So you’re having a costume party, now how do you decide what theme to pick?
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Hosting a party is a great way to celebrate a moment of significance in life with friends and family. Great parties are easily grasped reference points when looking back and reminiscing with friends.
“Rememeber when…around about the time of that toga party, remember?”
“Oh yeah! Of course! hahahaha”
Great parties generate uplifting feelings and emotions, and funny stories, oh the stories! and it seems, everyone who attended has several of their own stories about what happened in that night, stories to be relived in the following weeks, sometimes years later you’ll hear a new story you’ve never heard before relating to that same party.
Coming of age? House warming? Birthday party? Work Promotion? Local festival or just plain eager to play dress ups and see your friends? Make up a reason! Set a time and place and send out the invitations.
Goddess and Gods Party
Im having a fancy dress party, what costume theme do I pick?
Choose a theme to relate to the situation.
For example, a dear friend graduated after studying Law for several years. She held a “Justice Party” costume themed party to celebrate. There were Supreme Court Judges, superheroes, police, sheriffs, convicts, the Statue of Liberty and more! It was a fun night, and everybody was happy to celebrate this important moment in a dear friends life.
Another friend had new housemates, all were girls, so they held a “Goddess” costume party, Gods were invited too of course.
You may already have a venue chosen, think about which themes that venue best lends itself to. Is it a nightclub with red velvet curtains? Is it a white minimalist restaurant? Is it an old fashion styled pub? Is it your house?
Click here to view costume party theme ideas.
A little story about an Arabian Nights themed costume party:
I once went to an Arabian Nights themed costume party at a home in the blue mountains, the hosts ordered rolls of inexpensive fabric from india and lined each room like tents! The husband was a builder so he worked out how to hold the fabric up securely, gathered in the centre and flaring out and down the walls, without damaging the walls or ceiling after the party. They hung ornate lamp covers from the centre light globe. It really was like entering a new world!
They hired a marquee, opened up one wall, joined it to the rest of the house on the outdoor decking and lined it with decorative fabric in reds purples and gold. They had spray painted monsteria leaves gold for decorative arrangements, hung ornate looking lamps, and laid the floors with plush middle eastern rugs, and had delicious finger foods, pistachios & turkish delight in the centrepiece with low seating and cushions all around.
They created their own musical playlist which played throughout the night.
Outside was cold, but inside everyone was warm with dancing and festive spirit. And the food was divine. Different friends had taken in upon themselves to circulate various dishes, getting to meet the other guests and contributing to the success of the event. That was a night to remember!
The costumes were hilarious! The next day at breakfast I didn’t recognise half of the people I’d met the night before. It was a whole new party with new people to meet and lots of laughing.
Arabian Nights costume theme
Depending on the venue, you may need to consider the season, for instance Tropicana themed party suits Summer, a Medieval themed party suits winter. You may of course wish to bring a taste of colour and tropics to wintertime, in which case, ensure your guests will be comfortable in their Caribbean showgirl outfits and hawaiian shirts once they’ve checked in their coats.
I’ve picked my Costume Theme, now what?
Design your invitations! and send them out immediately. Follow up with emails, texts and phone calls.
Decorate the rooms, or house accordingly. Make your own decorations the weekend before the party, or hire props from a prop company.
You may even find a space to hire which is already decked out to suit the theme you have in mind. Hire relevant entertainment – DJ, performers, catering.
Play upbeat music especially selected to relate to the theme and keep your guests motivated. Pick a selection of cocktails and mocktails, at least two keeps things fun, and don’t forget the catering. If you can’t afford to hire a full catering outfit, then pick a few easy to prepare fingerfoods, and spend the day beforehand preparing them (or some evenings before if you don’t have the day free).
Create an atmosphere, set the stage and let the guests step in on the night and play their parts. What ever theme you pick, there is a role or character to suit anybody. Not everybody is comfortable dressing up. Perhaps you could suggest they wear black, while you supply some basic accessories on arrival. Promote creative incentive by announcing a Prize for “Best Costume” efforts to inspire the imagination, and select an interesting prize that relates to the theme.
Remember, half the fun is in the dressing up, the creative process of putting together the right elements to suit the character and your personality.
Then there’s the thrill of leaving the house dressed like an character from another land, and the stories to tell of that adventure – catching the bus, or hailing a taxi and standing on the street, and that’s just the beginning! The party hasn’t even started yet!
Remember, as host, it is likely that you may be the only person to know everybody. Be conscious of your guests. Introduce people to each other throughout the course of the night. Start the conversation off with points of interest or common ground in your introduction to get them talking before you politely excuse yourself and tend to other guests. Good parties are also good ways to grow and strengthen your community.
Nobody need be left idle. If there is music to dance to, magic acts to watch, foods to eat, drinks to procure, interesting open hearted minds to mingle with, then you should be assured of satisfied guests and a party that will be talked about for weeks on end. You know you’ve done a good job when people make the effort to call you for days, even weeks afterwards to thank you for a great night.
So go on, pick your theme, send out those invitations and don’t forget to motivate your friends with a phone call before the party. Emails and phone texts are fine, but phone calls are more meaningful. Excite your guests, and they’ll appear ready for a good night.
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