Here are some more lessons I learned on party planning:
Keep the number of guests to a minimum as much as possible. In our case, we had no choice but to invite a lot of people because we had 4 baby showers.
When you hire a catering service, let them do everything. I didn’t give focus on the food so we (the servers) were scrimping at first. We had enough food…more than enough actually, as we forgot there were still containers hidden from the guests.
Decide on one or two party favors only. I got too excited so the surplus of souvenirs. They were cheap and I wrapped them myself so I had no problem. But since there were many, we ended up spending more on the favors.
Hire a professional photographer. Don’t just ask family or friends to take photos during the event. We were thankful to have awesome photographers during the event but since we know them, I was too shy to ask them to do this, do that. I promised myself to pay for one, someone I could request to do everything I tell him to.
Take care of the background music. I had a CD prepared. I carefully chose the songs to play. I had ideas in mind when this song would play, what song will be on loop during the dedication proper, etc. Problem was, we couldn’t find where the CD was. My husband said he gave it to me but because I was too busy then, I forgot where I put it.
Hire someone to help you or be your gofer. Sure, friends and family would volunteer and would love to help you but when party time comes, you’d be too busy to call them or be ashamed to request them to help as they are also enjoying the party. When I say hire, get someone you will pay a minimum day’s wage. You can request you friends’ and relatives’ helpers or nannies since most of them are “off for the day”. Promise you will pay them and do pay them.
Hire a point person or an on-the-day planner. Believe me, you can’t do everything on your own. I was trying to save and do things on my own that I forgot about myself, enjoy the party, and spend time with Noah. Since the venue was within the village, I drove home a few minutes before the guests started to arrive. I was planning to do my makeup and go to a salon but as usual, it didn’t happen. I was too busy! I didn’t really worry about how I looked because I knew I was gorgeous already (haha!kapal!) but it would have been nicer if I looked fresh. LOL!
Almost 3 years too late but it’s only now that I’m sharing a full documentation of how I planned for this party. If you happen to visit this blog searching for a Noah’s Ark Party, then this is especially for you. 😀
This wasn’t the first party I’ve helped planned but the first I did on my own. I’ve had this them in mind even before Noah was born. The Noah’s Ark Theme was an obvious choice. Most baby showers, baptisms, and dedications have such theme so Noah’s Ark it is.
Even before we finally decided we’d have a big party, I already bought the party favors from an online Multiply store called Loot Bugs. I think Noah was only a month old when I started buying from the store, not knowing what I’d really do with them. I had ideas but I wasn’t sure if I’d actually do them because husband had not said ‘yes’ to a party yet.
When he finally did, I started researching for ideas. Thank God for Google for helping me. I was looking for that one Noah’s Ark image where I will base everything from. I decided on this:
I bought the centerpiece, confetti, mobile, candles, mini treat boxes, keychains, table cover, table napkins, dessert plates, and paper cups from the website. Total cost was $79.
I then prepared a Noah’s Ark Save the Date announcement which I sent to guests via e-mail:
For the party invitation, I asked my bestfriend’s husband, Patrick Tan of Design 911, to design it. I asked to simple base it on the Whimsical Ark image. He also did our wedding invitation. As expected, it turned out really great. Very cute!
I also asked Kuya Jeric, Patrick’s bro-in-law, to make a caricature of Noah with the animals. I planned on using this as a backdrop or flash this on a screen.
I designed the map myself. Thanks to Google Maps.
Notice the caricature on right? That’s Joshua, Noah, and I. It’s the 3rd version already of this caricature.
I had the invites printed from Digiprint, bought different colored envelopes from National Bookstore, and used the animal sponge stickers I bought from Pioneer Center. The stickers were a random find and each set was only 20 pesos. I bought ten because they’re too cute. Cost of each invitation was less than P10. The result was this:
Little Noah handing his Lolo Tem the invitation
For the godparents, we gave Noah’s Ark Keychains placed inside the Noah’s Ark Treat Boxes. I put a note inside that said, “Remember to pray for Noah when you see this keychain” or something like that. I forgot.
Party Favors for the GodparentsNoah’s Ark Keychain for the Ninongs and the Ninangs
For the grandparents, Joshua’s parents and mine, we gave them this:
For the guests, we gave away the wooden animal pencils I earlier bought. I printed small Thank You tags and tied them on the pencils. I remember preparing colorful and animal-themed notepads, small wooden magnets, and erasers too. Like I said, I went overboard! I also remember buying Noah’s Ark Magnets as gifts to our Principal Sponsors during our wedding. I just can’t find a photo right now but they’re the ones wrapped behind the pencil party favors below.
The party was held in a big function room inside the village. We used to live in Bel-Air so we had 50 percent discount. I remember paying P2,500 for the venue. We were thinking of having the party inside the house because it was big and there was a spacious garden but we were afraid of cleaning and the guests being a delight to the mosquitoes. Hehe.
For the party decor, I didn’t want to spend a lot so most of them were made by yours truly. I ordered a Rainbow Ark set and Hanging Balloons from Theresemer. I asked for this…
…but ended up with a smaller one. This cost me P1,500. Still cute.
Hanging balloons. I ordered 8 sets. Now I wish I ordered more. One set cost P100 only.
I made the balloon centerpiece myself, bought colored cartolinas, and crayons to put in each table. My idea was to have the guests write or draw something for Noah. I also remember printing the Noah’s Ark story for the guests to read on each table.
I printed copies of the Whimsical Noah’s Ark Image on a sticker paper and placed them on each balloon
Who made this? 😀
I ordered the tables and chairs from Gem’s Balloons. Unfortunately, they delivered the items in the morning while we weren’t there. We had to set them up ourselves. Who set up the tables and chairs? Me and my mom-in-law’s maid Lor. As in, ako ha! Lesson learned: decide on a delivery time and hire people. I forgot where Joshua was but obviously, he was only doing my many requests.
We ordered the food from a caterer our churchmate, Noah’s Ninang Wendy, recommended. I remember we had carbonara, chicken, shanghai, sandwich, lechon as a gift from Tita Merci, and chocolate fountain prepared lovingly by my mom.
I can’t find photos of the food but here’s Lola Vishi and her famous chocolate fountain:
My mom Vaisy, Lola Vishi to her grandkids, prepared a Chocolate Fondue that everybody enjoyedNeed I say more?
I bought the colored plates, cups, spoons, and forks from the grocery. The food we served ourselves which I think was a mistake. Lesson learned: hire waiters.
I prepared cupcakes too. I did not bake them but I prepared them with icing to be as cute and complement the Whimsical Noah’s Ark centerpiece I got. The cake stand I borrowed from Nio. I got too excited preparing the cupcakes that I prepared about a hundred: 60 boxed and the rest displayed on the stand.
I printed animals pairs to serve as cupcake toppers and the centerpiece I got I placed on top…
That’s me, (30 lbs ago!) Noah, and my husband Joshua and the Noah’s Ark Cupcake TowerCupcake boxes from Sweet Craft for the guestsI also bought Noah’s Ark chocolate mold from the US and had them delivered together with the other Noah’s Ark loot. My mom made the Noah’s Ark Chocolate Lollipop.
The event started with a video prepared by our churchmate Claudine Rodriguez. I simply sent her photos and the songs I wanted and didn’t even bother watching it before the party. As expected, it was awesome! The video almost made me cry but I had to control myself. Di pa nga nag-uumpisa ang party!
Here is the video:
Pastor Jerry, our church’s former Senior Pastor officiated the dedication ceremony. It was a very special event for us. Joshua and I wanted to bring glory to God and show the guests that we are raising Noah in the fear of the Lord, praying that he will be an obedient and loving child of God.
This was during the dedication proper. Noah was well-behaved and was even laughing at one part. Sorry, but I can’t find a clearer photo.
And just because I wanted to, I rented an animal standee from Bebe’s Balloons.
My niece Unique and nephew NeickyCute! Ninang Karen, Sarj, and her nephewICS Youth – our church’s youth group
Noah was almost 6 months here
We ended up with 140 guests! We spent more or less P40,000 for this party. It would’ve been less if not for the unnecessary kaartehan. (Seriously!) I went overboard with the favors. As in OA! It was fun though! I know everybody had fun. Noah may not understand what was happening then but someday, we’ll show him these photos and know that mommy went overboard. Lol!
I decided to look at September differently and it’s been good. This has got to be the busiest month for my kid attending birthday parties left and right. On the first weekend of September alone, we attended 3 parties already. We’ll be attending more before the month ends. I love attending parties especially those I know the parents’ really went all out preparing for. I understand the parents’…moms’ excitement especially…because I, myself, always get overboard went it comes to party planning.
Two months from now, Noah will be celebrating his 3rd birthday. Earlier this year, husband an I decided to spend it at either McDonald’s, Jollibee, or KFC. We realized this will be the first time that Noah will really understand and enjoy that the party is for him.
But we’re no longer having a big one this year as we’re going out of town on my boys’ birthday week. I’m still thinking of having a small one at home though simply because I have a theme in mind. I just don’t know if I’ll still have the energy by then. We’ll see.
I love planning for events! If I’m not a stay-at-home mom or have a full-time work, I’d probably be organizing events. It can be stressful I know but always fun!
I’ll be posting past parties I’ve planned for Noah. As much as possible, I try to work within a given budget but I always overspend. (Who doesn’t?)
I don’t claim to be an expert. I’m not a pro. I’m just a wife, a mommy, and a sister. I’m just a girl who has many ideas and who wants to make her loved ones happy. 🙂
She knew about this but had no idea about ‘the works’. Even my brother didn’t expect I’d do it this way. i guess it’s when you really love someone that you’d take time to get to know what will make her happy.
A simple tweet that she wanted an ‘Angry Birds Cake’ for her birthday gave me an idea. She’s turning a quarter of a century old anyway so why not make this a bit special. Plus she’s part of our family.
I bought the cupcakes from my trusty old cake supplier Kate Peralta of CreamPuffs by Kate and picked them up at Trinoma that day. I prepared some Angry Birds pens and erasers as souvenirs and prepared the Angry Birds balloon cutouts the night before. As for the balloons, I give credit to my husband for inflating them.
Happy Birthday Sister! We ♥ you. 🙂
PS: The party was also a tribute to the popular Angry Birds as Noah’s real ancestors. As you know, he speaks exactly like them right now. LOL!
You may also read the article I wrote for TechFever.
It was the most organized kiddie birthday party I’ve attended so far. Kudos to Mommy Carla for planning the party, Daddy France for the Bubble Show (Josh enjoyed it), and of course, to the birthday girl, Noah’s co-Elmo buddy Julia.
Josh loved the food prepared by Contis while I enjoyed the Red Mango FroYo booth. As for Noah, he enjoyed eating his watch and hands and making sure his gelled up hair wouldn’t be destroyed. 😀
