My A-Z Checklist for Effortless Party Planning 🎉

The Savor Beauty Planner keeps event planning organized!

My daughter turns 13 this week! When I asked her what party theme she wanted this year, her answer was, “Mom, my friends don’t want to go to a party where they don’t know each other. I want small little gatherings for my separate friend groups.”

Over the last decade with my business, I’ve planned and organized hundreds of events from little gatherings for four to massive conferences for 500. My preference is always quality over quantity so while I love a disco dance party for 40 people, I am partial to micro-events because they are less stress and more fun for everyone, including me.

And, when you can pour your love into each guest, they leave with a glow that radiates gratitude, happiness, and connection.

Mom + Daughter Massage + Mask Spa Party

See my A-Z template below to throw your own party!

1. Choose a Theme!

The best gatherings always have a theme that gives everyone a fun experience. Here are some ideas I’ve used in the past:

THEMES BRING GUESTS INTO YOUR WORLD

• Great Gatsby NYE dance party with a disco ball, costumes, and Great Gatsby drinks

• Galentine’s Day gathering (pictured) with a certified lip reader and Rose Water Pink Fizz drinks

• Candlelit cozy dinner party for a double date with a slow-cooked 12-hour lamb stew and Apple Cider cocktails

• New Moon events with a tarot card reader, visioning stations, and Moonshine cocktails

2. Make Magic (with the four AAAAs)

• Activities:
  Choose one thing that people can focus on when they arrive. The shared experience relaxes and connects people, especially if they don’t know each other.

• Attire:
  People love to know what attire is expected. Is it casual, fancy, or in between?

• Atmosphere:
  This includes decor, music, and lighting. Choose decor and music that allow your guests to enter your world. It doesn’t have to be fussy. For example, for my “Candlelit cozy dinner party”, I put candles everywhere, used Pina table lights, turned on Billie Holiday, and our guests loved the intimate atmosphere.

• Alcohol (or non-alcohol drinks):
  Themed drinks always make a statement that elevates the experience. Cocktails have endless possibilities and have such fun names, and you can also serve tea, coffee, and virgin versions!

ATTIRE: RED, WHITE, PINK

A great way to connect is to tell guests what color to wear to match your theme! This was for a woman empowerment conference in Saugerties, NY that I hosted with my friend, Sara Blette, in 2017.

3. Adopt the “Gorgeous Chaos” Mindset

I’m a no-fuss host, and I don’t like to stress before, during, or after. So I adopt a “gorgeous chaos” mindset: if there’s chaos, you double down and focus on the gorgeous, positive aspects. This allows you to stay in “solutionizing” mode.

• Accept that perfection does not exist and things will inevitably go wrong. If you stay calm, you will always find a workaround and can even turn it into something even better. (Scroll down to see a real-life example!)

• Reduce your stress by getting disposable eco-friendly plates and silverware. Trust me, you don’t want to spend your time doing the dishes!

• Delegate to hired help if you have a larger gathering of 15 or more, and if it’s within budget. They can help greet guests, keep drinks flowing, and clean up during and after your event.

• Eliminate stressors like worrying about guests getting too tipsy. I like to serve Champagne or Prosecco—it’s the classiest drink option because people usually drink less and if there’s an accidental spill, there are no stains.

MY A-Z PARTY TEMPLATE

Let me show you how I brought all of this to life with one of my daughter’s birthday gatherings. I’ve included my A-Z template and checklist of how I planned and organized the event. You can repurpose this template for your party planning!

I noticed that my daughter’s friends have started coming to Savor Beauty + Spa for teen facials, so for one of her micro-events, I knew exactly what would be the perfect teen experience: a mini “Mom-Daughter Massage + Mask” spa party!

Don’t miss my golden rule at the end for all events—from small to big—so that you, too, can enjoy and savor them.

Mini Massage + Mask Spa Party

DATE: Sunday, October 1, 2022

LOCATION: Home

THEME:

• Mom + Daughter “Massage + Mask” Party

INVITE LIST (4-8 people):

• Tulin + Mom

• Mari + Mom

• Sienna + Mom

ACTIVITIES:

• Foot massage by a therapist

• Hot towel face masks

ATTIRE:

• Comfortable spa clothes or sweats

ATMOSPHERE:

• Happy Birthday Balloons for decor

• Cake + candles

• Spa music

ALCOHOL OR NON-ALCOHOL DRINK:

• Bubble tea for teens

• Mimosas for adults

FOOD:

• Tiramisu Birthday Cake

• Indian food (take out from Sienna’s fave restaurant)

GOODY BAG (optional):

• Cherry and Manuka Beauty Cocktail Kit

CHECKLIST:

2-3 weeks before:

• Book massage therapist for 1-2 hours (each person should get 10-15m massage)

• Buy supplies* (see below)

• Send out invites telling guests the themed occasion, date, location, attire

3-7 days before:

• Order food, cake, drinks

• Get disposable (eco-friendly) plates, cups, silverware, if needed (not doing dishes during a spa party reduces stress!)

Day of:

• Get the food + drinks ready

• Put out plates, utensils, decor

*SUPPLIES (pick and choose what suits your needs best):

Face mask (this soothing mask is perfect for all skin types, from teenage to mature):
I use Savor Beauty products; feel free to choose your own products and brands!

• Manuka Honey Detox Mask

• Cherry Collagen Peel

• Chamomile Moisture Mask

• Pumpkin Serum

• Spa Mask Brush

• Small bowl to mix the mask

• Face Towels (1 per person)

• Eucalyptus Essential Oil

• Medium size bowl for hot water

Foot Massage:

• Cinnamon Arnica Oil

• Hand towels (2 per person)

• Big bowl for hot water

SPA PREP (you can do this while the guests are there—they will love seeing you prepare their masks):

Face Mask:

• Put a dollop of Manuka Honey Detox Mask, a dollop of Cherry Collagen Mask, 2 pumps of Chamomile Moisture Mask into a small mixing bowl

• Mix it until it becomes a batter-like consistency

• Fill the bowl with hot water, add 2-3 drops of essential oil. Put one towel per face into the hot water.

• Apply with a clean mask brush onto face. Each person can do it on their own or the host can easily apply it for each guest.

  Best practice is to make a fresh new mask for each person and always thoroughly clean the mask brush with gentle soap and water for sanitary purposes!

• Wring out hot face towel so that it is only slightly damp. Put onto face and let the guest sit back and enjoy the relaxing aromatherapy. If preferred, pull towel up over the mouth for easier breathing.

• Take off after 1-5 minutes depending on comfort level and thoroughly take off the melted mask.

• Apply a pea-size amount of serum to lock in the moisture and glow!

Foot Massage:

• Fill the big bowl with hot water, add 2-3 drops of essential oil. Put two towels per person into the hot water.

• Allow the therapist to sit comfortably in front of a reclining chair or a couch. S/he will know what to do from there!

This is a beautiful way to bond over beauty and have fun in a soothing environment.

GOLDEN RULE—GORGEOUS CHAOS:

Don’t stress if things go wrong because things never go exactly as planned.

If you stay flexible and nimble, you can enjoy and savor even more magic!

For example, one of Sienna’s friends got sick so she and her mom could not attend, leaving us with two massage spots at the last minute.

It was also raining outside so my partner and the husband and son of our guests had nowhere to go (we live in NYC—it’s not easy to walk around in the rain!)

To preserve all-girl bonding time, we put the boys out on the balcony with a ceiling covering, ordered extra Indian food for them, and then invited them at the end to enjoy foot massages.

It all worked out to be an even better party. When things go wrong, more creativity and magic are meant to happen!