How to Plan a Catered Adult Birthday Party
- 1). Choose a date. Before you can plan any other aspect of the party, including hiring vendors to service it, you must select a date. Choose a date that's on or near the birthday of the celebrant...and be sure to check with him to make sure he's available then. You certainly wouldn't want to plan a birthday party for a day when the guest of honor was not available.
- 2). Determine the number of people you'll be inviting, working with the birthday boy. If he's someone who has a large network of friends, the invitation list might be quite large. If he's a relatively private person with fewer friends, it'll be smaller. Think about what the guest of honor wants, and within reason, finalize the invitation list.
- 3). Contact a venue that might be right for the party, taking into consideration that sometimes the venue can serve as the caterer as well. For instance, if the birthday girl is a big sports fan, you might go to a game and follow it with a catered dinner. If she enjoys a specific restaurant, you might dine there in a private room. Ask yourself what the birthday girl would prefer.
- 4). Select a caterer for the event if the venue will not provide food service. The caterer should prepare food that not only matches the likes of the birthday boy, but also meets the price point of the party. Think about restaurants or types of food the honoree likes and go from there. For instance, if he loves seafood, a lobster bake might be in order. If Italian food is at the top of his list, then antipasto and pasta might do the trick. Tailor your choice of caterer and the menu to the birthday boy.
- 5). Determine if you need a separate liquor license or bartenders for the event. Some catering companies either separate or contract out the liquor portion of their events because many states require a liquor license. Whether the caterer is providing the liquor or it's contracted to a third party, make sure the people working the party are licensed, bonded, and insured by the state and appropriate governing authorities.
- 6). Add music or events. Some adult catered dinner parties will focus merely on the food, while others might add some entertainment. Depending on the size and scope of the birthday party, consider adding live music, a DJ or other activities to enhance it. Potentials include karaoke, a magician or maybe even having a theme such as a murder mystery.
- 7). Pay deposits to the vendors. After you contract companies such as caterers, DJs, and the venue, they might require a deposit to secure your desired date. Be sure you read the language of each contract so you know when and how much each vendor gets paid as the big day approaches.
- 8). Send out invitations for the big night. This can occur via a formal, printed invitation, or something more casual like an online or email invitation. Include details such as when and where the party will take place, whose birthday it's celebrating, whether RSVPs are required, and other information guests might need to know. For instance, if the caterer is preparing a certain type of food, you could mention that in the invitation.
- 9). Purchase decorations for the party. One of the final flourishes for a catered adult birthday party will be the decorations. Think about the birthday girl or the theme of the party to buy accordingly. Floral arrangements, balloons, and keepsake ornaments are all good adult birthday party decoration ideas.
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Keep in contact with the vendors along the way. With respect to the caterer, you might want to review the menu as the party gets closer. For the band or DJ, you might want to provide a song list. For the venue, you may need to provide a final head count. Placing calls to these vendors as the date approaches will ensure you're both on the same page, so your party ends up being wildly successful.
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