Churches often serve as the center of communities, hosting numerous events. You’re the head of the planning committee, and you’ve realized that planning a church party requires quite a bit of work. As for most events, it’s important to have a plan! Party planning is simplified when you think through the details of each element.. Here are some tips on how to throw a great church party!
How to Throw a Great Church Party
What’s the Goal?
Before getting deep into the planning, consider your goal. Is the party being hosted to celebrate an occasion? Is it to recognize an event important for the congregation or your faith? Are you wanting to foster fellowship among church members? If you know what the goal is, you’ll be able to plan everything else while keeping that in mind.
Set the Budget
When you think about how to plan a great church party, your budget should be set first. Before diving into any of the details of the party, you have to know what you’re working with. It can be easy to lose track of how much you spend otherwise. You’ll want to be frugal with the church’s money. That said, a fun event usually comes with standard costs, from the food, games, and decorations to entertainment. Be sure to allocate a certain amount for every category you’ll need to spend money on.
Most churches are 501c3 entities, so be sure to ask for a copy of the tax exempt letter. That will save the church some pennies. Be sure to only use the tax exempt letter on items purchased for the tax exempt entity. If you’re shopping for personal stuff at the same time, you’ll need to separate your orders. Keep all of your receipts for the party together in a large envelope, so that you can track things. It’s just too easy to lose receipts, and you’ll need to turn them in. Especially if you have to seek reimbursement.
Delegate
I’ve planned my share of church events and parties. Trust me, you need a team! Planning a party all on your own could be virtually impossible. Be sure to delegate some tasks, choosing key people in your church community who have some free time to help out. Once you know who will be helping, hold a meeting to discuss the process and make sure everyone is on the same page. You’ll want to make sure that everyone knows how to reach you when necessary, and schedule follow up meetings to discuss what’s been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
Choose a Theme
Most parties have a theme, and that theme will help decide the type of food, decorations and entertainment you’ll have at the party. It could be a Biblical theme, a Hawaiian luau theme, or perhaps you can combine a country like Mexico with another theme like community service work. If members of the church have diverse backgrounds, you might have a diversity theme, serving foods from various regions and hanging maps of the different countries people are from.
The options are pretty much endless, so you’ll want to settle on one and then stick with that throughout the planning process.
Hire Live Entertainment
Live entertainment is really a must for any memorable party. Fortunately, there are lots of outstanding Christian artists and bands available these days – you might be surprised to find that the cost can even fit into your budget.
Plan Activities
In addition to entertainment, you’ll want to give your guests something more to do than just stand around sipping punch. Scavenger hunts and charades (perhaps Bible-themed) are almost always a hit. Table talk cards are also a great way to encourage conversation.
The Food
The food is often the highlight of a party, helping to create a more memorable experience. Your theme can help dictate the type, but you’ll need to think about who will prepare it. If it’s in your budget, you may be able to have it catered. Otherwise, consider having a group of volunteers cooking up a variety of dishes to ensure the best possible feast.
Decor
The decor should be personalized to suit the theme or the occasion. Ask your most creative church members to help contribute, providing the details that are sure to make the party one to remember.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out my other posts about specific types of church functions and parties!
- Tea, anyone? How to Plan a Ladies Tea
- Get away together! How to Plan a Women’s Retreat
- Fellowship poolside! How to Plan a Luau
Be sure to follow these tips to ensure your party is one your church will remember for a long time!