As a young adult, my friends and I would take turns hosting various theme parties. It was kind of our thing. Everyone would come dressed up in their own interpretation of the theme, and we always had a blast. Since then, I became known among my friends and family for hosting great parties and gatherings. I love entertaining, bringing ideas to life, and even love the creative problem-solving that comes with planning an event.
Fast forward to my thirties: I became a parent, and my life changed completely. My time was no longer my own, and my partner and I just did not have the capacity to host anymore between navigating our new roles and figuring out how to care for a tiny human. That first year was filled with discovery and reinvention, and then the time came to plan my son’s first birthday party. The host in me was reawakened after a year of dormancy, and I saw an opportunity to reclaim a piece of myself I’d lost.
The first birthday was very stressful. My party plans were grand as always, but now I had additional responsibilities competing for my precious time. I underestimated what it would take to execute my vision for the party. And although everyone enjoyed themselves, I was so busy executing that I barely had time to visit with anyone and didn’t even think to take photos until after the guests had gone.
The next year was smoother, having learned from how the first birthday went. I started planning way earlier than I thought I needed to, and borrowed a few menu items from the previous year. As I grew into motherhood I adapted my daily life into routines, systems, and formulas, and this wound up translating into how I now plan parties. With each party, I refined my approach, learning from the previous year. The parties weren’t any less ambitious; I just got better at understanding my capacity and tendencies, and planning/scheduling around them.
Why I started Party in a Printer
When looking at event planning advice online, I see a common thread: rigid timelines, generic budget allocations, and boilerplate frameworks. For example, if I search online for how long it takes to plan a kids’ birthday party, I get 3-4 weeks as a result. But for me, that advice doesn’t account for the fact that I work full-time with no family nearby to help with childcare, I DIY a lot of elements, and I have a specific vision that makes planning and sourcing supplies take a while at times. For me, planning my kid’s birthday party starts months in advance; not because that’s standard, but because I know I have way too many other things going on to manage it all on a shorter timeline.
When all the advice assumes everyone has the same constraints, values, and priorities, it creates a problem. People have lives to live. They work full time. They have varying responsibilities that demand their time. And life throws surprises all. the. time. The neat little box that is ‘how to plan a party’ doesn’t accommodate everyone’s lifestyle and vision.
I have over a decade of experience in project management and engineering – managing budgets, coordinating teams, and scheduling complex projects. I’ve also planned a champagne wedding on a beer budget. These experiences taught me that good planning isn’t about following a rigid set of rules. It’s about understanding your resources, your priorities, and your reality, and then building a system that actually works for you.
Party in a Printer is built on one core belief: You shouldn’t feel bound to generic planning advice that doesn’t fit your life.
On this site, you’ll find:
- Frameworks that adapt to you, not the other way around
- Conversations about trade-offs (time, money, skill, aesthetic)
- Systems designed for real people with real constraints (tight budgets, limited time, varying skill levels)
- Practical tools that actually reduce overwhelm instead of creating more
- Printables and resources that are both beautiful and functional
Whether you’re planning a playground birthday party with pizza and cake or an elaborate multi-month project, this site is designed to help you feel confident and in control, not overwhelmed or like you’re failing at a standard that wasn’t made for you.
Everyone is welcome here; however, the primary focus is on DIY event planners: regular people throwing their own parties, not professionals planning events for a living. It’s for people who feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice, people who want gorgeous events without losing their minds, and people who are honest about their capacity and willing to make strategic choices about where to invest their time and money.
If you’re looking for rigid timelines and perfectionism, this isn’t the place. If you’re looking for permission to plan your way, with realistic frameworks and functional tools? Welcome. You’re in the right spot.
Let’s make event planning feel manageable instead of impossible.