget to give this a read. Some set ground rules can make your party easily the most liked party! 

Winter Special Party Ideas

Planning a get together this winter: Turn up the heat, by hosting a bonfire party in your backyard/terrace

Bonfires in your own backyard or terrace can make a casual get-together look like a fully planned party without much prep work. All you need this winters is warmth and fun of sitting with your friends/ family around a fire or under fairy lights.

With very little planning, you can easily pull off a bonfire party that has a refreshing way to spend a Saturday night with friends.

• Decorating Outdoors

Let the natural surroundings of your yard be your main decoration. Isn’t that part of what having a party outside is all about? String white round lights around the yard to give a little light. Want to take it a step further? Put candles or small lanterns covering the entire area.

• Make your guests comfortable

Set up plenty of camp stools for your guests to pull up next to the fire or a cushioned sitting arrangement if you prefer sitting comfortably on the floor. If you have a fire pit use it for a safety purpose. Ensure that you purchase insect repellents to save your guests from being annoyed. Bonfires are toasty but you can amp up the cozy aspect even more by organizing snuggly blankets for guests to cuddle on.

• Prepare Your Food and Beverages

Apart from enjoying the warm glow of the bonfire, your party cannot be successful without some amazing party snacks. Prepare a delicious menu that will ensure that your guests have a great time putting together their own food and keep them talking about it throughout the night. Toasted marshmallows served with chocolate fondue can qualify as a great idea for all the sweet tooth people throughout the night, savories menu could include sausages, kebabs, pork chops for your guests to indulge.

• Get Your Playlist Ready

Apart from the regular flamboyant parties, bonfire parties are cozy, comfortable & toasty. Get a playlist ready which suits the mild & calm mood of your guests. Don’t melt down the mood of your guests by playing loud music. Call the night peacefully with soothing music snuggling under the blanket below the starry sky!

The next time you plan a bonfire party, do read this for some great ideas. So, go ahead & make your night memorable. 

Bring-A-Plate Party- Etiquettes

Happiness is when you gather with your friends and family for a meal cooked by each one of them. Known as a 'Bring-A –Plate' party! - Oh no, it doesn't mean you turn up with an empty plate, you need to load the plate with some mouth-watering dishes. Another very popular term for it is a ‘Potluck Party’, a very famous tradition in villages and countryside but is slowly making its way into cities. Everybody brings one dish to share with all the attendees of a potluck party, and you end up with a feast.  It is a good way to connect with your close ones without burdening one poor soul. December’s wintery breath, holiday festive mood & close ones by your side is a good setting to organize & enjoy potluck parties.  And, to make your potluck party a success, we bring to you simple party etiquettes – 

Be an organized host-

·         If you are hosting a potluck party, provide the party essentials if you are offering the venue as well. Ensure that you serve glasses, plates, napkins, spoons etc to the guests to avoid a messy and confused party. Let the guests be comfortable and enjoy each moment with enough time to bond with everyone.

Don’t be indifferent-

·         Always consider the dietary constraints of all your guests before you pick a dish to bring to the potluck party. It is not required to identify who has what nutritional restrictions; you could simply just list down the guidelines you would like people to follow; e.g., ‘no walnuts’ or ‘no fish?’ because people might be allergic to certain ingredients.

Be generous-

·         Ensure that you make enough food to suffice for all the guests. As a guest, ensure that you try each dish that is bought at the party by the guests & compliment them for their efforts. Be the one who helps the host who has donated their backyard or home for hosting the party. Offer up help for the host in case they get overwhelmed arranging the house & various requirements for the guests, don’t wait for them to have to request you for help

Don’t be lazy-

An easily available dish is not what something people at a potluck party want to eat. Potluck parties are all about variety in dishes and obviously food that has a memorable taste. But tasty dishes don’t mean you load the ones that are easy to prepare or your regular meal. Try dishes that are your specialty, that you are confident will be a treat for everyone’s taste buds & see if you could bring out a new favorite.

So the next time if you organize a potluck party, don’t forget to give this a read. Some set ground rules can make your party easily the most liked party! So, what are you waiting for? Before the year ends, go wing-ding & have a great time!

Kick-start 2018 with Hot Party Trends

A new year means a new set of cool, happening & upbeat party trends. Yes yes, we know everyone has their own preset party ideas jotted down which they wish to execute for their special occasion. But now, with the ever-increasing demands of latest party trends that are capable of making serious waves, it is time to shift from the usual ideas to something unique each time to leave your guests in amusement as well as put your money to worthy trends. We bring to you some trends that are invariably going to create a thrill amongst your guests & make your 2018 & years after memorable.

Statement Balloons

Instead of exhausting the on-going ideas of balloon bouquets, balloon arches, filling the room with tons of balloons, this year let’s spell out words & phrases with trendy statement balloons. You can also use letters & numbers script balloons for your fabulous backdrops or photo areas, especially to mark anniversaries and birthdays. They are available in different colors but rose gold & silver foiling stand out the most. These statement balloons can make your party a statement party.

Unique Themes

Nowadays people crave for creativity - the usual character theme birthday parties or simple banquet weddings are considered outdated. Unique themes for various occasions are dominating now. People shy away from organizing pun theme parties but they tend to be a huge success. Parties that highlight one's passions & center around interests like sports, dance, baking are also good options for unique theme parties.

Laser Cut Signage

The trend for gorgeous laser cut signages is growing quickly & is certainly going to stick around for a while to come. These serve as a good element, especially for wedding industry & can be incorporated for different kind of occasions such as cake toppers, drink stirrers, photo booth, placards, table tops, fancy backdrops & many more. They can be used more than once for different occasions because they are high on quality and worth your money.

Technology

The world is going digital; people have started speaking in the social media language. Technology is no longer restricted for the corporates; it has started reaching the event planning industry and can be incorporated into various celebrations. From live-streaming an event to event hashtags on a photo-booth, technology is ruling the event industry. Can you imagine how awesome your party would be with drones over your weddings or any occasion to capture impossibly cool photos and videos?

Isn’t all of this fascinating? Grab some of these ideas for your next event and make it a memorable event for a lifetime.  But wondering who will execute it? Keep your worries away because Clappily is your one-stop party planner platform which exists only to make your party a success and fulfill all your party requirements. If you are planning to throw a party, you can get in touch will all the right vendors on Clappily and we promise you won’t be disappointed. If you are one of the few people who hasn't downloaded the app yet, what are you waiting for? Pick up your phone and download it right away! Happy Clappily to you!

ESSENTIALS FOR A PARTY

Let me narrate you a situation- it’s your engagement ceremony, you are rushing off your feet to get hold of the tasks & organize a stress-free function. Right from hooks & hammers to ribbons & wrappings, you make a list of each and every element for months & days. The D-day has arrived; you are almost ready to leave your guests in reverence with your arrangements. You are basking in the glory of love and waiting eagerly for the rings to exchange. You arrive at the venue and witness that the finishing touches are still going on for the backdrop, your return favors are not arranged, the cake has not been delivered, and the number of chairs for the guests is less. Not an ideal situation, right?

Your special occasions need your special attention but it also means you cannot execute everything by yourself. You need to focus on yourself and attending your guests. They say somethings are best left to the experts and that is where Clappily comes into the picture.  We ensure all the prerequisites for the party to be executed professionally without any folly. With Clappily the following essentials for a successful party will be covered with great ease. Use this party planning checklist to guide you through the details:

• Plan your Fancy Décor

It is imperative to make a list of equipment needed like rental chairs and tables even for a most close-knit celebration. Ensuring to follow the theme of the event, curating suitable backdrop as per the theme, seating arrangements, curating centerpieces & arranging tables are primary responsibilities of a décor expert. We tend to miss out on a lot of elements if we try to execute it by ourselves. In this case, a décor planner is needed to plan each aspect effortlessly. Clappily has collaborated with many such vendors with expertise in their field for more than 10-20 years.

• Plan Music

Good music uplifts the mood of any occasion. It is important to bond with others and make the evening memorable. One needs to ensure to play apt music for different kind of events. Clappily provides some of the best DJs in town with knowledge about music along with technicalities in order to avoid any kind of embarrassment.

• Plan Lighting

Yellow lights look good for an evening or a night function. Multicolored LED lights at the backdrop can change the façade of your décor. With Clappily you will never fall short of light vendors who will help you with suitable lighting for your event and ideas to illuminate the venue.

• Plan your Sweet Treats

Any occasion is incomplete without sweets. Sweets have the capability to invoke the kid in you. You would always love to cheat on your perfect diet when you see a table with fancy & delicious sweets. Clappily has some of the best cake artists and vendors who make cupcakes, tea time cakes, brownies, cake pops and various other popular sweet delicacies. So what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t you want to drool over some of these treats?

• Plan your Food & Drinks

One of the perfect ways to impress your guests is a tall glass of refreshing drink and a huge portion of varied cuisines. Planning the menu can be quite stressful; taking into account the choice of hundreds of people is not an easy task. Different occasions require a different type of menu, not every time we can go ahead with the most popular dishes. Why stress over it, when caterers can take that stress off your mind. Clappily has catering vendors who know their job and never fail to make your guests lick their fingers and drool over the tasty food.

Clappily is your one-stop party planner platform which exists only to make your party a success and fulfill all your party requirements. If you are planning to celebrate your special day, you can get in touch will all the right vendors on Clappily and we promise you won’t be disappointed. If you are one of the few people who hasn't downloaded the app yet, what are you waiting for? Pick up your phone and download it right away! Happy Clappily to you!