Party Talk

Casino Theme New Year's Eve Party

We have all been to the "classic" New Year's Eve party. The champagne, the noise makers, Auld Lang Syne. Why not have a themed New Year's Eve party this year? Casino is a great party theme for New Year's Eve; it still has all the glitz and glamor of New Year's, and there is built in entertainment. With the casino theme providing plenty of ideas for party activities, this theme is a winner.

Casino Royale - A James Bond/Casino theme where black tie meets fun! This is a swanky them, with a bit of double-o danger thrown in for fun.

Easy New Year's Eve Casino - Celebrate Vegas style with bright colors and flashing lights!

Check out all of our New Year's Eve Planning Guide for more great themes (as well as ideas for throwing classic New Year's Eve party).

Holiday Open House Party

I love the holiday season because it’s all about parties!  Kick off this holiday season with an open house party. Open houses are very easy and low key, so they are super easy to host. Here are our suggestions for a holiday open house. This can be for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah or even Sunday football (that’s a holiday right?!).

Welcoming your guests - The best part of an open house is that you set aside a block of time, say 2-7 PM, and your guest can come at any time that works best for them. With guests coming at all sorts of different times you're not going to be able to greet everyone at the door. Have a sign directing traffic out front. It could be a welcome banner, or a handcrafted poster made by the kids. Another good idea is a sign for where to hang coats -

"Thank you for coming to our open house party,
if I am not here to greet you I am quite sorry!
Could you be a dear though and please deposit
Your coats/hats/gloves into this closet!"

As guests walk in you should also have a table set up with filled champagne glasses, a holiday punchbowl, or even a cooler with cold beer, depending on the formality fo your party. The idea is that they can walk in, grab a drink and and get ready to celebrate!

Open House Decorations - You can decorate for the nearest holiday with Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah or Football decorations.  Just grab some tableware, like plates, napkins and cups, maybe a banner or two and some festive ceiling decorations.

Open House Menu - Keep the menu simple and easy.  Serve finger foods and dips that can sit on the buffet table without the need for heating and reheating.  This makes the hosting duties much easier! Here are a few favorites -

• Buffalo Chicken Dip - kept warm in a crock pot
• Chex Mix
• Cheese and crackers or vegges and dip always are a hit
  
• Antipasta platter or kabobs
• Candied Walnuts - this is my favorite recipe
  
• Party Meatballs - also good in a crock pot
  
• Don’t forget the holiday punch, or eggnog! 
• And you can never go wrong with lots of desserts (cookies, brownies, chocolate coved pretzels, mini creme brulee)
  

If you are going to dedicate your party to football, here are some good finger food and dip recipes for game day.

Open House Party Activities - Most of the fun will be in the mixing and mingling. You can also celebrate with your family and friends by playing some fun board games, or just turn the game on! Other fun options include doing a gift exchange, or decorating cookies, expecially if there are a lot of kids.  Since everyone is a little bit older in my family, we hold a ‘Secret Santa’ for Christmas, this would also be a good time to pick names!

Open House Party Favors - Always send your guests home with a little something extra like decorated cookies, leftovers, or even some personalized candy bars with a holiday greeting on it!

Happy Holidays!

80's Horror Movie Halloween

What makes a better Halloween party theme than classic 80's horror movies? Your guests will be delighted (and scared silly) to be surrounded by Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, Chucky, Pinhead, Pumpkinhead, and even those creepy twins from the Shining. With hundreds of 80's horror movies to draw your inspiration from, this Halloween will be a horror blast from the past!

We created an 80's Halloween Horror Movie Invitation that will scare the living daylight out of you guests (hopefully they will still RSVP!). You can always make your own horror movie invitation. Draw off of the movie references. You can create a invitation to "Camp Crystal Lake", or send a a sleep eyemask with a tag that invites guest to a "Nightmare Halloween Party".

Decorations are easy for this party, here are just a few of our favorites. 

• An 80's Halloween Horror Movie Banner can welcome everyone with your own personalized message.
• Choose a Freddy Krueger Door Cover or Jason Friday the 13th Door Cover for your entrance.

• Set up a Freddy Krueger Standup near the party entrance to great guests!
• 3D Blood Splats Drips and Bloody Handprint Clings are great for the mirror and the toilet bowl in the bathroom.
• Hellraiser Spooky Scenes are great for a blank wall that need a little touch of demon.
• 14" Jason can tend the bar! Bloody Mary's for everyone!

You can see all of our decoration recommendation in the full 80's Horror Movie Halloween Party.

On the buffet label the food with body tags. Use your favorite movie characters to name your dishes, like Pinhead's anti pasta (served on silver food pick of course), or Pumpkinhead's Pumpkin Risotto. And might I add, buffalo chicken cheese dip does look a lot like Freddy Krueger's face... It's a shocking spread, everyone will agree!

I think having a horror movie screening is a great idea. Whether you go current or classic, everyone will love a good scare! Everyone will have such a horrifyingly good time at your Halloween party they will be speculating about next year on the ride home!

See the full 80's Horror Movie Halloween Party for more ideas!

Tailgating Party

Whether it's in college parking lots or before NFL games, a pre-game tailgating party has become an American ritual. These aren't usually formal events (although I have seen some catered by some of the best restaurants in town), so make your plans around convenience, safety and fun. Here are some tips for a great event with a minimum of labor.

• Make sure everyone can find you. Hang pennants or Mylar football balloons from your car.
  
• Pack key items that everyone forgets. Chairs for the older folks, corkscrews, bottle openers, tons of paper towels, and garbage bags are some things that are easy to forget and are very helpful.
• Pack toys: A football to toss around, a Frisbee or even a whiffle ball and bat can all be great fun.
• Select food that can either be cooked ahead and transported to the event or cooked there on a grill. 
• If you plan to bring alcoholic beverages, check with the stadium first to make sure it's permitted.
• The food table will be the focal point of your tailgating extravaganza so add some nice touches. Something simple like football platters and snack bowls.
• I'm big on using recyclables whenever possible, but this is one time you should use disposable.
• Clean up after yourself. Throw away your trash in available trashcans or bags that you've brought along, and safely dispose of any hot coals from your grill. Don't leave a hot grill unattended if you're heading in to the event.

If you really need a good tailgating recipe, here's one that works:

Recipe for Tailgate Beer

1 Cooler
3 Bags Ice (cubes)
1 Case Beer

Remove cans from recyclable cardboard holder. Place cans in cooler, intermingling with ice cubes. Chill 45 minutes and serve.

And then walk over to the stadium and root home a winner!! And, did I mention, you can have a tailgating party even if you're NOT going to the game. Set up in the front of your house and just head inside for the game. It's a fun twist on "come over and watch the game"!

Check out our Football Party Ideas for more great tips for your tailgate!

Hollywood Anniversary

 

Don’t you just love the glitz and glamour of Hollywood? Well bring it all home with a black tie event. It’s lights, cameras, action and all eyes on you for this Hollywood anniversary theme!  

Make sure everyone knows to dress in their best for your event!  Ticket invitations, or even photo ticket invitations, are a great way to invite guests to this special occasion. To add a fun twist, ask your guests to dress up as their favorite Hollywood star or couple, past or present!

Flashy decorations are also a must!  An easy way to add some sparkle is with twinkle lights.  For an outdoor event, put them in the trees or bushes and for inside, string them around the room, the bar and the buffet.  Dim the overhead lights to give a very intimate feel to your party!

This theme is a great way to go all out for your anniversary, so don’t forget to hire a professional photographer, get a relative to take pictures, or leave personalized cameras around the party for your guests to take pictures!

Thank your guests for coming by treating them like stars! Send them home with VIP gift bags filled with Hollywood theme goodies, like Hollywood picture frames, candles, or bottles of wine that have fun personalized wine bottle labels!

Have a blast at your Hollywood anniversary party and for more party ideas and great personalized product to match this theme check out our Hollywood theme anniversary party!

Western Summer BBQ

One of our favorite summer party themes is Western because it lends itself to being outdoors, cooking on the grill, and having a a foot stompin', hee-hawin' good time.

We want to share a few of our favorite ideas with you, but be sure to check out the full theme for more Western BBQ party ideas and all the Western party supplies you could want!

• Doing potluck? Send each guest a piece of Tupperware with the details of the barbecue shindig inside. Invite each family to make their favorite side dish or dessert (to be placed in the Tupperware) to compliment your culinary creations.
• Or invite your friends by sending "barbecue bibs" entailing all of the party information. Roll the bibs and tie them with red and white ribbon for a festive look.
• Authentic decorations are always fun. Use real hay bales for seating, and rope to make lassos and hang as garland.
• Hang "Cowboys" and "Cowgirls" signs on your bathroom doors.
• Vinyl horses (look at the dollar store) make great cardholders for your food names on the buffet table.
• Hire a professional "caller" to entertain you with authentic square dancing. While you're at it, you might as well hire a professional dance instructor to teach you how to do-si-do.
• For a great western party favor, give each guest his or her very own cactus. Make little labels that say something like "I did some boot scootin' at Ted & Mary's Buckaroo Bash."

Have fun at your Western BBQ! And don't forget to check out the rest of our Western theme party ideas!

Tiki Time Luau Party

We here at Party411.com love Luau parties. Absolutely love them.  We love the flair, the decorations, everything.  We also know it’s hard to get to the beach and celebrate, so we offer a simple step-by-step luau party, appropriately called Tiki Time. 

We offer a personalized luau invitation specifically for Tiki Time, which will get your guests in the luau loving mood. Whatever type of invite you decide to send, consider sending it with a lei or two.  You want your guests to know you’re serious and expect them to show up dressed and ready to party. 

If you want to get really creative and everyone is local consider tiki torches.  Write all of the information on the torch and leave it in their yard, or hand deliver it to them.  Tell your guests they can’t get in unless they bring the torch. Two benefits here. First, you will have light for your party and secondly your guests will be blown away by your commitment to the party.

Luau parties always seem better decorated when guests are dressed up as well. Inflatable palm trees are great and so are hanging tiki lanterns, but those can’t compete with the colorful collage of Hawaiian shirts and board shorts.  You can even consider giving out prizes to “best dressed.”

Since your guests all dressed to the nines it’s time for you to make them feel the rhythm. You should have music playing the background as a way to get people involved and dancing.  A limbo challenge would be a great way to have everyone show off their outfits. Who doesn't love a little friendly competition?  

Tiki Time will be a great time for everybody.  You can see all of our hints and tips in the full Tiki Time Luau Party Theme!

LOST Series Finale Party

 

The finale of LOST is airing Sunday, May 23rd beginning with a recap show at 7pm EST. So, gather your friends together to celebrate and have a LOST finale party and to finally get some answers about what is happening on that Island!

Send a Dharma theme recruiting letter invitation to the finale.  Keep your text simple without giving too many details since we all know how evasive those Dharma folks can be with information.  Tell everyone that they have been chosen by the Dharma Initiative for an important job and let all the recruits know what time they need to report to the submarine.  Maybe send a small package of jelly beans with the invitation and cover the label.  Tell people to please eat the "vitamins" before getting on board the sub.  (You do remember that all the Dharma recruits were knocked out during the submarine rides, right?)

Ask everyone to dress in their finest LOST theme apparel.  Some may show up in ratty tank tops and jeans.  Others may wear jumpsuits.  Some may dress in 70s gear.  Maybe someone will come wearing scrubs pretending to be Jack Shepard.  I'd wear a tank top and a pretend pregnancy belly to be Claire.  You'll want to have a camera on hand for pictures of this crowd!

You can also turn an area of your party room into your own Dharma station.  Start with 70s music playing in the background.  Then give all of your guests a plain white nametag to wear with their name and Dharma job.  Make sure someone is a "Workman" and that you have a security team.  Name different areas around the house (or party location for the different Dharma stations, such as The Swan, The Hydra, The Flame, The Looking Glass and The Orchid.  Small signs with our faux logo work perfectly.) 

For your menu will be determined by the time of your party.  If you're having people for just the show, then all you need are some desserts and snacks.  If you want to start the festivities early, start with dinner.  Theme all your food around LOST, of course.  Here are some food ideas that work well at a LOST party:

• Fried chicken - cover the boxes with homemade "Clucks Chicken" labels and even add a photo of Hurley
•  Island Fare - coconut shrimp, jerk chicken, etc.
• Airplane food - for snacks, offer airplane pretzels and peanuts.  For the meal, serve everyone on those small trays used on a plane.  (Those small bottles of alcohol would be fun too!)

All ready to Throw your own LOST theme party? Check out the full "The End is Near: A LOST Series Finale Party" for even more great party ideas!

Oh the Places You'll Go Graduation Party

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy
who'll decide where to go.
- Oh, the Places You'll Go!
© 1997 by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All rights reserved.

If you've ever read any of the Dr. Seuss books, you know that this witty and thoughtful voice gives way to very good advice, whether you are 5, 50 or 100 years old. We love the Dr. Seuss book Oh the Places You'll Go for the way it eloquently, but simply says what life is all about… taking on that sense of adventure and finding life's balance. We recommend that you buy this book or get it from your local library, read it and absorb it before using this theme. You'll appreciate the process for your grad and have more fun. We've based some ideas on part of the book cited above.

At the entry to the party, hang a banner flanked by bright balloons. It can read, "Oh, the places we're going with [your grad's name] on his/her Graduation!"

Make an easel sign with a photo of your grad that says "Congratulations (Grad's name)! Tonight is your night. You're off to great places, so get ready - you're about to take flight!" Guests can leave special messages for the grad on it.

Your linens should match colors from the book—pink, light green, light orange, yellow and blue pastels. Alternate them on the tables and have the napkins in the same colors on opposite tables.

Here are some other fun items you might want to consider on your tables:

• Pastels non pariels are the perfect candy choice for this theme because their colors match the book. Have them plated on every table.
• A listing of the "Oh the Places You’ll Go with [your grad’s name]," with highlights and special articles written by family members, in characteristic "Dr. Seuss-ese" is great fun at each place.

For your meal, serve Green Eggs and Ham in full Seuss tradition. Seussville offers recipes  to try. Another fun idea is to make all of your food different colors.

For more great party ideas as well and great personalized product to match this theme, check out the full Oh the Places You'll Go Graduation Party Theme!

St. Patrick's Day Pubcrawl

 

Many local bars and restaurants will be having celebrations this St. Patrick's Day. They are the hosts... the food, beer and decorations are all their responsibility. But you have the responsibility of making sure you have your green game face on and are ready to party! You can do that by decorating yourself and your friends for your St Patrick's Day pubcrawl. Here are our favorites this year -

LED Shamrock Tiara - This is my favorite for the ladies this year. It lights up and has a touch of boa. Perfect :)

Leprechaun Hat Bopper - At a close second is the cute St Pat's headbopper. Looks cute with braids!

St. Pat's Beer Mug Hat - This one is my favorite for the guys. It combines green and beer, what more can you ask for?

Shamrock Cowboy Hat - I think it take a special person to pull of this hat, but if you are game, giddy up!

Want to see more?  Check out these other St Patrick's Day Pub Crawl wearables.