Absolutely Inviting! Unique, Handcrafted Invitations & Event Stationery: September 2015

Ok, so we admit....we have not blogged in a WHILE!!!... In over a year to be more specific :( so what better way to kick back into gear than with a feature from the Fabulous 5th birthday extravaganza for
Little Mister Absolutely Inviting himself :)

Here is a look into what went into our son's birthday event,
and tips to help you plan your own kiddie soiree!

1. Pick a theme

While this may be optional to some, having a theme provides an excellent starting point for decorations, menu, activities, etc. Think characters such as Spiderman or Dora the Explorer, or use general themes such as “princesses”, “animals”, “cowboys” etc. Also allow your child to have some input.

"For our son’s 5^th birthday extravaganza, we chose a fair/circus/carnival theme. Because some specific items we wanted were not available locally, we scoured the internet to locate the party supplies, and used our freight forwarder JustShip It – Bahamas to bring them in. We purchased decorations, candies, gift boxes, and prizes just to name a few. We did this well in advance to ensure that we had time to order additional items if needed. This was probably the only thing we did well in advance :)"

2. Choose the date, time, and venue:

Take your child’s age and the theme into account. A few hours of party time is more than enough. Think 1-3 p.m. for 1-3 year olds or 2-5pm or 3-6pm for 4 years and up. The venue should match the theme if possible e.g. a venue with a swimming pool would be perfect for a mermaid themed event, and a petting zoo may be ideal for an animal themed event.

We opted for a “party in the backyard” and used the open space for the “fair grounds”. The kids had lots of space to play, and it allowed us to set up the different stations similar to what you would see at a fair.

We chose to have the event on a Saturday because 1. It was his actual birthday, and 2. We prefer Saturday events because then you and your guests have Sunday to rest and prepare for the school/work week.

Our main concern with the date was that we had just missed Tropical Storm Erika, and another storm was projected to come our way! Thankfully we did not get the storm, but we definitely got rain! Luckily, we had the tents set up from earlier in the day, and we had a covered bouncing castle, so those areas remained dry for our guests. We did have a handful of guests that we unable to make it because of the weather. The good thing was that once the parents contacted us, we were able to secure goodies boxes for the little ones who could not make it!

Here are a few pics taken at the beginning of the party:

3. Invitations:

An invitation is your guest’s first glimpse into your event, so make it ABSOLUTELY INVITING!

We opted for a red folded carnival themed invite from Absolutely Inviting (of course) complete with direction/rsvp card, and a customized sticker seal. After receiving their unique invitations, the invitees were excited to see what was in store at the actual event!

Confession time: Yes we admit, it might have been just a tad over the top…but that’s what happens when your mommy is an invitation diva! lol We also had signage for the various stations as well as custom water bottle labels.

Invitation Exterior with Sticker Seal by Absolutely Inviting: