What exactly does it take to make a truly great party? A party that your friends will not only remember but envy and like it or not that is the name of the game. There are several directions we can go so let's start with the first question.

What type of party do you wanna throw?

1. Birthday Party - a event focused on an individual usually occurring at home/backyard or at a small hall or tavern. (Kids, Sweet 16s, etc.)
2. Costume Party - which can be alot of fun OR a burden on your guests depending on your theme and time of year. (Mardi Gras & Halloween)
3. Retro-Party - a party based on a certain period in time, usually a decade. (Groovy 60s, Disco 70s, New Wave/Glam Metal 80s, etc.)
4. Block Party - The best kind of party there is! Where everyone in the neighborhood is on board and the street is our concrete dancefloor.
5. Holiday Party - Be it a Patriotic 4th of July or Memorial Day BBQ, an Irish celebration on St. Paddy's Day or the typical office Christmas Party.
6. Wedding Reception - From the Introductions to the Best Man's Toast to the Cake Cutting to the Parent's dances, everything must go smoothly!
7. Bar/Bat Mitzvah - From the Candle Lighting Ceremony to the Homemade Slideshow to the Blessing of the Bread. Modern or Traditional.

Whatever party type you choose, there is always a right and wrong way to do things. Let's look a little deeper into our choices.

Nobody knows the pulse of your child's heart like you do?

When planning a party for child, it is important to be UP-TO-THE-MINUTE in your "Hipness" but don't worry we have lots of little helpers at our disposal. New dances like "The Soulja Boy" come out of nowhere and most of the time, they disappear into a lame void even quicker. To avoid being "Lame-Old Mom and Dad" use the following resources to your advantage.

1. Friends - Your child's friends know what he or she likes better than anyone AND they will feel empowered by your asking for their assistance, thus making the best party for that particular age group. Trust me on this.
2. Other Parents - If there is one thing you can count on, there is no shortage of opinions about what doesn't work. People who have had a problem with a past party will be more than happy to share their misery with you and it's your job to sift through this information for helpful tips.