How to throw a house party
A house party has no vendors to book, which is why it gets left to the last day and then goes wrong. The work is small and it all sits in the week before: decide the food, buy the drinks, test the speaker, tell the neighbours. Then the night runs itself.
House party checklist
6 weeks before
- Draft the guest list
- Book the venue, or confirm the space at home
4 weeks before
- Send invitations
- Choose the menu
- Pick a theme and décor
2 weeks before
- Chase RSVPs from anyone who hasn't replied
7 days before
- Lock the headcount
- Collect allergy and dietary notes
- Buy decorations and non-perishables
- Draft the party-day run of show
- Plan the games: cards, board games, charades
3 days before
- Make the playlist and test the speaker
2 days before
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
1 day before
- Send guests parking and arrival details
- Buy perishables and ice
Party day
- Set up décor and the space
2 days after
- Send thank-you notes
- Settle costs with co-hosts
- Share photos with guests
Add your date, guest count and budget and get this checklist with real due dates, plus a menu that respects dietary needs.
Plan mine freeHow to split the budget
A typical split for a house party, shown for 25 guests and a $400 budget. The percentages hold at any size.
| Category | Share | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 40% | $160 |
| Drinks | 30% | $120 |
| Music & games | 10% | $40 |
| Decorations | 8% | $30 |
| Plates & supplies | 7% | $25 |
| Buffer | 5% | $25 |
Party-day schedule
A 4-hour party starting at 3:00 PM.
- 2:00 PMSet up the space and décor
- 2:45 PMFinal walk-through, music on
- 3:00 PMGuests arrive, drinks
- 4:00 PMFood
- 5:00 PMGames
- 6:00 PMMusic and dancing
- 7:00 PMParty ends, start clean-up
Menu ideas
- Beef sliders
- Chicken wings
- Caprese skewers
- Hummus and veggie platter
- Cheese and charcuterie board
- Mini tacos
- Dessert bar
- Mocktails and sparkling water
Shopping for 25
- Plates38 plates
- Cups75 cups
- Napkins75 napkins
- Drinks75 cans or bottles
- Ice3 10 lb bags
- Trash bags2 bags
Tips from the plan
- Plan the games a week out
- Cards, a board game or charades cost nothing and rescue the flat hour after everyone has eaten. Decide now, not at 10pm.
- Test the speaker with the playlist on it
- Make the playlist three days ahead and play it through the speaker you'll actually use. Bluetooth pairing is not a job for a room full of guests.
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Two days before, in person, with an end time. It costs a minute and buys you the whole night.
- Food and drink are most of the budget
- Food is about 40% and drinks 30%. Music, decorations, plates and a buffer share what's left, so don't let décor eat the food money.
- Put the food out an hour in
- Drinks first, food around the hour mark, games after. Serving too early empties the table before half your guests have arrived.
Questions
How much food and drink do I need for a house party?
For twenty-five guests, plan food that arrives about an hour in rather than a sit-down meal: several substantial snacks, one or two hot dishes and something sweet. Budget roughly 40% on food and 30% on drinks, and include non-alcoholic options and plenty of ice.
How do I plan a house party in a week?
Send the invite and decide the food first, plan the games about a week out, make the playlist and test the speaker three days before, tell the neighbours two days before, and shop the day before.
What time should a house party start and end?
An evening start with a four-hour run works well: drinks for the first hour, food at the hour mark, games around two hours in, then music for the rest. Putting the end time on the invite makes that last hour much easier.
How do I keep a house party from getting out of hand?
Say the end time on the invite, tell the neighbours beforehand, keep one room quiet for people who want to talk, and put anything you'd hate to lose out of the way before guests arrive.
Do I need to tell my neighbours about a house party?
It's worth doing. A short conversation two days ahead, with the date and the time you expect to finish, turns a complaint into a courtesy.