How To Plan A Pizza-Themed Home Birthday Party?
Every year Americans eat about 3 billion pizzas, obviously one of life’s greatest joys. Why not combine that joy with the fun of celebrating a birthday? If you are throwing a birthday party, you can’t go wrong with a pizza theme. Scrumptious cheesy pies are obviously the main dish, but you can do so much more with the theme. Birthday pizza party planning doesn’t have to be hard. Learn how to take the pizza theme to the next level with tips on invitations, food, decorations and party favors.
The Invitations
No birthday party is complete without family and friends to celebrate. Invitations offer a fun and innovative way to show off the pizza theme.
1. Go Shopping
Pizza parties are popular for good reason. People love the food and the fun. You can go out to a local party store and browse their selection of ready to go invites. Buy as many as you need and address them at home. If you are looking for a bit more customization, there are plenty of online options for picking out or designing invites. You can pick out a premade template or choose everything from the font to colors, to the size and shape of the invitation.
2. DIY
If you have any crafty inclinations, party invitations are a good excuse to break out the paper and glue. Browse online for inspiration. Some simple construction paper can easily be cut into triangle “slices.” If the party is for a younger birthday boy or girl the guest of honor can have fun cutting up paper and putting together the invites.If you don’t want to start from scratch, you can find an online template that will help you put together the invitations.
3. Online Invites
If you have everyone’s email address, sometimes the easiest option is to go for online invitations. There are lots of options with Evite or Paperless Post. And these sites will also help you keep track of RSVPs and other details.
If you want to be a real party pleaser, include a pizza topping survey on the invite. This way you can find out what type of pizza guests are craving and know about any preferences or allergies ahead of time.
The Food
The invitations, the favors, and the fun are all important elements of a pizza themed party, but the food is what gets everyone excited. Plan out your menu ahead of time to make sure everyone has their fill of savoy pizza party treats.
1. Pick Your Pizza
When you have your guest headcount, you can start to plan how many pizzas and flavors to have at the party. First things first: make sure you have at least one of the favorites of the guest honor. Next, think about toppings. Pick at least a few different options that will cover all your bases. Or if you did a survey you can be guided by that. Plain cheese will be a hit with nearly everyone, plus it will fit the bill for any vegetarians at the party. You can also order a pie with veggie toppings. Meat lovers will go crazy for pepperoni and sausage.
Finally, how much do you think everyone will eat? You don’t want anyone fighting over the last slice.
Check out our blog post: How many pizzas should I order?
2. Sides
Pizza is the main dish, but you can always put out more of a spread for your guests. One option is to make a dipping bar for those slices. Line up some savory sauces like ranch, sriracha or barbecue, that guests can spoon on their plates. Add a veggie platter or French fries for even more dippable foods. Other classic pizza side dishes include garlic bread, pasta, and salad. Side dishes can be an excellent way to make sure any guests who don’t eat pizza still have other options.
3. Dessert
What’s a birthday without cake or something sweet? You can go with a classic cake decorated like a pizza with frosted toppings. Or you can opt for the simplicity and deliciousness of cupcakes. You can be just as creative with the decorations on these personal-size desserts. Cookie cakes and tarts can also be festively decorated to look like pizza.
The Decorations
Pizza-themed party decorations are your chance to go all out with the theme. You can make a room look like a classic pizza kitchen or simply put up pizza shapes everywhere you can.
1. Balloons
Balloons are a classic birthday party staple. If you want to keep it simple, you can buy packages of balloons in red, yellow, and orange. The color scheme will fit right in with the main dish and the theme. If you want to be a little more creative you can tie the balloons together in a triangle shape to make pizza balloons. Party stores and online outlets sell balloons shaped and colored like pizza slices and whole pies. Blow the balloons up yourself or have them filled with helium so they float. In addition to pizza balloons, you can buy lettered balloons to spell pizza.
2. Lights
Pizza string lights are inexpensive but a unique way to decorate for your birthday party. These lights are easy to find online or at a local party store. The brightly lit slices can be hung up on a wall, draped along a gift table or even placed along baseboards on a floor. If you decide to decorate with these, be careful they aren’t going to trip any guests. The lights will lend a cute, cheery glow to the party.
3. Plates, Cups, and Napkins
Plates, cups, and napkins are essential pizza-themed party supplies. Pizza may be a finger food, but your guests will need plates to eat from, napkins to clean up with, and cups for whatever drinks you will be serving during your party. Paper plates, cups, and napkins are a practical, eco-friendly option for a birthday party. Plus, you can find all with pizza colors and imagery. Pick your favorite options from online sellers or a local party store. Your guests will be delighted with the playful pizza-patterned supplies they can use throughout the party. While you shop for these supplies you can add other options like streamers and tablecloths, to your cart.
The Activities
While eating pizza is certainly fun, you can always add some activities to your pizza-themed party.
1. Photos
Create a photo booth to help capture the memories of the birthday party. Setting up a photo booth can be as simple as pinning up a backdrop and laying out some props. Feel free to play around with how the backdrop looks. Try a solid color or patterns that fit with the pizza theme. As to props, you can see what party stores and online sellers have to offer. Cute word bubbles (think “yum” or “pizza”) always help get people laughing while they snap a shot. People can also pose with the delicious slices they can actually eat. You can have a camera to take photos, or people can take turns snapping photos on their phones.
2. Pin the Ingredients to the Pizza
If you want to have a pizza-themed game at the party, this variation on pin the tail on the donkey will be sure to entertain your guests. Swap the donkey for a pizza. Blindfold your guests and see if they can pin different ingredients to the pie. You can make the pie and ingredients as big or small as you want. This can be another DIY project or you can go online to find a printable template. Set up a point system to determine a winner, or simply play for fun. You can hand out small prizes for the winner or for anyone who plays.
3. Playdough Pizza
A playdough pizza station is a great option for a birthday party with younger guests to make their own mini pizza and toppings. You can have a pizza making contest with prizes or you can give kids free rein to explore their playdough skills. The play dough pizzas are also a great prop for the photo booth. Make sure and keep your eye on tiny guests who might be tempted to eat the playdough pizza before the real thing is served.
The Party Favors
Party favors are a way to thank your guests for coming. Here are a few pizza-themed options that are sure to please your guests.
1. Chef’s Hats and Aprons
Paper chef hats and aprons are an adorable party favor option for younger party guests. Children can have the enjoyment of dressing up for the party theme, while adults will love taking photos of the little chefs. If you have a photo booth make sure to get a group shot. If you are throwing an adult pizza-themed birthday party, you can opt for higher quality cloth aprons as prizes for the games you play. The winners will be going home with something they can use in their own kitchens.
2. Pizza Socks
If you want to send all your pizza guests home with something they will enjoy, socks are an inexpensive option. Since so many people love pizza you will have no trouble finding socks with a pizza print. Set up a basket or box near the exit point of the party so every guest remembers to grab a pair on the way out. If there are smaller party goers and adult guests, pick out socks for smaller feet and adult feet. These pizza socks will remind your guests how much fun they had at your pizza themed birthday party.
3. To-Go Boxes
Throwing a birthday party means there is going to be a lot of food. Portability is part of pizza’s appeal, so enlist your guests in helping with the leftovers. Set out to go boxes so party guests can take home some slices and sides. Pizza still tastes delicious the next day. If they don’t have room for dessert, they can pick up a sweet treat to enjoy later.
Make your next birthday party a pizza-themed party. At TJ’s Take and Bake you never have to worry about waiting for delivery to feed your hungry party. Order our freshly made pizzas and bake them at home when you are ready for them. Or let TJ’s cater your pizza themed birthday party.
TJ’s Take and Bake Pizza and a pizza-themed birthday….perfect together!
