Count down to your next party
Half the fun of a party is looking forward to it. This free party countdown shows exactly how long is left until your big day, down to the second. Set a date for your own birthday, wedding, holiday or celebration, or see how long it is until the next big occasion like Christmas, Halloween, Mother's Day or Valentine's Day.
Keep it open on your screen, share it with friends who are just as excited, or use it as a reminder to start planning.
How to use the countdown
Choose the date and time of your event and the countdown starts straight away, showing days, hours, minutes and seconds. You can also pick one of the upcoming occasions to see how long is left. There's nothing to install and nothing to sign up for. Just open the page whenever you want to check.
A simple party planning timeline
A countdown is also a handy way to keep your planning on track. Here's a rough timeline for most parties.
Six to eight weeks to go: set a budget, choose a theme and book a venue if you need one. Send save the dates for big events.
Four weeks to go: send invitations and start thinking about food, drink and entertainment.
Two weeks to go: order decorations, balloons, banners and cake toppers. Confirm numbers and any dietary needs.
One week to go: plan games or a quiz, make a playlist and buy cards and gifts.
The day before: pick up the cake, prepare any food you can and set up the decorations.
On the day: relax and enjoy it. You've done the hard work.
Why a countdown helps
Watching the numbers tick down builds excitement, especially for children who find it hard to understand how far away a date is. Seeing "twelve days" makes it real. For the person organising, it's a useful nudge. It's easy to think there's loads of time until you see how many days are actually left.
Countdowns are fun to share too. Send the link to party guests, or put it on the screen at work in the run-up to the Christmas do.
Countdown ideas for every celebration
Birthdays: give children a countdown to their birthday so they can see the days get smaller. It also helps answer the question of how many sleeps are left.
Weddings: share a countdown with the wedding party so everyone knows how long they have to finish the speeches and plan the hen and stag dos.
Christmas: a countdown pairs perfectly with an advent calendar and is a fun thing to check every morning in December.
Holidays and trips: counting down to a holiday gives everyone something to look forward to.
Retirements and leaving dos: a countdown to someone's last day at work makes a light-hearted addition to the office.
Frequently asked questions
Is the countdown accurate? Yes. It uses your device's clock and updates every second.
Which occasions are included? The main celebrations through the year, including Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day.
Can I count down to my own event? Yes. Just set your own date and time.
Getting ready for the big day? Browse our party items, decorations and cards.