Where can i find a list of things to do when planning a suprise party?

Question

Where can i find a list of things to do when planning a suprise party?

Answer 1

As someone who has planned plenty of surprise parties, I'll try and give you some help:

First, decide how many people you want to invite and where you want to have the party.

Once that's done, make a guest list.

Mail invites

Make a list of food you're going to serve.  Just make sure that your RSVP date is at least ONE WEEK before the party so you can tell the person that's catering the party or yourself if you're cooking so you know how much food you need.

If you're having the party in a hall, or at your home, you need to get paper goods like plates, forks, spoons, knives, cups, napkins, etc. Also drinks, ice etc.

Make sure to talk to ONE person about getting the guest of honor out of the house the day of the party and come up with an EXACT time to bring them to the party.  Make sure that you give guests about 20 minutes to a half hour, so if you tell people to come at 2pm, tell the person to bring the person in at 2:25-2:30pm so you give anyone who's lost or running late time to get there.  

Make sure to get a corsage or boutinierre for the guest of honor, just so that they stand out from the rest of the party guests.

If the party's in a restuarant ask them what they allow and what they don't.  Like what food can be changed out for what, if someone doesn't like what you picked if they can order off the menu, if you can decorate the area of the party and what can you do to decorate, etc.  What time you're allowed to get there that day, when they expect payment etc.  

If you're getting a hall, ask when you get the keys and how soon you can get in to decorate and know you are expected to clean up after the party.

So you'll have to make a guest list, decide on food, if you're having it at a hall or home, make sure to get all the drinks and paper goods and the food.  Get decorations.  Keep track of the RSVPs.  Decorate the party area the day of the party, and then get a corsage/boutinierre for the person you're having the party for, make sure to get a cake. You also want to get some champagne or ask a family member to bring it so you can do a toast to the person.  You don't need to do favors, but if you do decide what you'd like to do for people as a way to say thank you for coming.  Also, make sure to mail out thank you cards to anyone that helps you and the person that got the person out of the house for you.

I hope some of this gave you a start of what you have to do.  The first thing I usually do is make a guest list and then I figure out how much I have to spend and where I'm going to have it and then if it's at an establishment, I go there and talk to them but I also go with a list of questions, like about decorating and substituting food and about alcohol. Like for the last party, we didn't have a lot of drinkers, so instead of paying per head for the bar, we ran a tab and it turned out MUCH better.  We knew not everyone was going to drink and it would have cost us much more to pay by the head for everyone for the bar, so we just ran a tab and paid for whatever drinks were ordered, and it came to under $60 for the night!  Much better than the $200 they would've charged for the by the head.  Just think about what you'd like to ask, if you're going to have it somewhere. (how the table will be set up, if they offer a package deal and if you do that can someone order off the menu if they don't like what you chose, and what the package deal includes. etc)

I hope this helps and that you have a great party!  By the way, don't forget to stress to EVERYONE that the party is a surprise!

Answer 2

Here are three places to check...

http://www.chiff.com/entertain/surprise-...

http://www.evite.com/app/cms/party/exper...

http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Plan_a_Surp...

Answer 3

As an exercise, you should fill a bag with beans, balance it on a table, and try not to spill them.

This will serve as an object lesson in keeping the party a secret.

Answer 4

I'd love to tell you...but it's a surprise!