Party Talk

Winter Wonderland Theme Party

Winter Wonderland is one of the most popular themes on Party411.com, which is no surprise, since everyone loves the beauty and sparkle of winter. Throwing your own Winter Wonderland party is easy to do with these great ideas.

For a fantastic invitation cut out snowflakes (ask a young friend if you forget how), and use a glue stick to attach it to a piece of light blue cardstock. Add some glitter to the snowflake and write the invitation information on the back. No two will be alike!

Create decorative snowballs that won't melt inside. Purchase Styrofoam balls and white glitter from the craft store. Brush the Styrofoam with a liberal amount of clear or white glue, and roll the ball in the glitter. Let it dry overnight. Pile the snowballs in glass bowls or plastic pails for a fun and inexpensive decoration!

Decorate the rest of the room with these tried and true ideas -

• White Twinkle Lights - string them all around the room for a breathtaking effect
  
• Paper Snowflakes - cut out a few (hundred) and hang them from the ceiling with clear line
• White Votive Candles - buy them in bulk and use them to decorate the side tables, mantle, windowsills and buffet
  

Your menu can also match your decorations. Go with a white theme for a fabulous effect; oysters, chicken fettuccini alfredo, clam chowder, pork tenderloin, caramelized pearl onions, white chocolate fondue, white frosted sugar cookies, crème brule, brie cheese, ect. Check out the grocery store for more options.

Continue the white theme with your drinks. You don't have to have an open bar, having a few selections for people to choose from is fine. Here are some "white" options:

• Signature Cocktail - A few good ones come to mind; White Russian, Eggnog Martini, White Cosmopolitan, Mojitos, and White Sangria. Pick your favorite and serve it with a fun garnish.
• Non-Alcoholic - Make sure you have a variety for those choosing not to imbibe. Go with clear sodas, carbonated grape juice and some nice bottled water. You can also do virgin versions of your cocktails!
• Something Warm - Nothing is better than a hot drink on a winter night. White hot chocolate, white green tea, and warm eggnog will hit the spot.

End the night with a great favor. Hand out small bottles of milk with a bag of sugar cookies. Add a tag that reads "Thanks for coming to frolic and play in my Winter Wonderland!"

For more great Winter Wonderland Theme Party Ideas check out these party themes -

• Winter Wonderland Holiday Party
• Winter Wonderland Sweet 16
• White New Year's Eve (a winter theme New Year's Eve party)"

Bloody Banquet Halloween

Halloween is coming up this year and I want to do something different. I think I’m going to throw a Bloody Banquet party this year. Think of the options available for me as the host and my guests as well.  I think it’s a wonderful theme because it doesn’t pigeon-hole guests into costumes.  You can wear whatever you want and then add a little blood to the costume, and there you go!

We created a spooky Bloody Banquet theme invitations and favors that is sure to impress your guests! If you want to be creative and make your own invitation stick with the blood theme. Print your party information on off-white or flesh colored paper. You can layer it on a piece of black or red cardstock to give it a more finished look. Buy some first aid gauze and splatter it with red paint. Let it dry completely and wrap the invites in the gauze. Mail the invite in a padded envelope.

If you are having a party where many people will not know each other, purchase some of those "Hello my name is" name tags for guests to fill out. Have them add a line that includes their blood type and next of kin, just in case something befalls them at the party :)

There is no shortage of "bloody" Halloween decorations, so you should be able to decorate the whole house. Make sure to have lots of the #1 decoration at a bloody banquet -

        Fake Blood

• 3 parts clear corn syrup
• 1 part water
  
• Corn starch or chocolate syrup for thickening
• Red and blue food coloring

Combine corn syrup and water. Add the red and food coloring and mix. Add a small amount of blue food coloring to achieve a more realistic shade. Now add the corn starch or chocolate syrup and mix until you get the desired thickness. If you use cornstarch you may have to strain it to remove any lumps. Chocolate syrup will make the "blood" a realistic red/brown color. Refrigerate until your ready to use, and use within 2-3 days of mixing. Be aware that the food coloring in this recipe may temporarily stain skin and will permanently stain clothes.

For dinner serve a variety of meat such as pulled pork, sausage and beef brisket. Let everyone wonder what it really is! And don't forget to have a Bloody Mary bar!

I hope to see many vampires and werewolves at my party.  You know what I would love to see? I want to see somebody mix the Psycho shower scene with Daniel Larusso’s Halloween costume. (Catch that reference.)  Not only would that be a mix of two incredibly different amazing movies, it would be an epic costume.

If you want to throw a similar party and need some help check out the full Bloody Banquet theme.

Tailgating Tips and Ideas

Our Tailgating party theme is one of our most popular parties on Party411.com, and for good reason. Tailgating is a blast. I think it can be more fun than the game. (Of course I'm a Browns fan and we have had some tough times.) 

I've been doing it for over 30 years and there are definitely a few key things that every tailgater should know...

1. Pre-game communications. If you do this every week everyone knows what to do but if you only do it once a year people need direction.  Let everyone know where to meet. A parking lot can be a big place so think about having a banner or other sign that people can see. Do they need to bring food? What food?  You don't want 8 packs of hot dogs and nothing else. What about
chairs?  You get the idea.

2. The food matters. People really remember tailgating parties when the food is great.  We have one guy who sets up the grill. Some weeks one person cooks for everyone and sometimes it's cook for yourself. But we always have a good main course. People take the time to make some creative and fun side dishes instead of just chips.  Makes for a great meal. Finger food is best.

3. Bring toys. You have a few hours so it's important to amuse yourselves. Bringing a football is a given.  I'm seeing a lot of cornhole games now which are fun. If you are more sedentary think about playing cards. I believe I have won a dollar or two in a poker game.

4. Respect the people around you.  Bring garbage bags so you can clean up. Don't tie up parking spaces with your cooking gear. 70,000 people are coming to the game. Those spots are needed.  Is profanity really necessary?  These common courtesies will let you, and the people around you have a better time at the tailgate.

Those are the basics. If you want more great tailgating ideas check out our Tailgating Theme Party.

Oh, and one more thing. Bring home a winner. That'll guarantee a great time.

Woodstock Theme Party

The 40th Anniversary of Woodstock is August 15, 16, and 17, so celebrate with a Woodstock theme party! Start the festivities with a fun and unique invitation idea. Buy (or make) your guests tie-dyed T-shirts. Roll up the T-shirts and tie them with a neon peace necklace. Hand-deliver them to your guests with the invitation (check out our selection of 60's invitations if you need ideas). Make sure to let everyone know they need to come in their bell bottoms and tie dye!

When your guests arrive, greet them with a peace sign and offer them a flower for their hair.

You can use 60s theme graphics like peace signs and big flowers to decorate the wall.  These are easy to make on the computer or cut out of construction paper!  For a larger event, hire a lighting company to project these images on the walls in a variety of colors. Check out this website that offers free Hippie theme graphics.

Here are some of our favorite 60's decorations -

• Tie Dye Paper Goods
• Groovy Guitar Inflatable
• Groovy 12" Balloons
• Neon Peace Sign Beads
• Daisy Bead Curtain
  

Tie Dye Cupcakes are a fun and easy dessert to serve at a Woodstock theme party. You can also use nostalgic 60s candy on the table like atomic fireballs, Bit-o-honey, Bottle caps and more. You can find this great candy online or at many local party stores.  You can put a bag of candy at each place with a label thanking your guests for attending, or scatter it around the table like confetti.

Don't forget to keep everyone busy! You can have everyone Tie-Dye T-Shirts, or even hold a karaoke contest with the music from Woodstock. I can do a pretty good air guitar to the Star-Spangled Banner :)

At the end of the night, your guests will go home thinking your party was groovy!

If you are looking for more ideas, check out the full 60's Theme Party!

Christmas in July Theme Party

Forget the bad weather and long shopping lists. Christmas in July is Christmas without the hassle of the holiday. Just have fun with it. Christmas in July is much more casual and stress free than its December counterpart, so pull out the dancing and singing reindeers you have been getting every year from Uncle Herbie and leave the Spode Christmas tree china packed up.

Here are a few of our favorite ideas for a Christmas in July theme Party -

• Cover empty boxes with holiday wrapping paper and bows and pile them around the house, especially in corner and on tables.

• Create decorative snowballs that won't melt in the July heat. Purchase Styrofoam balls and white glitter from the craft store. Brush the Styrofoam with a liberal amount of clear or white glue, and roll the ball in the glitter. Let it dry overnight. Pile the snowballs in glass bowls or plastic pails.

• Christmas lights are the ultimate decoration. String them up all over the yard, deck, and party room.

• If your party is outside, line your yard with tiki torches. And on each of the poles tie one of those small red velvet bows that have a twist tie on the back, (I know you have a million of them in the attic).

• Pull out that Beach Boys Christmas CD you have hidden away. It's the perfect soundtrack for a Christmas in July Party.

• Just have fun with it. Christmas in July is much more casual and stress free than its December counterpart, so pull out the dancing and singing reindeers you have been getting every year from Uncle Herbie and leave the Spode Christmas tree china packed up.
  
  
• Serve a signature drink that fits your theme. Here is our favorite, the Eggnog Milkshake.
  

You can see all of the Christmas in July party ideas, invitations, decorations and favors in the full Christmas in July Party Theme.

Have a Happy Pre-Holiday!
 

Throw a Fun 4th of July Party

 

When summer comes along the best parties tend to be held outdoors, so we put together some great ideas for a patriotic backyard bbq that is all about having a great time. We will show you step by step how to throw a patriotic party that combines red, white and blue decorations, classic American food, and fun summer party games for a party full of patriotic pride!

4th of July Party Invitations

Since summer is cookout season (not to mention wedding season) send the invites out as soon as you can. We have a fun selection of personalized patriotic invitations from Creations For You.

You can always make your own invitations. Stick with the patriotic theme by using red, white and blue paper, flag stickers or patriotic confetti to dress them up -

Come and blow off some steam at our
4th of July Party
Where we will celebrate our great county with
BBQ, beer and a water balloon fight!

You can feature any activity you plan on having. Just remember, the only rule is to keep it fun!

4th of July Decorations

Keep your decorations simple with just a few great eye-catching items. Crepe paper and red, white, and blue latex balloon bouquets will dress up any backyard without breaking the bank. Use uninflated balloons filled with sand for balloon weights and tie the bouquets off with coordinating curling ribbon.

Have everyone leave a message with why they love America on a large piece of poster board. You can set it on an easel or table and decorate the area with a balloon bouquet so that guests are drawn there to leave their sentiments.

4th of July Menu Ideas

Outdoor parties are best served buffet style. You may want to consider going semi-potluck - you can provide the main course and guests can bring a side dish. Either way you want to offer some classic American food to you guests. Here is our vision of a perfect menu -

• Hamburgers and Hot Dogs with all of the fixings
• Fried Chicken
• Garden Salad
• Fries or Baked Potatoes
• Baked Beans
• Coleslaw
• Fruit Salad or Fruit Kabobs
• Cornbread and Rolls
• Red, White and Blue Layered Jell-O or Berry Flag Cheesecake

Think about serving one specialty drink to your guests. Here is an apple flavored martini that is very sweet with a surprise around the rim -

Rockets' Red Glare Martini

• Lime Wedge
• Package of Blue Pop Rocks
• 1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
• 2 oz Vodka
• 2 oz Red Apple Schnapps
• 2 oz Cranberry Juice

Start with a chilled cocktail glass and rub the rim with a lime wedge. Empty a packet of Pop Rocks onto a small plate and press the rim of the glass into the candy to coat the rim. Pour the butterscotch schnapps, vodka, apple schnapps, and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker over ice, strain into the glass.

4th of July Activities

An outdoor party is incomplete without a few games to liven things up! Do karaoke or a talent show. Keep the playlist to a patriotic theme, here are a few ideas to get you started -

• Only in America - Brooks & Dunn
• Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash
• Proud to be an American, Lee Greenwood
• Back In The U.S.A. - Chuck Berry
• American Pie by Don McLean
• Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young
• This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
• Born in the U.S.A.- Bruce Springsteen
• Freedom - The Isley Brothers
• My Country ‘Tis Of Thee - Crosby & Nash

4th of July Party Favors

Hand out some fun party items that your guests can wear at the party and then take home as a favor. Here are a few of our favorite red white and blue wearbles that are inexpensive so you can buy in bulk and dress all of your lucky guests -

• Red, White and Blue Glow Necklaces
• Skimmer Hat
• Patriotic Leis
• Red White & Blue Beads

See the full Go USA! Summer Patriotic Party for even more great 4th of July party ideas!

Have a happy and safe summer and a great 4th of July!

Hollywood Couples Bridal Shower

Jack and Jill bridal showers and fairly common nowadays, and we get questions all the time regarding how to throw a shower that is fun for both guys and gals. One theme that works really well for a couples shower is Hollywood. You can go old or new Hollywood, but you can't go wrong when you treat your guests like stars!

Here are a few ideas for a Hollywood theme co-ed bridal shower:

Pick a color scheme that combines black, white, red, silver and gold. You don't have to use all of these colors, but they are the ones that work best for a Hollywood theme party.

Send a fun Hollywood theme invitation. Check out Party411's personalized Hollywood invitations. Let everyone know they have to come dressed as their favorite couple--past, present, or future. Some fun couples from the past have been Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (or Eddie Fisher), Lassie and Timmy, and Mickey and Minnie!

Decorate the party space like a red carpet event! All of your “celebrity” guests deserve a fabulous entrance so be sure to have an actual red carpet waiting for them at the front door. Latex balloon bouquets tied to movie awards are great table decorations. Sprinkle Hollywood confetti or even popcorn on the table to add extra interest. Seating cards can be "Walk of Fame" stars. Fun!

A cute favor is a pic of the couple in a film style frame. Or a bag of microwave popcorn with a personalized label on it.

Want more ideas? Check out the full Hollywood Couples Bridal Shower theme.

Spring Fling Theme Party

Winter is coming to an end and everyone is getting restless. Why not throw a fun party to help everyone shake off the winter blues? A Spring Fling party is all about getting together your friends and family, eating some excellent food, having a few drinks, and cutting loose. Bring on spring!

We have all had enough of the gray drab winter, so everything for this party should be bright and sunny!

Send colorful invitations. You can make your own by using brightly colored cardstock and a whimsical font to convey all of the party details. You can add some warm weather stickers (like suns or flowers) to the edges, or something else that says "warm weather is almost here!". Too bad you can't include the smell of fresh cut grass, that always makes me think of spring! :)

Combine a party favor and invitation in one, especially if your guest list is small.  Add a rainbow spring to your invitation (mail it in a padded envelope). Get it? Spring Fling?  Your guests will be delighted when they receive their invitations! 

When your guests walk in, give each of the ladies a carnation or rose corsage (what says spring more than flowers?) The guys are out of luck though. Maybe you can appease them with a bottle of beer.

You decorations can be simple; brightly colored bunches of balloons, crepe paper and flowers will do the trick.

Set up a buffet with fresh and tasty foods; hamburgers and hot dogs of the BBQ, chicken wings, potato salad, corn on the cob, fruit skewers, and of course, ICE CREAM! Make it a sundae bar and your guests will love you!

If it is warm enough for outside activities, play some classic yard games like bocce or dodgeball. For something different, consider playing a few rounds of Frisbee Golf. Hang large buckets from trees in the backyard. Move from bucket to bucket trying to sink the Frisbee in the bucket just as golfers move from hole to hole. The person who gets in the most times wins! Or check out even more Spring Party Games.

You can hand out some fun wearables that double as party favors:

• Sunglasses
• Glowing Necklace Literopes
• Plastic Leis
• Neon Bucket Hats

These ideas are from our Spring Fling Party Theme. You can check out the full theme at Party411.com for more great ideas!

Land of Oz Graduation Party

No matter what the age, who doesn't remember the first time seeing The Wizard of Oz? Recall the black and white beginning? And the relief and awe when Dorothy enters the colorful world of Oz?

I must say that vibrant world held me captivated to the boob tube for an eternity. And what about those scary monkey-things? Personally, I was glad she dumped that old aunt and uncle of hers for that taste of adventure, even if it was a dream. Help your graduate go over the rainbow and follow the yellow brick road to bigger and better things with a party centered on The Wizard of Oz!

Decorations and Party Supplies

 Set out a path of the yellow brick road from the party entrance to the main party area. You can paint it on big white paper, available at your local art supplies store, or line the outside entrance with real bricks painted in a yellow gold tone. Try a big picnic basket Toto in Basket with a little furry Toto-like dog creeping out of the top at the door, too. At the doorbell, hang a sign that says "Bell out of Order, Please Knock."

If you have a DVD player accessible, play The Wizard of Oz movie throughout the party, as guests will enjoy catching glimpses of this timeless classic. Surely you don't want guests to hang around the television for the day. Perhaps you mute the audio and let the screen run on its own.

Find a visible closet door and display stuffed black and white striped socks sticking out (without the ruby slippers, of course, since Dorothy, your female grad or mom hostess is wearing them). We are sure you won't get your male grad to wear them!

Table Decorations

There are plenty of ways to decorate your table for this theme. Even something as simple as ruby red paper goods and yellow tableclothes with bouquets of red poppies in glass jars are cute touches.

Centerpieces of wire tornadoes would be fabulous! If your party is outside at tables with umbrellas, you can wrap wire around translucent umbrella vases filled with flowers! Hang rainbow mini springs from out of the vase.

Another idea is to purchase plastic sand castle molds and paint them a sparkly green just like the emerald city. You don't have to have the same centerpiece at every table. Some with tornadoes and some with emerald cities look great!

For more great graduation party ideas, see the full It's A Land of Oz Graduation party theme!

Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball Corporate Event

Are you trying to plan a corporate party and you are looking for a theme that will make everyone go WOW? One of our favorite themes for corporate parties is Mardi Gras. It’s an easy theme to do for big events (they don't call New Orleans the Big Easy for nothing)!

Picture if you will … your guests celebrating in the streets of the French Quarter… Bourbon Street … colorful masks and elegant costumes…aromatic spicy Cajun cuisine wafting through the air… the dizzying beat of New Orleans jazz… strands of sparkling beaded necklaces and coins everywhere.

Make sure to let guests know to come dressed in their most elegant costumes and get-ups—with masks. If you're going to have a costume parade and judging (this always brings out creativity and competitive natures), include it on the invitation as well. This is a fun way to see those you work with show off their creative talents.

Purple, green, and gold are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras display them throughout the party room(s). Make sure you have plenty of beads, hats and masks on hand for your guests to wear. For great ideas, check out theses Mardi Gras Decorations and Party Supplies.

You have some fun options when it comes to arranging for fun party activities. The French Quarter wouldn't be as easy, and sleazy and fun without a Tattoo Parlor. There are great companies that provide Henna and Airbrush tattoos. Check Google for your local listings. Set up a photo-op area titled “Big Cheezy” with lots of masks and balloons.

If you had valet parking for your event you can have the valets place a silver mask keychain on your guest's keys. It will be a fun surprise that reminds them of what a wonderful time they had at your event!

Want more ideas for a Mardi Gras themed corporate event? See the full Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball Theme Party!