This is a sponsored post by Chuck E. Cheese’s.
After having thrown 18 years’ worth of birthday parties for my very own children, I have learned some important lessons on birthday party planning. One of those lessons I’m sharing with you today, because this lesson is golden and you will thank me later. The other lessons I’ll spare you the details for a later series, because I believe that DIY birthday party planning lessons, tips, and ideas cannot be shared into just one single post.
The BIGGEST lesson I have learned is to plan ahead…wayyyyy ahead if you want a stress-free and successful birthday party. As in three to six months ahead. Party planning is event planning, and with event planning comes preparation, checklists, reservations, and frequent trips to the stores online and in-person to make lots of different purchases.
There could also be surprises you weren’t aware of (that could be costly to your birthday party budget), and if you host the party in your home, you can expect that guests may and will extend their stay beyond the time window you set forth on the party invitation, because well, it’s in your home and you don’t want to be rude and ask people to leave. Please tell me I’m not alone on this!
One of the misconceptions we had about throwing a DIY birthday party in our home was that it was a much more affordable option since we were doing it ourselves. But it’s not, it’s really not. After adding up all the costs for party decor supplies, food, drinks, table spreads, party games, party activities (like bounce houses), game prizes, and goodie bags — we were finding that we had spent MORE than we bargained for on our DIY birthday party! Yikes.
Why couldn’t we have a fun, stress-free birthday party where all we had to do was show up?! Are these types of parties impossible to find, like a rainbow unicorn frolicking in a magical forest far, far away???
Reality struck and I found myself dusting off my old birthday party planning checklist to begin planning a milestone celebration for Jude. Then we got the call to partner with Chuck E. Cheese’s to celebrate Jude’s 10th birthday! Yippee!!! Jude’s turning the big 1-0 and we wanted to do something different and FUN and Chuck E. Cheese’s is America’s number one place for birthdays!
Check this out…want to know all the planning that took place for a Chuck E. Cheese’s type of birthday party? Here it goes…
Step One: Put together the guest list of kid’s names and the number of kids you would like to invite (and their parents for appropriate seating)…CHECK!
Step Two: Find a date and time for your birthday party and reserve it on Chuck E. Cheese’s easy online reservation…CHECK!
Step Three: Text or email out your e-invites. You can create free customizable email invitations with photo option that is included in the Chuck E. Cheese’s reservation email sent to you once you reserve online…CHECK!
Step Four: Confirm RSVP’s 3 days before the birthday party…CHECK!
Step Five: Show up at Chuck E. Cheese’s…CHECK!
Oh! And because we reserved a VIP Birthday Party on Saturday or Sunday for our birthday celebration, we got the whole party area to ourselves at the earliest timeslot before the restaurant opened, for one hour!
Wait, what?! What about all the party planning checklists, decor details, food, and games? Chuck E. Cheese’s has you all covered! And they have their latest and greatest birthday party offerings and Unlimited Games!
No more hosting and trying to keep the kids entertained yourself — you can keep the fun going throughout the entire party with CEC’s Mega Birthday Package which includes unlimited games for each child in your party at all Play Pass Chuck E. Cheese’s locations. With “Powered by Play Pass”, you and your party guests will enjoy tapping to play your favorite kids games – a great value and super convenient because there’s no need to keep loading points on the card!
And skip the party store and bakery – Chuck E. Cheese’s can do all the set up for your birthday party, from goody bags and balloons (like NEW helium balloons offered in solid colors to decorate your table) to cakes! You’ll also be assigned a dedicated host for your party who will handle everything from order to clean-up!
Stress-free birthday party planning DOES exist, and this was by far the funnest and easiest birthday party I’ve ever planned in my entire life EVER. Just bring yourself and the birthday star – Chuck E. Cheese’s will take care of the rest!
Thank you, Chuck E. Cheese’s!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chuck E. Cheese’s. The opinions and text are all mine.