Practical, no-nonsense guides to help you plan your next celebration. Written by the ZED’S PARTY team in Devon.

How to Plan a Children’s Birthday Party in 7 Simple Steps

Planning a children’s party doesn’t need to be stressful. Here is the order we suggest doing things in.

1. Pick the date and set a budget

Weekends book up fast, so choose your date three to four weeks ahead and decide roughly what you want to spend before buying anything. A simple split that works: about half on food and cake, the rest on decorations, activities and party bags.

2. Choose a theme (or just a colour)

A theme can be as simple as “everything pink and gold” or as specific as dinosaurs or unicorns. Ask your child what they are into right now — then check our party supplies to see what fits.

3. Sort the guest list and invites

A useful rule of thumb for younger children is the age of your child plus one guest. Send invites two to three weeks ahead and ask about allergies when parents RSVP.

4. Keep the food simple

Finger food wins every time: sandwiches cut small, fruit, crisps, and one showpiece cake. Plan the cake moment for about two-thirds of the way through the party, when energy dips.

5. Decorate the day before

Banners, garlands and table covers can all go up the evening before. Leave only balloons for the morning so they stay at their best.

6. Plan one more activity than you think you need

Pass-the-parcel, musical statues, a craft table — have a spare game ready. Ninety minutes to two hours is plenty for under-eights.

7. Make a day-of checklist

Candles, matches or a lighter, a cake knife, bin bags, and a camera with charge. The small things are the ones that get forgotten.

Balloon Safety: What Every Parent Should Know

Balloons make a party — and like anything at a children’s celebration, they are safest when adults know the basics.

Supervision for under-8s

Children under eight can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Keep uninflated balloons out of reach, let adults do the blowing up, and pick up burst pieces straight away. This is the single most important rule — you will find it printed on balloon packaging, and it is worth taking seriously.

During the party

Keep balloons away from faces, don’t let children bite or chew them, and tie foil balloon ribbons at a height where they can’t wrap around little necks.

Latex awareness

A small number of children have latex allergies. If you’re inviting children you don’t know well, it’s worth a quick mention when parents RSVP — foil balloons are a good alternative if needed.

After the party

Snip burst balloons into pieces before binning them, and never release balloons outdoors — they end up as litter and can harm wildlife.

Simple Tablescape Ideas for Any Celebration

Tablescaping is just a friendly word for styling your table — and you don’t need to be a stylist to get a table that makes guests say “wow”.

Start with a colour story

Pick two main colours plus one accent. A plain table cover in your base colour instantly ties everything together and hides an everyday table.

Layer from big to small

Work in this order: table cover first, then a runner or contrasting strip down the middle, then plates and cups, then the small touches — napkins, confetti, place cards.

Get some height in the middle

A centrepiece doesn’t need to be flowers. A small balloon cluster, a cake stand, or a paper fan decoration lifts the whole table. Keep it low enough that guests can see each other.

Napkins do more than you think

A patterned napkin, simply folded under the fork or fanned in a cup, adds polish for pennies. Match them to your accent colour.

For kids’ tables

Skip anything breakable, use paper cups with names written on them (fewer half-finished drinks!), and leave space in the middle for the food they actually care about.

Ready to start? Browse our full range of tableware and decorations.