Theme Parties
The Basics from PlantPirate

Choose a Theme:

Popular themes that are fairly easy to carry out and lend themselves nicely to "costume" type parties include:

• A year or decade - e.g. the 20s, 50s, 70s, Y3K, etc., or even a "through the years" type theme where guests can come as a character from any time frame they choose.

• Medieval or "knights of the roundtable", etc. type themes.

• TV show or movie themes.

• Murder and/or mystery themes.

You can even mix and match these types of themes - for example, 

• A 1920s detective movies setting for a murder mystery.

• An "devolution" party theme where guests can come as anything from cavemen to Dick Tracy to futuristic beings.

Invitations:

Invitations should be sent at least two weeks in advance of the party date, and longer if the party is held during the busy fall to Christmas season.

• They should fit the theme - make sure the type of paper, lettering, graphics, etc. all foster the theme of your planned party.

• If costumes are required, provide details and examples.

• Provide your phone number so guests with questions can call you in advance.

Check out the invitations page for more ideas!  

Menu:

Menu planning is a careful balancing act between the creative and the practical - the less you have to do on the day of the party, the better it is for your sanity...

• Choose what you want to serve as the "main" menu - again it should foster the theme of the party.

• Delegate to friends additional simple dishes that fit the theme, or that "special" dish a friend is an expert at preparing.

• For complex menus or special dishes that fit the theme, contract with a caterer or one of the many boutique shops that will prepare the food and all you have to do is heat and serve.

• Find dishes that can be made ahead and frozen and/or refrigerated.

• Remember, even simple to prepare and serve foods and beverages can be made to fit a theme by judicious use of food coloring, fruits and vegetables that exude their color to a dish, or colored juices - e.g. tint everything bloody red for Halloween, or green for St. Patrick's Day.

Decor:

Get creative!  Even Cousin It can be made from crepe paper or cellophane basket straw, and an old top hat.

• First, look around your house to see what you have that can be used or adapted to suit the theme.

• Second-hand and party stores are good sources for decorations too.

• Get crafty - check out the Mirtha Stuwort and the Cheap Decorating sections of this site for great and goofy ideas.

Music:

Music is a must - even if it's only background music.

• Music needs to coincide with the party theme.

• For 20s, 50s, etc. parties, use the dance music collections that abound on tape and CD.

Games:

If you will have games, they too should foster the theme of the party.

• Games can start upon arrival, or later, depending on the theme of your party.

• Games must be BEFORE the meal because people rarely feel up to games on a full tummy, and many often leave after the meal.

• For children's parties, remember you can adapt many popular games to the theme - e.g. "pin the glasses on the teacher" instead of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey for a school's out type party.

Prizes:

Prizes are not necessarily required except if you want to do them for "best costume" or for children's parties.

• Prizes should also foster the theme of the party.

• Party stores and dollar stores are good sources for little trophies and toys you can adapt to your theme.