When it comes to party planning, it�s all about the details. Whether you�re planning a children�s birthday party or a wedding shower, there�s no need to hire a party planner. The Internet is teeming with affordable ways to up the �wow� factor of any party.

www.pinterest.com

When it comes to pre-party planning, Pinterest is definitely the place to start. Pinterest is an online pinboard, a visual take on the social bookmarking site. You could spend hours perusing Pinterest�s ample portfolio of pictures. Once you come across projects you�d like to tackle, simply �pin� them to your party-planning board for easy access later. It�s a great way to get inspiration, but also to develop a visual aid in actually bringing the whole party plan together.

www.evite.com

Sometimes there just isn�t enough time (or even the need) to send out actual physical party invitations. It can be more efficient to send out virtual invitations to party guests. That�s where Evite.com comes into the party-planning picture. Simply choose your template, type in pertinent party information, and add the email addresses of all the people you would like to invite. It�s that easy. With Evite.com, you can also set it up so you can receive notifications when your guests open and view their invitation. You can also get alerts when people leave RSVPs or comments on your invitation. The website also allows you to send out periodic �party reminders� to guests. It�s an easy way to keep track of your guest list.

Evite also has a section dedicated to party ideas. Featured is everything from top-five football party games to planning a lullaby baby shower, as well as deciphering party dress codes and how to host a Sunday brunch. Check back periodically for new features.

www.etsy.com         

The next step is to purchase cupcake toppers, personalized invitations, coordinating straws, water bottle labels, candy stickers, banners, personalized party outfits, custom cupcake wrappers, favor bag tags, and more. The best place to find all these things in one place is Etsy.com, the world�s most vibrant handmade marketplace. Type in what you�re looking for and an entire world of options is at your fingertips. Some Etsy shops that specialize in making party planning easier include: Printable Candee Designs, Sewing By Grace, RachelPaperCreations, PartyPerksPrints, The Party Fairy, PrettylilParty, CreativePartyBanners, TheCakeDiva, and PartyINK.

www.allrecipes.com

Food is an integral part of any good party. If your guests are hungry, they won�t be happy. Allrecipes is the #1 place for recipes, cooking tips, and how-to food videos � all rated and reviewed. Allrecipes makes it easy to find everyday recipes, but is also the perfect place to perfect your party�s food table. If you�re planning a seasonal party (Christmas, Valentine�s Day, Thanksgiving, etc.), the website always has plenty of featured options.

www.thumbtack.com

No party is complete without photography. To hire a skilled photographer who will make certain every single precious moment is captured forever, check out Thumbtack.com. Just type in the service you need (photography, in this case) and the location you need it. Here�s how it works: First, you answer a few specific questions about what you need. Then Thumbtack shares those details with experienced professionals who can best complete your project. Within hours, interested and available professionals will send you introductions. You�ll receive up to five introductions that all include a custom quote, customer reviews, personalized message, business profile, and contact info.

www.facebook.com

Facebook is an unexpected resource for finding the perfect photographer or custom cake maker. In almost every local area, there are specialized Facebook groups dedicated to these things. The best part about Facebook is that you get unfiltered reviews from other Facebook users. If you find your photographer or cake maker through a Facebook group, you can be fairly certain you won�t be disappointed.