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What you need for a "jumping" party!
Serving the East Bay Area of No. California
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Party Checklist/Timeline Planner/Budgeting Tips
Use our printable, week-by-week, party planner to make sure the Big Day isn't missing a thing! Print directly from our web site or, if you need more room for your notes and shopping lists, copy the text below and paste it into your computer's word processing program.
Six Weeks Before the Party1. Decide your theme. Browse our gallery of jumpers for ideas and theme party suggestions. Review our party planning tips to choose the theme and activities most appropriate to the likes and age group you will be entertaining!
2. Set a date! We suggest reservations two to four weeks in advance, although we are always happy to try to accommodate last minute bookings. If you wish to match a specific jumper to your party theme, booking early will help ensure the availability of the jumper you want and hold it for the day you want, allowing you to plan with confidence!
3. Decide your guest list. In addition to the guests your child wishes to invite, consider asking a few adults -- family members or other parents -- to help with supervision. The younger the children, the more supervision help you are likely to need. If you have a swimming pool and children will be swimming, you will want to have at least one adult supervising outside activities at all times. Our Appian Party Jumps are designed with 100 percent safety in mind, but misuse of any equipment can lead to injury. Adult supervision is always helpful in making sure children follow the rules and enjoy your party and jumper in a safe manner.
4. Decide your location and, if the party is to be held away from your home, reserve the party space.
5. Estimate your budget -- skip down our "week-by-week" planner and start making your shopping lists in the areas provided. Include estimated costs and/or your desired spending limit.NOTES AND SHOPPING LIST:
Five Weeks Before the Party1. Create your party agenda.
For example: 3:00 guests arrive, 3:15 craft/icebreaker activity, 3:45 first game, 4:00 free time for mingling and party jumping, 4:30 dinner/snack, 5:00 open presents and have cake and ice cream, 5:30 second game, 5:45 free time for mingling and party jumping until guests depart. Amend the agenda as necessary to include as many, or as few, activities as you want or to fit the length of your party! Money saving tip: Schedule your party in-between meal times if you'd rather not serve lunch or dinner. You'll only be expected to serve a snack and/or cake and ice cream.
2. Select your games and craft activities according to the theme you've chosen. Make a list of the supplies needed for each, including prizes, if you plan to award any. See of our party jumps for theme-specific games and craft ideas.
3. Book entertainment: If you plan to hire a clown, musician, magician or costumed character. Money saving tip: If your budget won't allow for a professional, enlist a friend, family member or neighborhood teen who will "perform" for free or at a reduced rate. If you hire a professional, see if you can book them for a portion of the party, rather than for the entire time.
4. Purchase invitations, or purchase the supplies and stamps for invitation making and mailing. Now is a great time to update your address book! Make sure you have the correct and complete addresses, phone or email contact information of the guests you plan to invite, even if you will be passing out invitations personally. You may need to follow up on RSVPs or make last minute contacts, should your plans change due to weather, illness or other concerns. Besides guests, make sure anyone else involved in your party, such as: AppianPartyJumps, entertainers, caterers, etc., know that a change or cancellation is in the works! A trusted "telephone tree" (where each individual is responsible for calling or notifying one other) may help speed this process when unforeseen circumstances arise.
If you plan to take advantage of our DIY personalized Appian party invitation feature, make sure you have enough colored ink and card stock or quality paper and envelopes for printing.
Money saving tip: Using our customized DIY jump invitations and emailing them, could reduce your overall time, printing, and mailing costs, when possible.NOTES AND SHOPPING LIST:
Four Weeks Before the Party
1. Print or make invitations, if you opted not to purchase them, and mail or e-mail or hand deliver. Request RSVPs two weeks before the party so you will know how much food, and how many favors, prizes and activity supplies to buy. Request parents' party-day emergency contact and other information (food allergies, medical alerts) with RSVPs.
2. Book your Appian Party Jump rentals including: jumpers, concessions, SpinArt machine, bubble machine and/or tables and chairs. We suggest reservations two to four weeks in advance, although we are always happy to try to accommodate last minute bookings.NOTES AND SHOPPING LIST:
Three Weeks Before the Party
1. Create your shopping list and begin shopping for decoration supplies, paper goods, favors and activity supplies. Shop locally or begin ordering supplies online. (Most online companies ask that you allow up to 10 business days for delivery.) Don't forget about cookie cutters and/or a cake pan if you plan to work with specialized shapes that match your theme. Money saving tips: You might find it is much cheaper to make decorations than buy them. Consider buying some of your paper tableware in plain solid colors that complement your theme -- sometimes these will be less expensive than paper goods with characters on them.
2. Designate a specific place to store party goods -- such as a large box, set of drawers or chest -- and cross each item off your list as you purchase it. To save time later, consider lining up party favor bags or boxes in a safe location and placing each item inside as it is purchased. On the day of the party, you'll just be able to grab and go! Make sure your children know that the party supplies are off-limits until party day.
3. Decide your menu and plan grocery list. Money saving tip: The sooner you set your menu and make a grocery list, the more time you'll have to watch for sales on non-perishable food as well as food that can be frozen.NOTES AND SHOPPING LIST:
Two Weeks Before the Party1. Order any final online party supplies, based on the RSVPs. (Note: You should provide some extras for last-minute invited guests or guests who "forgot" to RSVP.) You might even wish to follow up on RSVPs if you have not heard from guests. Make sure you have emergency contact information for the parents of each of your young guests. Tape this information to your refrigerator or other prominent place. If you will be partying in a local park or other remote location, bring along a clip board or binder with this information. Don't forget to put your cell phone, change for a pay phone, a spare set of car keys, and a first aid kit too on your list of things to bring. Store these items where they will be available to you (spare keys are no use if you've locked them in your car!) or, ask another responsible adult guest to bring and manage these items, especially if you will be away from home. Money saving tip: Limit your online purchases to one or two vendors, to reduce shipping costs.
2. Shop for groceries that can be purchased this early and prepare any food that can be frozen.
3. Buy or borrow your party music (and movies if you plan to have a sleep-over party). Money saving tip: For no-cost party music and movies, browse your local library's collection.NOTES AND SHOPPING LIST:
One Week Before the Party
1. Begin preparing any decorations you are making yourself.
2. Order cake if you are ordering it from a bakery.
3. Order balloons/helium tank rental if necessary.
4. Stock your emergency/first-aid kit.
5. Shop for final groceries; wait until two or three days before party to purchase fresh produce.NOTES AND SHOPPING LIST:
One Day Before the Party1. Make sure you have film and working batteries for your 33mm, digital and/or video cameras.
2. Child-proof party areas -- cover pool if it is not to be used, put family heirlooms or important breakable items out of reach, lock cabinets where valuables, weapons or alcohol are stored. Consider child safety features for electrical outlets and cabinets where hazardous materials are located.
3. Pick up cake if you ordered one.
4. Decorate indoor areas and set up indoor game/activity areas.
5. Prepare food, including cake if you did not order one.NOTES AND SHOPPING LIST:
Day of the Party
(Enlist the help of another adult or two to help you complete tasks.)1. Pick up balloons or helium tank if you ordered them..
2. Prepare for set-up of rental equipment. Appian Party Jumps will deliver, set-up and take down any rentals you've arranged with us. In many cases, the equipment can be delivered the day before. Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions, at our home page, for specifics on preparing for your delivery and when you place your reservation.
3. Make sure an adult is at your home or other party location to receive your Appian rentals.
4. Decorate outdoor areas and set up outdoor game/activity areas.
5. Prepare last-minute food and punch.
6. ENJOY THE PARTY!
7. Do minimal and necessary clean-up.
8. Return or be ready for the pickup of any rented party equipment, based on the details of your rental contract, or other items borrowed from friends or family for the day.NOTES AND SHOPPING LIST:
Day After the Party1. Finish clean-up -- enlist the help of friends and family as necessary.
NOTES:
One to Three Weeks After the Party1. Develop/print photos and/or edit your videotape.
2. Mail thank-you notes -- include pictures of party guests if possible.
3. Consider posting an "online album" at a free photo-hosting site or adding photos to your family web site for viewing or printing by relatives and friends, especially those not able to attend.
LOCAL LINKS TO VENDORS, SERVICES AND LOCATIONS
PICNIC SITES: EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS - http://www.ebparks.org/reservat.htm
