Party planning, worked out properly
The parts people actually get stuck on — how much food, how far ahead, what order to do things in. No signup, no email gate.
By party
How to plan a kids birthday party without losing the weekend
Plan a kids birthday party in four to six weeks: guest count by age, a two-hour schedule, food and drink quantities, a rough budget table and games that work.
Read the guide →How to plan an adult birthday party people actually stay for
How to plan an adult birthday party in six weeks: pick the format, invite four weeks out, plan food and drinks per guest, set a budget and mark a milestone.
Read the guide →How to plan a baby shower: the timeline, the menu and who does what
Plan a baby shower six to eight weeks out: who hosts, when to hold it, a week-by-week checklist, food per guest, budget ranges and games guests enjoy.
Read the guide →How to plan a bridal shower the guest of honour will love
Plan a bridal shower eight weeks out: who hosts and who is invited, a week-by-week checklist, brunch quantities per guest, budget ranges and activities.
Read the guide →How to plan a graduation party when every other family is planning one too
Plan a graduation party six to eight weeks out: pick a date that avoids clashes, run an open house, plan food for a drop-in crowd and set a rough budget.
Read the guide →How to host Friendsgiving: the menu, the bring list and the timing
How to host Friendsgiving: set the date three weeks out, run a bring list so dishes do not double up, plan turkey and sides per guest, and time the meal.
Read the guide →How to plan a holiday office party that works for the whole team
Plan a holiday office party eight to ten weeks out: pick a date, set a per-head budget, plan food and drinks per guest, and keep it inclusive and sensible.
Read the guide →How to plan a retirement party that honours a whole career
Plan a retirement party six to eight weeks out: who organises it, inviting colleagues past and present, food quantities, budget ranges, speeches and keepsakes.
Read the guide →Planning help
The birthday party checklist that actually covers everything
A complete birthday party checklist broken down by week, from setting a budget six weeks out to the day-of run sheet. Includes the steps most lists leave out.
Read the guide →How many appetizers per person? The numbers caterers actually use
How many appetizers to serve per person, by event length and whether a meal follows, with drink quantities and how to scale for a crowd.
Read the guide →A party planning timeline you can work backwards from
A week-by-week party planning timeline from eight weeks out to the day itself, ordered by when each decision becomes expensive to change.
Read the guide →How to brief a vendor and write a quote request they'll actually answer
How to ask a caterer, baker, photographer or DJ for a quote: what the first message needs, what to keep back, and when to send the full brief.
Read the guide →Turn any image into a party invitation, with RSVPs built in
Use your own photo, a child's drawing or an AI image as your party invitation, then share one link and collect RSVPs with party sizes and dietary needs.
Read the guide →Plan a party from your AI assistant
Connect ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Muse to PartyPal and plan a party by asking: build the plan, check RSVPs, brief vendors. Nothing is sent without you.
Read the guide →Online party invitations with RSVP: what to send, what to ask, and when
How to make online party invitations with RSVP that people answer: what to include, the five questions to ask, when to send it, and wording you can copy.
Read the guide →How to track RSVPs without losing count
How to track RSVPs for a party: what to record for each guest, a sample RSVP tracker layout, when to chase non-responders, and how to reach a final headcount.
Read the guide →Party budget planner: how much a party costs and where the money goes
A party budget planner: set a total, split it by category, check rough cost ranges by party type and size, and track what you spend against vendor quotes.
Read the guide →Plan a party on WhatsApp with Emcee
Plan a party on WhatsApp with Emcee: describe it in a message or voice note, confirm one card, forward the invite, see who is coming and get a Monday update.
Read the guide →How to find party vendors near you, and book the right ones
Which party vendors to book, in what order and how far ahead: venue, caterer, baker, DJ, photographer, decor and rentals, plus how to compare quotes fairly.
Read the guide →Party themes, planned
A theme worked out end to end: the look, the invitation, the food, a two-hour run of show and what to buy.
Mission to Mars: a space birthday party, planned
A space birthday party for kids: navy-and-gold decor, planet snacks, a galaxy cake, astronaut training games and a two-hour run of show, with the shopping list.
See the plan →Dino Discovery: a dinosaur birthday party, planned
A dinosaur birthday party for kids: jungle-green decor, a fossil dig, a dino egg hunt, prehistoric snacks and a two-hour run of show, with the shopping list.
See the plan →Under the Sea: an ocean birthday party, planned
An under-the-sea birthday party for kids: blue and teal decor, jellyfish lanterns, a bubble station, ocean snacks and a two-hour run of show.
See the plan →Champions Day: a soccer birthday party, planned
A soccer birthday party for kids: green turf and gold trophy decor, a mini pitch, penalty shoot-outs, a medal podium, half-time snacks and a two-hour plan.
See the plan →Superhero Academy: a superhero birthday party, planned
A superhero birthday party for kids: comic-burst decor in red, blue and yellow, a cape and mask station, hero training games, power snacks and a two-hour plan.
See the plan →Enchanted Forest: a fairy birthday party, planned
A fairy birthday party for kids: a forest of moss, toadstools and fairy lights, a wand-making table, woodland snacks, gentle games and a two-hour plan.
See the plan →Race Day: a race car birthday party, planned
A race car birthday party for kids: chequered flags in red and black, cardboard cars to build, a pit-stop snack station, races, a podium and a two-hour plan.
See the plan →The Art Club: an art birthday party, planned
An art birthday party for kids: painting stations, tote bags and canvases to take home, a giant group mural, a colourful dessert table and a two-hour plan.
See the plan →The Mystery Club: a detective birthday party, planned
A detective birthday party for kids: sepia and kraft-paper decor, a clue trail, escape-room puzzles, fingerprint sandwiches, a mystery prize and a 2-hour plan.
See the plan →Sweet Shop: a candy birthday party, planned
A candy birthday party for kids: rainbow pastel decor, giant lollipops, gumdrop balloon columns, a build-your-own sweets bar, sweet games and a two-hour plan.
See the plan →Rewind: an 80s and 90s throwback party, planned
An 80s and 90s throwback party for adults: neon signs, cassettes and disco, bold colour-blocking, a nostalgic photo wall, a retro bar and a three-hour plan.
See the plan →High Stakes: a casino night party, planned
A casino night party for adults: black-tie dress, gold-and-black glamour, card and dice tables played for fun, a martini bar with mocktails and a 3-hour plan.
See the plan →Endless Summer: a luau party, planned
A luau party for adults: a sunset palette, tiki torches, hibiscus and pineapples, a tiki bar with mocktails, island-style food, music and a three-hour plan.
See the plan →