All the items you need to throw your best party yet

Your bff, your hosting bible, so to speak

Ok party people! Lights, camera, action: Your party is about to begin. As a party hostess, don’t you just wish you had a party checklist for all the items you need? Complete with your party shopping list. Well, we didn’t even wait for you to ask. We decided to deliver. This is our end-all-be-all checklist for all things party planning. Proceed with excitement.

Psst, just for you: The ultimate Printable Party Checklist

Decor

‍If you’ve chosen a themed party (which we love so very much) this section will be quite expansive. But that’s the whole point of a theme, right? Below are the decor *essentials*.

• Flowers and vases
• Clippers/scissors
• Candles: tapers, pillars, tea candles, bathroom candles
• Hurricanes, votives, or candlesticks 
• Lighter or matches

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Table Settings 

We recommend one or two extras of each, as slippery fingers or unexpected guests have been known to happen (we’ve got you covered, so no need to sweat!)

• Cocktail napkins
• Dinner napkins
• Skewers for hors d’oeuvres
• Serviceware: ie platters, bowls, serving spoons, etc. depending on what your menu calls for
• Salad and dinner plates (which can be combined if necessary) and bowls, if your menu requires
• Utensils: Salad fork, dinner fork, spoon, and knife for each guest
• Water glasses
• Wine glasses
• Carafes for pre-batched cocktails and water
• Extra service spoons and/or tongs (in general, always helpful)
• Enough chairs for all guests
• Wine and bottle openers

Other (not necessary, but necessary) things

‍They may not belong to a category, but do not skip these ones—major assets here. 

• Paper towels 
• Cleaning supplies
• Speaker system
• Extra hangers for guest coats or bags
• Printer for menus, signage, etc. 
• Appropriate paper for menus and place cards if applicable

Optional

‍While they didn’t quite make the varsity list, these JV players do have some skin in the game if you want to broaden your party supply portfolio.

• Additional linens, like placemats or table runner
• Cocktail glasses
• Charger beneath dinner plate
• Placecard holders, if you’d like to assign seats
• Napkin rings
• Wine bucket and ice scooper

End of list! Print this out (if you still do that these days - which we sort of envy, tbh). Pull it up big on your iPad. Make it your screensaver. Copy and paste it into Asana. Whatever you need to do to see this party checklist before your big day. Check ‘em off and have yourself a ball!‍

Click to download: Printable Party Checklist

Looking for more party planning hacks?

A few of our top recommendations and how-tos, just for you: 

• How to Make A Guest List
• 10 Secrets to Entertaining with Ease
• How to Build a Centerpiece

Psst… we have thrown a party (or 100, give or take) in our time. So, as you peruse our party checklist and wonder what sort of specific items we like, feel free to hop over to Our Favorite Things for our top recommendations as you shop for your party. Enjoy!

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