Planning your child's birthday party should not start with a random search for a venue. A few simple questions will save you a lot of time: how old is your child? How many children would you like to invite? What budget do you have in mind? Which activity would they really enjoy?
This guide walks you through each step to choose the most suitable activity, venue and package, then prepare for the big day with peace of mind.
Each step has its own page of detailed tips. Follow them in order, or go straight to the one you are working on today.
To get started
Enter the party date and get your plan: book the venue, send the invitations, order the cake, prepare the party bags. Free, printable, and ready to add to your calendar.
≃ 2½ months before
Start from what your child loves, estimate the number of guests and the budget, then choose the venue, the right time and the length of the party: everything to know before booking.
≃ 1½ months before
Choose the theme with your child, carry it through the invitations, decorations and cake, and find inspiration in our theme and colour ideas.
≃ 1 month before
When to send the invitations, what information to include and ready-to-copy messages, for quick replies with nothing forgotten.
≃ 1 month before
Find a present your child will love, order it in time for delivery and suggest a joint present to the other parents.
≃ 3 weeks before
Cake, snacks and allergies: what to plan, when to order from the baker and how to reassure the guests' parents.
≃ 2 weeks before
Small gift ideas for the little guests, suited to their age and to the party theme, without breaking the bank or filling the bags with plastic.
≃ 9 days before
Count the replies, gently remind the parents who have not answered and confirm the number of children with the venue before its deadline.
≃ the weekend before
The rules of a successful party bag, ideas by age and by theme, a budget under control and a checklist so nothing is forgotten.
≃ 3 days before
Is part of the party outdoors? How to read the forecast, plan a fallback and let the parents know in time.
≃ the day before
The decoration essentials, ideas by theme, tips for decorating on a budget, the cake table and a checklist.
≃ the day before
Our family recipe for chocolate fondant, with or without a Thermomix, and our tips for a cake ready the day before, with allergies in mind.
Party day
How the party unfolds, our tips for a party at a dedicated venue or at home, and the little details that make a big difference.
≃ the day after
Thank the guests, share the photos and leave a review of the venue: the small gestures that end the party beautifully.
One last look before clicking “Book”? Here is what you need to book with a light heart:
All ticked? All that's left is to book… and look forward to it!
You now know what to check: all that is left is to find the activity that suits your child.
On LetzCelebrate.co, search by age, number of children, date, area and budget, then refine with the filters: activity, duration, cake, supervision, accessibility, languages… Compare the packages of our partner venues and book online. Also browse venues by activity and by town to discover ideas you might not have thought of.
The most important thing? Do not look for “the best birthday party”. Look for the one that suits your child.
See all venues · See venues by town and by activity
The price mainly depends on the activity, the number of children, the duration and the services included. Always compare what the package contains, not just its price. On LetzCelebrate.co, partner venues show their prices, and the “Your budget” filter helps you compare.
There is no single age. Some activities are designed for toddlers, and the choice widens considerably as children grow. Pre-teens particularly enjoy experiences and challenges with friends. Enter your child's age in the search to see only suitable packages.
There is no rule: adapt the number to your child, the activity and the venue's capacity. For a first party with friends, a small group is often easier to manage.
It depends on the activity. Remember to allow for the welcome, snacks, cake and going home on top of the activity. The “Duration” filter helps you choose.
It depends on the venue. Some packages include the cake, others accept the one you bring. The “Birthday cake included” and “Bring your own birthday cake” filters let you sort venues.
It depends on the children's age and the venue. Some activities are fully supervised, others require an adult to be present. The “Activity leader / Supervision” filter helps you find a supervised package.
On Sundays, some of your child's friends may be away: check that the main guests are available before confirming the date. On LetzCelebrate.co, choose your dates in the search to see the partner venues still available.
For an outdoor activity, check before booking the terms for postponing or cancelling, and whether there is an indoor alternative.
Start from your child's interests rather than the type of venue. Searching by activity helps you discover very different ideas: creative workshops, sport, nature and animals, games, unusual experiences.
A venue bookable online is a LetzCelebrate.co partner: you can see its packages, prices and availability, and book directly on the site. A listed venue is shown for information only: online booking is not yet open, and its prices or availability have not been shared with us. Please contact it directly.
The best gift is often the one that leaves a memory. Think of a nice gift given by several people together, an experience to share with friends, or a game that gets played again and again. Most of the activities on LetzCelebrate.co also offer gift cards.
A simple plan is enough: welcoming the guests, the main activity, the snack break and the candles, group games, then home time. In a dedicated venue, the team takes care of the essentials according to the package you choose. At home, two or three age-appropriate activities and a little room for spontaneous games are enough.
A few well-chosen little surprises are enough: something to draw or craft with, a small pocket game, a treat, or a surprise that stands out, such as seeds to plant or temporary tattoos. Some packages include the party bags: see the “Services” filter.
On LetzCelebrate.co, venues that are bookable online are our partners: their packages, prices and availability are shown on their page, and you book directly on the site. The search filters answer most of the questions in this guide (age, number of children, date, budget, cake, supervision…).
Listed venues are shown for information only: for these, please ask the venue directly.
Plan the party step by step with our birthday planner. Create my planner