Events & Celebrations
Weddings, parties, holidays and seasonal planning.
11 premium · 1 free
These guides are for the person who ends up doing the planning — the bride budgeting her own wedding, the friend hosting a shower, the parent pulling off a birthday on a school night, the coworker organizing a send-off. Each one gives you a timeline, a budget you can actually fill in, and lists you can print and check off.
Start where your stress is. If the wedding itself is the problem, open Wedding Budget Planner: What Every Dollar Should Really Cover, or Micro Wedding Ideas for an Intimate 10-30 Guest Day if your guest list is small. Hosting at home? The Checklist for Backyard Wedding Planning That Covers Permits, Power and Rain handles the parts nobody warns you about.
For showers and parties, The Complete Checklist for Bridal Shower Planning and Birthday Party Planner Checklist: Plan Any Party in 8 Weeks cover host duties and timing. In December, start with Christmas Gift List: Plan Every Recipient, Budget and Buy Date and the free Holiday Card Addresses tracker.
Plan the wedding
premium+2 bonusesFor couples deciding how to split a fixed total across venue, food, photos and the dozens of smaller line items.
premiumReach for this when you want a small guest list and need help holding that line without hurting feelings.
premiumFor anyone marrying at a home or private property, where power, parking, restrooms and weather are yours to solve.
Host the shower or party
premium+1 bonusFor the maid of honor or family member asked to host, unsure who pays and who gets invited.
premium+1 bonusUse this when you need real cost estimates and food quantities for a specific headcount.
premiumFor parents and hosts planning any age, from toddler parties to milestone birthdays for adults.
premiumFor families planning around a crowded May and June calendar with open-house or sit-down formats.
premium+1 bonusFor coworkers or family organizing a send-off with speeches, and wondering how long it should run.
Get through the holidays
premiumFor anyone who overspends in December and wants per-person limits set before the shopping starts.
freeUse this once, in any year, to build a list you stop rebuilding every November.
premium+1 bonusFor hosts with about four weeks, a rental or small home, and a long guest list.
New in this topic
Common questions
How far ahead should I start planning a party?
Eight weeks is comfortable for birthdays and graduations, and four weeks is workable for a holiday gathering. Use Birthday Party Planner Checklist: Plan Any Party in 8 Weeks or Graduation Party Planning Ideas for the longer runway, and How to Plan a Christmas Party Without the Last-Minute Panic when time is tight.
How much food and drink do I need per guest?
It depends on the hour and whether you're serving a meal or appetizers. The Wedding Shower Checklist breaks quantities down at 10, 25 and 50 guests, and How to Plan a Christmas Party Without the Last-Minute Panic gives per-guest amounts for a cocktail-style evening.
Can I really host a wedding at home for less?
Often yes, but the savings shrink once you add rentals, restrooms, power and a rain plan. The Checklist for Backyard Wedding Planning That Covers Permits, Power and Rain walks through those costs, and Wedding Budget Planner helps you compare the total against a venue.
Who hosts and pays for a bridal shower?
Traditionally the wedding party or a close friend or relative hosts, with costs sometimes shared among several hosts. The Complete Checklist for Bridal Shower Planning covers host duties, guest list etiquette and how to split the bill without awkwardness.