Are you excited about having parties again? As I am writing this I am excited to see parties, gatherings, and celebrations are starting to happen again. They are definitely on the smaller side, doing them safely is still really important. But YAY parties are becoming a reality again! To help you get ready to plan your next celebration here is a completely FREE party planning guide. It is a printable, fill-in, mobile-friendly 11-page pdf. It includes a planning guide, menu, grocery list, guest list, supply list, and timeline to make your party planning super easy.
party planning guide
The party planning guide starts with a guide or basically a to-do list for everything that needs to be done to prepare for the party. It is broken down by weeks starting with 8 weeks before the party and as the event nears, into days. So everything can get checked off and nothing is forgotten.
guest list
A guest list is an essential party planning item. No matter how small or large the guest is, it is important to keep track of the number of people who are coming. This guest list has room for up to 126 guests (planning ahead for when we can have events this big again, please be safe and plan accordingly).
menu
The menu has space to fill in appetizers, drinks, main meal, and desserts. It’s a great place to keep a quick list of the dishes you are preparing. But also a handy reference while making a grocery list and while setting out the food on the day of the party. Ever forgotten to set out a dish at dinner time, I certainly have. This menu is a great checklist to make sure nothing is forgotten. Also, this menu is pretty enough to place in a frame and set out for your guest to see.
grocery list
The grocery list is separated by sections of a grocery store and will make your food shopping so much easier. And if you ever decide to repeat your menu again, your grocery list is all set to use again. I use my Thanksgiving grocery list year after year.
supply list
The supply list is a great way to keep track of everything you need and where you will get it from. Where you need to order it from, the store you need to pick it up from, or who you need to borrow it from. Keep track of everything from how many chairs and tables you need down. To the small things like making sure you pick after-dinner mints and hand wipes for your guests.
a timeline
And the last part of the party planning guide is a timeline for the day of the party. It’s basically a rundown of the whole day of the party, hour by hour, and even minute by minute. It’s to make sure everything gets done in order and at the time it needs to get done. That way nothing is forgotten or missed. If you have never used a timeline before, it can be a lifesaver. Taking the time to plan out when you need to throw the burgers on the grill, when you need to get dressed, and when to take the butter out of the fridge, all can make the day much less stressful.
mobile friendly party planning guide
This party planning guide pdf is desktop and mobile-friendly and great if you prefer to work digitally. It’s a blank fill-in pdf form so you fill it in yourself with your tasks, menu, grocery list, etc. Once you save it you can go back and change things and check off tasks as they are completed. No printer, no problem, you never have to print off a page if you don’t want to.
It works best with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader app (Desktop, Apple, or Android). I recommend saving a blank version of the party planning guide and then saving a copy for every party you plan.
Of course if you prefer analog, want to print this party planning guide and fill it in by hand, that works too.