The blog

Party planning advice

When to send the invitations, what to write, how much food to make, and how to get everyone to answer.

November 2, 2026 21st birthday ideas: a night in, a big night out and getting everyone home 21st birthday ideas from low-key to a big night out: safe ways home, games, food and drinks, gift and toast ideas, and wording for the invitation.
November 2, 2026 30th birthday ideas: themes, a dinner, a party or a trip, and the invite 30th birthday ideas: themes that suit thirty, a dinner vs a party vs a trip, whether to make it a surprise, food, activities, and invitation wording to copy.
November 2, 2026 40th birthday ideas: themes, a surprise party plan, a weekend away and the invite 40th birthday ideas: themes, ways to celebrate, a step-by-step surprise party plan, a weekend away with old friends, food, and invitation wording to copy.
November 2, 2026 50th birthday ideas: themes, a toast, a slideshow, a dinner or an open house 50th birthday ideas and party ideas for a 50th: themes, family and friends together, a toast and a slideshow, a dinner or an open house, and the wording.
November 2, 2026 Baby shower ideas: themes, food, games, favors and when to send invites Baby shower ideas for hosts: themes, easy food, games and activities, favors, a co-ed shower, a sprinkle for a second baby, and when to hold it and send invitations.
November 2, 2026 Bridal shower games that work: ideas, how many to plan and prizes Bridal shower games that work: classic and quiet picks, how many to plan, prizes guests want, games for a co-ed shower, and how to include a guest joining by video.
November 2, 2026 Christmas games for adults: holiday party games for a crowd or a dinner table Christmas games for adults: holiday party games for a big group or a dinner table, the white elephant and other gift swaps, prizes, and how to keep the games moving.
November 2, 2026 Friendsgiving ideas: the food, what to bring, games and the invite Friendsgiving ideas for hosts and guests: food beyond the turkey, what to bring, how to split the potluck, games that work at a table, and invitation wording.
November 2, 2026 Party games for adults: games for a house party, by crowd size and energy Party games for adults, sorted by crowd size and energy: icebreakers, team games for a house party, low-key games for a dinner party, and tips for running them well.
November 2, 2026 Sleepover party ideas for kids and tweens: activities, food and a plan for the night Sleepover party ideas for kids and tweens: activities, easy food, a schedule for the night, what to tell parents about pickup, allergies and packing, and wording.
November 2, 2026 What does RSVP mean? How to reply, and what hosts are asking for What RSVP stands for, what it asks of a guest, what "regrets only" and "RSVP by" mean, how to reply with examples, and the Spanish S.R.C. on invitations.
November 2, 2026 White elephant rules, and how to host the party: gift limit, steals and wording White elephant rules made simple: how the steals work, setting a gift limit, how long it takes, versions to try, and invitation wording for the gift swap.
October 29, 2026 50th anniversary party ideas for a golden celebration How to plan a 50th wedding anniversary party: who hosts, the guest list, party styles, ideas that tell the couple's story, gold touches and the wording.
October 29, 2026 70th birthday party ideas they'll actually enjoy How to plan a 70th birthday party: surprise or not, the guest list, styles from dinners to open houses, ideas that honor seventy years, and the invitation.
October 29, 2026 Adult birthday party ideas, from low-key nights to all-out parties Adult birthday party ideas for every budget and energy level: nights in, outings, themes and milestones, plus who pays, plus-ones, and the invitation wording.
October 29, 2026 Baby shower invitation wording, with samples for every kind of shower What to put on a baby shower invitation, sample wording from sweet to funny, lines for a sprinkle, a couples shower or a gender reveal, and when to send it.
October 29, 2026 Bar and bat mitzvah invitation wording, with samples What a bar or bat mitzvah invitation includes, the service and the celebration, sample wording from traditional to modern, Hebrew names, and when to send it.
October 29, 2026 Christmas party invitation wording for every kind of party Christmas party invitation wording, from formal dinners to ugly-sweater parties, cookie swaps and open houses, plus the lines for gifts, kids and dress code.
October 29, 2026 Diwali party ideas: lights, food, rangoli and invitation wording How to host a Diwali party: picking the night, diyas and rangoli, a menu of sweets and savories, what to wear, games and invitation wording you can borrow.
October 29, 2026 Graduation party invitation wording, from open houses to dinners What to put on a graduation party invitation, how it differs from an announcement, sample wording for high school and college, open-house lines and timing.
October 29, 2026 Hanukkah party ideas: food, games and invitation wording How to plan a Hanukkah party: picking the night, the candle lighting, latkes and sufganiyot, dreidel and gift games, and invitation wording you can borrow.
October 29, 2026 How to make a wedding seating chart, step by step When to start the seating chart, how many guests fit each table, where family and friends go, kids' tables, place cards versus escort cards, and the door list.
October 29, 2026 Lunar New Year party ideas: food, luck and invitation wording How to host a Lunar New Year party: the date, red and gold for luck, dumplings and other lucky foods, red envelopes, games, and invitation wording to borrow.
October 29, 2026 New Year's Eve party ideas, from the first guest to the countdown New Year's Eve party ideas for a party at home: the kind of night, a plan back from midnight, food that lasts, drinks for the toast, kids, and invite wording.
October 29, 2026 Online invitations with RSVP: how they work and what to look for How online invitations with RSVP work, text versus email delivery, what guests see, the features worth having, the questions to ask about cost, and privacy.
October 29, 2026 Potluck sign-up sheet: what to list, how many of each, and filling the gaps What a potluck sign-up sheet should list, how many of each dish to ask for, what to ask each cook, and how to fill the gaps before the day of the party.
October 29, 2026 Quinceañera invitation wording, in English and Spanish What a quinceañera invitation includes, from the Mass to the padrinos, with sample wording in English and Spanish, formal to fun, and when to send it.
October 29, 2026 Rehearsal dinner invitation wording, and who to invite Who hosts the rehearsal dinner and who's invited, when to send the invitations, sample wording from formal to casual, and lines for the rehearsal itself.
October 29, 2026 Retirement party invitation wording, from office send-offs to dinners What to put on a retirement party invitation, who hosts it, sample wording from formal to funny, lines for a surprise or an office party, and when to send it.
October 29, 2026 Save the date wording: what to say, when to send it, with samples What a save the date says (and leaves out), when to send one, sample wording from formal to playful, and lines for a destination wedding or a weekend.
October 29, 2026 Thanksgiving invitation wording, from family dinner to Friendsgiving Thanksgiving invitation wording for family dinners, formal suppers and Friendsgiving, plus what to include, when to send it and the lines for dishes and kids.
October 29, 2026 Ugly sweater party invitations: wording, contest rules and prizes Ugly sweater party invitation wording, what to put on the invite, contest categories and prizes, a sweater-making station, food, and a version for work or kids.
October 29, 2026 Wedding invitation wording: examples for every kind of wedding Who's hosting, the honor of your presence or the pleasure of your company, sample wording from formal to casual, bilingual lines, and the RSVP lines.
October 21, 2026 Game day party checklist: TV, seating, snacks and kickoff changes Hosting the big game at home? A checklist for the TV and seating, a snack sign-up that covers the table, and what to do when kickoff time moves.
October 19, 2026 Bridal shower and wedding shower invitation wording, with samples What to put on a bridal or wedding shower invitation, sample wording from funny to formal, lines for the RSVP and the registry, and who traditionally hosts it.
October 16, 2026 Text vs. email invitations: which one guests actually open Why a text from someone you know gets opened, when email is the better choice, and how to make invites easy for every guest, including older relatives.
October 14, 2026 Holiday party planning timeline: when to send, plan and shop December fills up fast. A week-by-week holiday party timeline, plus how to balance a potluck, run a gift exchange, and send one clear update if plans change.
October 12, 2026 Kids' class birthday party invitations: how to invite the whole class Inviting a whole class without collecting 30 phone numbers: one join link in the class chat, plus allergies, siblings, gifts, and drop-off or stay.
October 9, 2026 Milestone birthday party planning checklist: 8 weeks out to the day after A week-by-week checklist for a 30th, 40th, 50th or bigger: guest list, venue headcount, travel, toasts, and wishes from guests as a keepsake.
October 7, 2026 How much food per guest, plus how to run a potluck sign-up Rules of thumb for appetizers, mains, sides, desserts, drinks and ice, how to adjust for time of day and kids, and a potluck sign-up that covers the table.
October 5, 2026 RSVP etiquette for hosts: deadlines, nudges, plus-ones and waitlists How to pick an RSVP-by date, nudge politely, handle plus-ones and late yeses, run a waitlist when space is tight, and tell guests when plans change.
October 2, 2026 Halloween party ideas for adults: costumes, food and timing Set costume rules guests will follow, crown the best costumes with a photo wall, serve food that fits the theme, and pick the right October date.
October 1, 2026 How far ahead to send party invitations, by occasion Lead times for dinners, birthdays, milestones, showers and holiday parties, plus when to send a save-the-date and how to pick an RSVP-by date.