OMG, party planning peeps! Cora here from Baltimore! 🎉 My sweet little Ivy is turning ONE in just three months (I know, I know, I start early! It’s the teacher in me, gotta be prepared!), and we are doing a full-on adorable farm animal theme! Think little hay bales, cute cow print, maybe some chickens running around (not real ones, obviously, Ezra would lose his mind! 🤣).

I’m already drowning in Pinterest boards, which, let's be real, is half the fun! But now it’s time to actually BUY stuff, and I’m hitting a wall! I’ve checked out my local Giant (great for groceries, not so much for mini pitchforks, ha!) and I’m just feeling… uninspired? Everything is either super expensive or just kinda cheesy, not the cute rustic vibe I’m going for. My big boys, Theo (10) and Ezra (9), are already asking if there’s going to be a petting zoo, and I’m like, "First, Mom needs to figure out where to buy farm party supplies that don't break the bank!"

Seriously, for those of you who have tackled a farm theme, or ANY themed party, where do you go for your decorations? Like, actual places, online or in person! I need ideas for everything from plates to banners to those little animal cutouts. I’m hoping to find some fun stuff for under $200 for decorations, not counting the food and cake! I’m planning for about 25 people, mostly family and some of my preschool teacher friends. Any pro tips on keeping costs down but still having that WOW factor? I’m all ears! 👂

Cora, my friend, you are speaking my language! Farm parties are the BEST! Jude (my youngest, he's 3!) had a farm birthday last year, and it was epic! His absolute favorite thing in the world is tractors, so we leaned hard into that. I’m a stay-at-home dad in Portland, OR, with five kids (Jude, Owen (8), Max (9), Nora (10), Piper (12)), so I know ALL about budget party planning and trying to make it special! My wife, Addison, calls me a Pinterest addict, and she's not wrong! 😅

For me, the key is mixing and matching. Forget trying to find a full "farm animal party kit" all in one place. I swear by hitting up a few different spots. First, Amazon and Etsy are always my go-to for specific items like customized banners or really unique animal cutouts. I found these adorable little burlap treat bags on Etsy for like $15 for a dozen – perfect for mini cow cookies!

But For where to buy farm party supplies for the bulk stuff, like colored plates (red and white gingham, anyone?!), plastic tablecloths, and even some cute little bandanas for the kids, I actually had amazing luck at a craft surplus store here in Portland. Do you have anything like that in Baltimore? They had rolls of red-and-white checked fabric for super cheap, and I just cut it into squares for napkins! Saved me probably $30 right there. I also picked up some plain brown paper bags and used animal stickers on them for goodie bags. Simple, but effective!

Another thing I did for Jude’s party was make some DIY hay bales out of cardboard boxes and some raffia I already had in my craft stash. They looked surprisingly good! For the activities, we did a "pin the tail on the donkey" (I printed a huge donkey picture at FedEx Kinko's for $8) and had a "farmer's market" stand where kids could pick out plastic fruits and veggies. It was a huge hit, especially with the younger ones like Jude. You can get a lot of mileage out of simple ideas, especially with preschoolers. Oh, and for some more boy-specific farm ideas, I found this article super helpful: Farm Party Ideas For Boys. Good luck, Cora! You got this! 🎉

Hey Cora! Ananya here from Pittsburgh! I totally get the struggle. Finding cute AND affordable party supplies can be a real headache, especially when you’re trying to avoid a ton of waste afterwards. I’m a single mom with a four-year-old, and with Kai (1), Willow (4), Ellie (9), Meera (11), and Wyatt (13) running around, I’m all about reusable everything and trying to keep things eco-conscious. My husband, Owen, is usually the one who reminds me to check Giant Eagle for good deals on snacks, but for party stuff, it's a bit tougher!

When I think about where to buy farm party supplies, I immediately think outside the box. Instead of buying themed plates that just get trashed, I invested in a set of reusable plastic plates and cups in farm-appropriate colors (red, white, brown) that I use for every single party. They were like $25 for a set of 12 at Target, and I’ve used them probably 10 times already! Big money saver in the long run and way less garbage. For Willow's 4th birthday, we did a garden theme, which is pretty close to farm, and I used fabric napkins I made from old bedsheets. Seriously, just cut squares, no hemming required! Looks rustic, feels great.

One thing I would do differently for Willow's party: I bought these super cute little plastic animal figurines to scatter on the table and as cake toppers. They were adorable, but honestly, after the party, half of them ended up in the toy box for two days and then… nowhere. Nobody really played with them, and they just became clutter. Next time, I would either borrow some from a friend’s kid or skip them altogether and maybe use real mini pumpkins or gourds from a farmer's market for decoration – way more natural and compostable!

For banners, I usually make my own out of craft paper or even old cardboard boxes I get from the grocery store. A little paint, some string, and you've got a personalized banner for practically free! And if you're looking for cheap, cute favors, instead of plastic toys, what about little packets of seeds (like sunflower or carrot) that kids can plant at home? They’re usually like $1 a packet at garden stores, and it’s a fun activity! Good luck with Ivy's big day!

Hey Cora, Elijah here from Tucson, AZ. Asher, my son, is 13 now, so our party days are a little different, but back when he was younger, I was all about throwing the best party on the block. I'm competitive, what can I say? My wife, Josephine, always had to rein me in. We even had a dachshund, Nala, who would get dressed up for every party! Anyway, For where to buy farm party supplies, I approached it like a treasure hunt.

Forget the party stores for the truly unique stuff. I'm a big believer in thrift stores and antique shops. You'd be surprised what you can find! For Asher's 5th birthday (he was into cowboys, so pretty close to farm!), I found a couple of old, small metal milk pails for like $7 each. Polished them up, and they were perfect for holding napkins and cutlery. Also grabbed an old wooden crate for $12 that we used to display drinks. These weren't "party supplies" per se, but they really set the rustic tone and I still use them for storage today.

For more specific items like banners and balloons, I usually just went with Party City or Walmart. They have pretty standard stuff. But for the little details that make a party *pop*, you gotta hit up those unexpected places. For example, for party hats, instead of the flimsy paper ones, I found these really sturdy, colorful ones that looked like miniature cowboy hats at a dollar store. They were a hit! We also got some fun Kids Birthday Party Hats 11-Pack that lasted the whole party and beyond!

My biggest piece of advice is to start early, which you're already doing, so excellent! That gives you time to really scour different places. I remember one time for a backyard BBQ, I waited until the last minute to find these specific checkered tablecloths, and I ended up paying double what I wanted at a specialty shop. Never again! Planning ahead lets you find deals and really curate your decorations instead of settling. Good luck with Ivy's party!