I know that winter is fast becoming a distant memory, but I want to share with you our adorable Lumberjack Bash before the warmer weather really gets rolling, and let you in on my tips and tricks for planning your own great party!
Pulling together a party, doesn’t have to mean pulling your hair out.
Here are 5 steps to planning an amazing party.
Step 1: Get Organized. Create a page in your “Notes” app, in Evernote, or in an old-school notebook to keep all of your thoughts organized.
Step 2: Pick a theme and a color scheme and hold yourself to it. The more elements you can pull together that fit your theme, the stronger it will be.
Step 3: Seek out inspiration, both online, in places like Etsy, Pinterest, Blogs, AND in real life, dig through the toy bin, garage, garden shed, etc.
Step 4: Pull it all together. Give yourself some time before the party to start pulling everything together and finalizing details. Do as much as you can, as far in advance as you can.
Step 5: THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP- Be Present. The moment your guests arrive, no matter what you still have on your to-do list, be present with them. The whole purpose of a party is to create shared memories, and you must to be present to do that.
I’ll walk you through the 5 Steps by showing you our Lumberjack Bash.
The FIRST STEP is to get organized. I create a page in the “Notes” app on my iPhone. Evernote or a paper and pen could also be useful tools, whatever helps you get organized.
THE SECOND STEP is to think of a theme and color scheme and hold yourself to items that fit within this plan. Our son’s nickname is, “Buffalo Joe,” so I decided to go with a traditional lumberjack theme (but we’ve done an amazing construction theme party too!)
The colors we used for this lumberjack theme were primarily red and black, buffalo plaid. We asked guests to wear their favorite plaid shirts, to help people really get into the theme.
STEP THREE is to get inspired! I start boards on Pinterest, search on Etsy and blogs. The inspiration is ENDLESS!
But don’t just limit yourself to online inspiration.
We live in a log cabin, so I used the natural elements of our home to inspire our theme.
If you can’t find inspiration in your immediate surroundings, check the garage, the garden shed, the backyard, and the toy box. You never know where inspiration will strike!
You’d be amazed at what you can find, if you you use a little imagination and a lot of elbow grease.
STEP FOUR is to pull it together! Get as many elements ready as far in advance as possible. This will make your life so much easier as you get closer to the party.
Around the room were 4″ Photos from Social Print Studio, clipped on a leather rope. I am absolutely in love with Social Print Studio. The quality is amazing and their app and website are so easy to navigate. It makes ordering great products a breeze.
I ordered enough photos so that everyone could take their favorites home with them.
We had a photo booth with hilarious props, like beards, hats and plastic axes, it was such a hit!
We used an iPad on a tripod with some additional lighting, and a simple photo booth app. The birch forest backdrop is actually just a shower curtain and it photographed really well.
We also had an “Axe Throwing Competition,” that is played like Pin the Tail on the Donkey.
My final and favorite element of this Lumberjack Bash was the cake, which looked like a stack of flapjacks. It was made by a local baker, with inspiration from Pinterest.
STEP FIVE is the the most important (and something I am working really hard to do.) When your guests arrive, drop everything and be fully present with them. The whole purpose of throwing a great party is to make memories, and you can’t do that if you’re stressed and worried about all the things you didn’t get to. Your guests can only be as comfortable as you are, so kick back and enjoy!
I hope your next party planning adventure goes a little more smoothly, with help from these five steps.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post.
What are your favorite birthday memories?
City Girl Gone Rural 
This is a grreat post