Timeline template
Kids' birthday party planning timeline
A birthday party does not need a project plan. Just a few dates so the invitations go out, the cake gets ordered and you can enjoy the afternoon too. Start with four weeks of preparation and a simple party-day schedule, then change the dates and times to suit your family.
Use this template
Opens in the editor. Free, no signup.
The milestones
Roughly 4 weeks end to end. Weeks are relative to the first milestone — set your own dates once it's open in the editor.
| When | Milestone | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | Pick a date and place | Planning |
| Week 1 | Send invitations | Invitations |
| Week 2 | Order the cake | Party prep |
| Week 3 | Confirm guests and food needs | Party prep |
| Week 4 13:00 | Decorate and set up games | Party day |
| Week 4 14:00 | Party starts | Party day |
| Week 4 15:30 | Cake and candles | Party day |
| Week 4 16:00 | Home time and party bags | Party day |
What to put on it
- A date, a budget and a place to celebrate.
- Invitations with enough notice for other families.
- A cake order and a reminder to check food needs privately.
- Time to set up decorations and a couple of simple games.
- A clear start, cake time and pickup time for the day itself.
Questions
- How early should I start planning?
- Four weeks is a useful starting point for a small party. Allow more time if you need to book a popular venue or entertainer.
- Can I change the party date and times?
- Yes. Open the template in the editor and replace the example dates and times with your own. You can add or remove milestones too.
- Can I share it with other parents?
- Yes, but published plans are public links. Leave children's full names, home addresses and contact details out of the timeline, and share those privately.
Make it yours in about a minute.
The template opens as a draft in your browser. Edit the dates, publish when it's right, and share the link — it unfurls as a preview of the actual artifact in Slack, Teams, Discord, and iMessage.
Use this template