There once was a time when your feed was full of wedding celebrations. Now it’s all about the big-kid birthday bash. And you’re right there wanting to gift your children an over-the-top celebration they’ll remember long after the candles are blown out.

There’s just one problem: You didn’t magically turn into an event planner when you became a parent — and you certainly didn’t win the lottery. Luckily, Kara Allen of Kara’s Party Ideas can help. The party planner, author and dessert stylist has helped design themed celebrations since 2009, so you could say she knows a thing or two.

One example: The ideal length of a child’s birthday party is between 90 minutes and two hours. You’ll also want to be up front with parents about the menu (i.e., whether you plan to serve food or just cake and ice cream). It’s important for guests to know if you’ll be sending kids home hungry or with a full belly, she points out.

Below, Allen shares more insights for planning a magical birthday celebration — as illustrated through her original Ring Pop party theme, “Celebrate with a POP!” It’s her sweetest idea yet.

Start with a fun invitation.

“I love the physical invite because I enjoy the design of it,” says Allen.

She recommends doubling up by hand-delivering invites that introduce the party’s theme (we like these, shown below), then following up with a digital version to ensure grown-ups get the memo and to streamline the RSVP process. For her Ring Pop party, “we made these little boxes,” she says. “When you open one, confetti comes out along with the invite and a Ring Pop, of course.”

kara's party ideas
Kara's Party Ideas


Set the scene.

The key to really nailing the decorations is an eye-catcher or focal point for when guests enter the room. Whether it’s the dessert table or a big entrance sign, you want something that gets them excited upon arrival, Allen says. She leaned into her theme by creating balloon arches and incorporating marquee letters (we like these, pictured below). She also framed Pop Art-style photos of the guest of honor.

Craftier types can also DIY wherever possible. For instance, Ring Pop lollipops can be repurposed as napkin rings, place cards and straw toppers, while oversize replicas of the beloved candy can be fashioned with just a little cardboard and creativity.

kara's party ideas
Kara's Party Ideas
kara's party ideas
Kara's Party Ideas

Get the party started ASAP.

There should be an activity going on as soon as kids arrive, “so they’re not just standing around waiting for the other guests to get there,” says Allen. It doesn’t need to be grand — even a quick game of tag in the backyard will keep them entertained in the early minutes. Her go-to is an art station for coloring or painting, like this one, shown below.

kara's party ideas
Kara's Party Ideas

Have a marquee activity.

This is Allen’s hard-and-fast rule: “They need to have something to do.” Among the most requested from her clients are bouncy houses — “they’re huge right now” — as well as large-scale painting projects and the classic movie-snack combo.

For this party, Allen created a stage area where kids could be pop stars, cheering and applauding for each other as they sang their favorite pop hits.

kara's party ideas
Kara's Party Ideas
kara's party ideas
Kara's Party Ideas

Finish sweet.

A good dessert table can kill two birds with one stone, says Allen, serving as both activity and refreshment. She suggests incorporating various treats (in this case, jars filled with Ring Pop lollipops, cupcakes with Ring Pop toppers and bowls of popcorn), or going with a singular theme, like an ice cream station stocked with all the fixings where guests can create their own sundaes.

kara's party ideas
Kara's Party Ideas

Treat your guests.

Skip the party favors that will end up in the trash or as frustrating clutter for parents, and instead consider an edible take-home. As Allen says, a baked good or Ring Pop treat presented in a cute, clear box will give them “all the feels about the party they went to.”

kara's party ideas
Kara's Party Ideas

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