The Backyard Birthday Party Checklist (Orange County Edition)

Backyard birthdays are a big deal in Orange County. The weather cooperates, the kids have space to run, and you skip the $500+ venue fee. But pulling one off without losing your mind takes some planning.

This checklist keeps you on track from the moment you pick a date to the moment the last guest leaves. Print it. Screenshot it. Save it somewhere you'll actually look at it again.

This is your foundation week. Get the big decisions locked in now and everything else gets easier.

• Pick the date and time. Saturdays 10 AM–2 PM or 2 PM–6 PM work best in OC (afternoon heat matters from May through September). Check with your top 3 must-invite families first.
• Set your budget. Be honest with yourself. A great backyard birthday runs $300–$600 total for 15–20 kids. That covers food, entertainment, and basics.
• Book your entertainment. Bounce houses and water slides book fast, especially in spring and summer. Lock in your rental early. Bounce & Co rentals include delivery, setup, and pickup, so that's one less thing to coordinate.
• Choose a theme (or don't). Kids under 6 care about the theme. Kids over 6 care about the bounce house. Pick what makes your life easier.
• **Draft your guest list.** The rule of thumb: your child's age + 1 = number of kids. But honestly, invite who you want.

The details phase. This is where good parties separate from chaotic ones.

• Send invitations. Digital invites (Evite, Paperless Post, even a group text) are totally fine. Include: date, time, address, theme if any, and "the bounce house will be here all day" because that's what gets RSVPs.
• Plan your food. Keep it simple. Pizza + fruit + juice boxes covers 90% of kid birthdays. Order from a local spot because in OC, there's no shortage of good options. Budget $5–8 per kid.
• Buy decorations. Balloons, a banner, tablecloths. Dollar Tree and Party City handle this. Don't overthink it. The bounce house IS the centerpiece.
• Plan for shade. If your party runs past noon, you need shade. Bounce & Co rents pop-up canopies and tents alongside your bounce house, so it's one delivery and one setup. A patio umbrella over the food table also helps in that OC heat.
• Check your yard. Walk the space. Is the grass clear of pet waste, sprinkler heads, and sharp objects? Is there a flat area for the bounce house? Measure your available space because bounce houses come in different sizes, and you'll want to check the dimensions on our rentals page to find the right fit for your yard.

Execution mode. The big stuff is handled. Now nail the logistics.

• Confirm your headcount. Follow up with anyone who hasn't RSVP'd. You need a final number for food and goodie bags.
• Buy cake or cupcakes. Costco sheet cakes are $20 and feed 48. Local bakeries in Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Anaheim do custom cakes for $40–80. Cupcakes are easier to serve and less messy.
• Prep goodie bags. Optional but expected. Spend $2–3 per bag. Small toys, candy, a bubble wand. Done.
• Confirm your rental. If you booked a bounce house, confirm the delivery window and setup location. Bounce & Co handles this automatically with a confirmation message.
• Make a playlist. A Bluetooth speaker with a family-friendly playlist sets the mood. Spotify has dozens of ready-made kids' party playlists.
• Designate a shoes-off zone. Kids need to remove shoes before bouncing. A mat or tarp near the bounce house entrance keeps things organized.

• Clean the yard. Mow if needed. Pick up anything a barefoot kid might step on.
• Set up what you can. Tables, chairs, tablecloths, a drink station. Anything that won't blow away overnight.
• Charge your phone. You're going to want photos. Clear some storage too.
• Prep the cooler. Ice, water bottles, juice boxes. OC sun is no joke and hydration really matters.
• Brief your co-host. If your partner, parent, or friend is helping, assign roles: one person on food, one on kids, one on photos.

• Let the setup crew in. If you booked a bounce house, the delivery team arrives before the party. Point them to the setup spot and they handle the rest.
• Put out food 30 minutes before start. Guests always arrive early. Have something out.
• Shoes off, socks on. Remind kids (and adults) at the bounce house entrance. Grip socks help.
• Take photos early. The best shots happen in the first hour when kids are fresh and the setup looks clean.
• Do cake before the last hour. Energy drops fast after cake and presents. Get it done while kids are still engaged.
• Have fun. Seriously. The kids don't care about perfect decorations. They care about the bounce house and their friends. Enjoy it.

• **Leave the bounce house for pickup.** [Bounce & Co](https://www.bounceandco.com) handles teardown and pickup. Just leave it where it is.
• Send thank-you texts. A quick text with a photo from the party goes a long way. Do it the same night while you're thinking about it.
• Post your photos. Tag @bounce_and_co on Instagram if we were part of your party. We love seeing happy families.

• Bounce house rental: $180+ (full day, delivery + setup included)
• Food (pizza + fruit + drinks): $75–120 for 15–20 kids
• Cake or cupcakes: $20–80 (Costco to custom bakery)
• Decorations: $20–40 (balloons, banner, tablecloths)
• Goodie bags: $30–60 ($2–3 per bag)
• **Total: $325–480 for a great party, no venue fee**

A backyard birthday with a bounce house costs less than most play-space birthday packages, and the kids have way more fun.