Eloise’s birthday party was a wonderful success, full of joy, laughter, and bubbles! 🎉 While there were a few moments where I felt the pressure of organising, it turned out to be a day to remember. Here’s a look back at the celebration, what went well, and some lessons I learned for future party planning.

I had everything planned out—events, decorations, setting up times, and even how long it would take to clear up! But, as with any big event, things didn’t go quite as smoothly as I had hoped. Here are the highlights and a few useful tips for parents looking to host a successful party without too much stress:

The Theme and Entertainment
Eloise wanted a Bubble theme for her big day, so we tried out Froggle Parties, as they were the only entertainers offering this theme. Although the bubble aspect wasn’t quite as impressive as expected (it was similar to most other parties except for the special moment when Eloise was surrounded by a giant bubble), the entertainer was truly lovely. She was kind, engaged well with the children, and kept them entertained, which was really appreciated.

Food from Waitrose Entertaining
For the food, we ordered a selection of sandwiches and canapés from Waitrose, which was an excellent choice. The quality was fantastic, but the one thing I overlooked was preparing food labels in advance. This would have made it easier for everyone to know what they were eating, especially for guests with dietary restrictions. A small but important detail for next time!

Lessons Learned for Event Planning
As always, hosting a party provides some valuable lessons. Here’s what I’d do differently for the next one:

• Food Labels: Prepare food labels ahead of time, particularly when catering for dietary needs. It saves time and avoids confusion on the day.
• Decorations: Most of our decorations were from Amazon and eBay, and while they looked lovely, it’s worth trialling different combinations beforehand. I ended up with decorations we didn’t even use!
• Venue Guidance: Double-check the venue’s rules before the party. If you’re planning to use helium balloons or any special decorations, make sure they’re allowed to avoid any last-minute issues.
• Delegate Tasks: I tried to manage everything myself, which made things more stressful. Next time, I’ll delegate tasks with full instructions to family or friends to help the day run more smoothly. Although I had tremendous help from family and friends, I hadn’t fully created a detailed task list which meant I had to deal with questions I didn’t have the mental capacity to answer, which resulted in me crying internally at my lack of preparation 🙁 Saying that, they were all so very kind with helping me manage through the stress and panic!! I love them all for everything they did!
• Take a Recovery Day: Having the party on a Sunday meant I had to go straight back to work on Monday, which was exhausting. I’d definitely recommend taking the following day off to relax and recover.
• Entertainment: Even if the theme doesn’t quite hit the mark, a kind and engaging entertainer can make all the difference. The kids adored him, and that made the whole experience enjoyable.

Final Thoughts
Despite a few small hiccups, Eloise’s party was a huge success! The kids had a fantastic time, and the atmosphere was filled with fun and laughter. I hope these tips help you plan a party that’s just as enjoyable, with a little less stress!

If you have any tips or experiences to share, feel free to leave a comment below—I’d love to hear them!