Themed parties. Some people love them. Some people hate them. Nearly every single party has a theme whether one is desired or not. Just because a party has a theme, it doesn’t mean you need to go to your nearest party supply store and pick up a bunch of “Over the Hill” balloons or “Disco Fever” cake decorations. There are much easier, cheaper, and more elegant ways of adding a theme to your party. And believe it or not… it’s worth it. Just like adding garnish to food, adding simple touches to your party can make the difference between just an average get together and a night toremember. Here are a few easy steps to plan your perfect themed party:
1) Picking a theme. A theme doesn’t have to be traditional or a cartoon character or a time period. A theme can be a color, season, feeling, hobby, country… anything you can think of can be expressed in abstract terms. If you’re throwing a party for someone, like a birthday, anniversary, or wedding… take note of what that person likes.
2) Decorating. One rule of thumb that I try to have when buying decorations is to buy things you can potentially use again. Candles, tablecloths, extra plastic wine glasses, pillows… are all things you can keep in your closet for a rainy day. The big blow-up Elvis hanging from your ceiling probably won’t be useful for anything else. You also don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on things. Thrift stores are your friend when buying little knick knacks. Places like Target or Wal-Mart are a great source for nicer looking table or house decorations as well as affordable tableware. If you want a memorable keepsake for your party guests, spend a little extra money in a nice boutique or craft store. The craft store around here always has an abundance of things you would have trouble finding anywhere else, such as “I love you more than bacon” buttons, space invaders ice trays, creature flash drives, pantone coffee mugs, or “To Do List” hand tattoos.
3) Preparing a menu. Finger foods are always best at a party. Anything messy or sticky leaves an uncomfortable feeling with guests and is also more work for you later when you have to scrub sticky fingerprints off of everything. Two words that will never let you down when planning the food is simplicity and appearance. For my graduation party a couple months back, I made cucumber boats. Halved, sliced cucumbers with a piped star of onion and chive cream cheese. They took about 5 minutes to make, but they were delicious and looked beautiful. Parties are an interesting animal because you’re thinking about 20 different things all at once. The last thing you need is a complicated dish you have to tend for 2 straight hours (if you really want a show stopper dish, try to do it the night before instead).
4) Proactivity. You don’t have to be a psychic to know what sorts of things go down at a party. A couple days before the party happens, start replacing valuable, fragile objects around your house with your new decorations. Make sure you add trash bags to your grocery list. Put a couple of extra rolls of toilet paper in the bathroom. Prepare whatever food you can a day or two before and leave it covered in the refridgerator. Have extra pillows and blankets ready for people wanting to spend the night. Things like this cut down on stress, and make having a party a much easier experience.
5) Don’t worry about sticking to a schedule. Unless it’s a wedding, chances are the party doesn’t depend on a tight timeline to be successful. If the guests don’t arrive precisely at 6, don’t worry… they’ll get there. If the cake isn’t cut at 8, don’t rush people into the kitchen to get the job done. Just let it happen. Trying to rush things will stress you and your guests out, and that is an emotion that no party ever needs. Chances are, you’ve been preparing for the past few days, weeks, or months for this party. Now that it’s here. Enjoy it!
Here is an example scenario: I want to throw my brother Eric a birthday party. His favorite color is blue, he loves music and the beach. Already, you can get three different themes out of this.
a. Blue. Nothing has the potential to wow a crowd more than a color themed party. Color themes give you the ability to directly impact a person’s emotions. With blue, you can create a laid back, tranquil atmosphere with a little bit of modern flair. What’s better, is that blue things are incredibly easy to find! Just go to a thrift store. Grab some blue pillows, candle sticks, curtains, napkins… But don’t go too crazy! Accessories are the key. Small touches here and there go a long way. Maybe you could ask people to wear blue to the party, or just a small touch of blue (like a tie, bracelet, or shoes). Leave out small bowls of blueberries instead of candy. A blue cake might start getting a little weird, but blue iced cupcakes would make a cool, modern statement.
b. Music. With the advancement of ipod technology, comes the advent of the perfect party playlist. Find out what types of music the person likes and customize your playlist accordingly. My brother likes most kinds of music, but let’s just say for this party we’re going to use the jazz trumpet (I’m not prepared to go down the Queen, Styx, or Taylor Swift route with you just yet). What is trumpet jazz like? It’s smooth, classy, and brass. Make people dress up a little bit, like they’re attending a nice concert. Have a classic white cake with a gold flake garnish. Serve sparkling wine and have nice hors d’oeuvres with quiet jazz playing in the background. But also remember to add sparks of flair around, because jazz also contains elements of energy and unpredictability. Light small tea candles, put them in brass or gold containers, and put them all over the place (safely, of course). Turn down the lights. Dim lighting adds an air of sophistication and mystery that a theme of jazz invokes.
c. Beach. Sure everyone has been to a beach party or a luau, but the beach isn’t just about flower necklaces, margaritas, and tiki statues. What do you feel when you go to the beach? Fun, relaxation, heat, refreshment… What’s at the beach? Sand, wind, simple food, water. What colors or objects do you find at the beach? Blue, beige, pastels, sand, crabs, fish, palms, umbrellas, sunshine. Open your windows, keep the porch door open (unless you’re concerned about wandering insects), keep the food on the deck. Keep the feeling of wind moving through your house or apartment. Put votive candles in small dishes filled with sand. Have cool pitchers of water and lemonade lying around with platters of fresh fruits and vegetables. Set out tiki torches when night starts falling. Grill seafood. Instead of a traditional cake, try an ice cream cake or a bombe. It can be at whatever energy level you desire, but it doesn’t have to revolve around fruity frozen beverages, grass skirts, or surfer dudes.
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