Party Talk

Graduations and Reunions and Barbeques....OH MAY!

May is such an exciting month! It kicks off the whole summer party season with Memorial Day, and before you know it, you are heading to more graduations, weddings, reunions, barbeques, and luaus than you can shake a limbo stick at! All the party hopping can make my head spin, and I’m the Party Girl!

If you think that you are overwhelmed, consider your poor relatives and friends that have to plan these shindigs. You might even have some party planning of your own to do. So the Party Girl (that’s me!) has come to the rescue and made a list of the 5 most essential party planning guides for summer. They will give you ideas for themes, invitations, decorations, menus, games, party favors, and much more!

1. Graduation Planning Guide
2. Luau Party Planning Guide
3. Patriotic Party Planning Guide
4. Western Barbeque Party Planning Guide
5. Reunion Planning Guide

Good luck with all of your party planning, and have a magnificent May!

 

- The Party Girl

7 things you need to do to throw a perfect luau

     

1. Send the Perfect Invitation

Let your guest know to dress luau-creative on the invite.  Whether you go store bought or create your own handmade luau invitation, make it extra special by including a lei inside. That will your guests talking long before the party!

 

2. Make a grand entrance

You want to make your house easy to spot and build anticipation for the luau fun that will shortly ensue. Accomplish both of these things by lining your front walkway or drive with tiki torches. This will guarantee a dramatic start to the festivities.

 

3. Set the tone with great music

Consider hiring a steel drum band. Not only will it set a great atmosphere, but your guest will love watching the performers! If a band is just not in the budget, there are some great Hawaiian music compilations on CD that you can play, try the Hawian Sunrise Cd, or the Aloha Party Cd.

 

4. Serve authentic food

It’s not hard to find great Hawaiian recipes, try Allrecipes.com for some tasty and easy to prepare dishes. Or hire a company to do a pig roast! 

And don’t forget the drinks, Mai Tai’s anyone?

The Original Trader Vic Formula from 1944

2 oz of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice
Add juice from one fresh lime
1/2 oz French Garnier Orgeat Syrup
1/2 oz Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao
1/4 oz Trader Vic's Rock Candy Syrup
Shake vigorously.
Add a sprig of fresh mint
Enjoy!

 

5. Decorate, decorate, decorate!

There are some really unique luau products out there. Try a few (or all) of these great decorations to set the scene for your tropical luau paradise:

     Luau Scene Setters – these are great for decorating large spaces

     Beach balls – have plenty of these all over the party

     4' Inflatable Tiki Pole – let me repeat, 4' inflatable tiki pole, what’s not to like?

     Raffia Table Skirt – this is a luau staple, use one on every table

6. Keep your guests moving with activities

Party411.com has several great ideas for luau games, but one activity your luau has to have is the limbo! Just play some Hawaiian music, set up the limbo stick, (you can use a bamboo pole available at a hardware store), and see how low your guests can go!

7. Send your guests home with a fun party favor

Tropical parasols and neon folding fans make great practical favors when you are throwing a warm weather party. If you want something more personalized, hand out luau candy bars from Party411’s Creations for You!

 

For more Luau party planning ideas, visit the complete Luau Planning Guide!

Unique Invitations for your Party! Semi-Custom Caricatures

We love caricatures at Party411. The personalized art makes for a great invitation, a centerpiece for a party and a memento people will always treasure. We are now pleased to offer semi-custom caricatures. Using art that has already been drawn, we can add a photo face or a caricature face and customize the message for you! Then you can use that artwork on Creation For You personalized products.

 

Choose from:

   Invitations

   Centerpieces

   Seating Cards

   Table Numbers

   RSVPs

   Candy Bar Wrappers

   Welcome Sign

   Water Bottle Labels

   Thank You Notes

   Sign-In Book or Board

   Life Size Cutout 

   Tabletop Size Cutout

   CD cover and backs

See the full selection of semi-custom caricatures!

You Decide 2008!

You may have noticed that it is an election year. Between the onslaught of network coverage and the campaigns of the candidates, it is a little hard to miss. But elections are not the only event on the horizon, the summer patriotic party season kicks off with Memorial Day on May 26^th! There are few things more patriotic than a democratic election, so why not use the upcoming presidential election as a theme for your Memorial Day or Fourth of July party?

Send an invitation with a flag pin attached, and let your guest know that they must wear it to the party! (This is sure to cause a chuckle because of the discussion  surrounding who is wearing flag pins, and who is not)

Play a game of “Pin the spin on the candidate”. Enlarge photographs of the candidates, and cut out word bubbles with quotes from the candidate. Players must match the quotes to the correct candidate to win. You can hand out little prizes for correct answers such as red white and blue glow necklaces, star shaped cookies, or other patriotic themed goodies. Party411.com has more great patriotic party games you can play at your election party.

Decorate with red white and blue patriotic decorations and serve hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, anything barbecued /grilled, coleslaw, fruit salad, etc. For dessert you can have apple pie and ice cream.

See the full You Decide 2008! election theme party for more great ideas, and have a wonderful Memorial Day!

 

Aloha! A Luau from Party411.com!

A luau is one of our favorite themes at Party411!  There are a ton of great luau decorations and party supplies, so we think anyone can (and should!) throw a luau!

 

We planned this luau for a local Bat Mitzvah. It was great fun.

As the guests arrived we had models dressed in hula gear passing out leis to all the guests.  Everyone then took a "license to hula" seating card.

 

We filled the lobby with balloons, balloon palm trees, grass skirting hanging down from the banisters, and a lifesize cutout of the Bat Mitzvah girl.

Bright tropical flowers looked beautiful on the adult tables. We had bright colored balloons on the kids tables. Of course, we used raffia flower tableskirts on all the buffets! And, everyone got a personalized hurricane glass as a favor.

The Bat Mitzvah guests had a wonderful evening doing the hula, dancing and enjoying each other's company.  Aloha!

Party411 can plan your next Luau theme party!  Let us know if you would like more information on any of the products seen in the photos or if you have Luau theme party questions!

See more of Our Parties

May is...

National Hamburger Month- Enjoy yourself with a hamburger off the grill, there is nothing better than a backyard barbeque just as the weather is turning warm.

May 1^th is Lei Day in Hawaii – Sound like the perfect reason to throw a Luau!

May 5^th is Cinco de Mayo - a commemoration and celebration of the victory of the smaller Mexican army over the larger and more modern French army. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Fiesta!

May 11^th is Mother’s Day – Don’t forget to plan something special for Mom this year. 

May 26^rd John Wayne's Birthday- It was on this day in years ago that John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa. So have a Western theme party with a screening of Red River in his honor.

And May 26^rd is also Memorial Day, so host your own “You Decide 2008!” Memorial Day party.

See more Stuff to Celebrate for May, or take a sneak peek at June!