How does Party Whammy use affiliate links?
Quick answer: Some product links in Party Whammy guides are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the retailer may pay Party Whammy a commission. Party Whammy's affiliate disclosure says this adds no extra cost for you. The disclosure also says guides are meant to start with the advice, and that a product link is added only when it fits that advice. When a free, cheaper or simpler option works better, the guide should say so. You can also search for a product yourself, or skip buying when a guide offers a no-buy option. Links from one Party Whammy guide to another are not affiliate links.
Where you might see affiliate links in a guide
When you plan a party with a Party Whammy guide, you may see links to supplies or specific products. Some of these are affiliate links. That means Party Whammy may earn money if you buy something through the link. These links help support the site, but the site says they do not decide what a guide recommends.
Party Whammy writes guides about hosting decisions: guest lists, themes, food, games, supplies and timing. This is how the site describes itself, not an independent review. You can read more about Party Whammy and its approach.
Affiliate links can appear in party supply lists, in mentions of specific products and in practical recommendations. A supply link may be an affiliate link when the retailer has an affiliate program. A link to a specific product may earn a commission if the item fits the advice. Links that take you from one Party Whammy guide to another are not affiliate links.
What is an affiliate link?
Quick answer: It's a product link that may earn Party Whammy a commission if you buy through it.
The commission is tied to a purchase made through the link. The disclosure says a retailer may pay it. It does not list which retailers or programs are involved, and it does not give commission amounts, so this page doesn't either.
Will buying through a link cost you more?
Cost matters when you're planning a party. Party Whammy's disclosure addresses this directly.
Do affiliate links change the price I pay?
Quick answer: According to Party Whammy, no. The retailer pays the commission, and it does not add an extra cost for visitors.
As the disclosure puts it, no affiliate fee is added to your purchase. That statement doesn't promise that the same item will cost the same at every store or on every day, and it can't tell you what you'll pay for a particular order. If price is your main concern, compare a few places before you buy, just as you would for any party supply.
Before you compare stores, check whether the item fits your party budget and helps with the main event you've chosen. An affiliate link doesn't mean you're getting the lowest price. See how to set a party budget and decide where to spend it.
How Party Whammy decides what to link
Guides are meant to start with the advice, not the commission. A product is meant to appear only when it helps a host solve an actual party problem. Many good party solutions use supplies you already own, inexpensive dollar-store items, printables or no purchase at all.
The editorial policy describes the same rules on independence, along with how guides are reviewed and updated. The party safety guide covers checking the space, giving helpers jobs and keeping a backup plan ready. It is planning advice, not a shopping list for a particular brand.
Independence matters most in advice that affects other people's children. The guide to collecting food-allergy information on an RSVP includes an open-ended question to ask families and wording for following up when a family leaves the allergy question blank. The parent communication checklist covers invitation details, comfort and safety notes, and a final reminder, and it keeps messages to guests separate from the host's own notes. The guide to asking before you share party photos works with nothing more than a text message.
Do commissions decide what Party Whammy recommends?
Quick answer: According to Party Whammy, no. Advice is written to be useful first, and affiliate links are added only when they fit that advice.
If a free, cheaper or simpler option would work better for you, the guide should tell you. If you think a guide recommends buying something when a simpler option would work, you can ask about that link through the contact page.
How to shop without using affiliate links
You don't have to use an affiliate link to follow a guide's advice.
Can I avoid affiliate links?
Quick answer: Yes. You can search for any product yourself, or use a no-buy alternative when the guide gives one.
Not every guide includes a no-buy option, so check the guide you're using. You can also use the product mention to see what kind of item would help, then decide whether something you already have will do the job.
A category word game is one example of a game you may not need to buy. It can be played with paper, pencils, a timer and a way to pick a letter, if you have those at home. Our guide to playing a category word game explains the rounds, scoring and how to settle disputes.
Example: Deciding whether to use a supply link
This is an illustrative example, not a description of a real guide. Imagine you're planning a craft table, and the guide you're reading links to a set of craft supplies.
First, decide whether you need to buy anything. Look through what you already have at home. Then check whether the guide suggests a printable or a no-buy option. If you still need supplies, choose one of the options in the table below. Each one follows the same advice.
Separately from deciding what to buy for an activity, it helps to keep track of what you need. The printable birthday checklist, which you can print or copy into your own document, has room to list supplies to buy, borrow, prepare, label and pack. This is separate from the craft example below.
| Your choice | What it means | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Use what you have | No purchase | Your craft drawer already has enough supplies. |
| Use the no-buy option, if the guide gives one | No purchase | The guide offers a printable or a simpler activity. |
| Search for the item yourself | No affiliate link involved | You want to compare stores, or you'd rather not use an affiliate link. |
| Buy through the guide's link | Party Whammy may earn a commission | The item fits your plan and the store suits you. |
How to ask about a link
The privacy policy explains what happens to any information you leave on the site, including what you send through the contact page.
Who should I contact with questions?
Quick answer: Use the contact page and name the guide or link you're asking about.
Naming the guide and the specific link makes your question clear and easier to answer.
Checklist: Before you buy through a guide link
- Check whether you already have something that will work.
- See whether the guide gives a free, printable or no-buy option.
- If price matters, compare a few stores yourself.
- Use the link only if the item fits your plan.
- If you have a question, contact Party Whammy and name the guide and the link.
- About Party Whammy
- editorial policy
- party safety guide
- contact page
- privacy policy
- how to collect food-allergy information on an RSVP
- parent communication checklist
- how to ask before sharing party photos
- Contact
- Editorial Policy
- Privacy Policy
- Start Planning Without Feeling Behind