Theme Party Planning Tips

Why use a theme when planning a party? A theme will give your party a clear focus, not to mention some pizzazz! It will help with your planning, too! Invitations, decorations, dress code, food and party favors can all be incorporated into your theme. Party America has compiled some theme ideas to help make your celebration the best it can be!

• Travel destinations and their cultural traditions

• Interests or hobbies, including cooking, fishing, theater, gardening, sports, favorite movies, or collections

• Holiday traditions or colors

• Eras such as the 20's, 40's, 50's, 60's and the 70's

• Regression Party: Play traditional children's games like pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs, hot potato, drop the clothes pin into the jar, etc.

• Peace, Love & Flower Power: Go retro. Decorate with strobe lights, lava lamps and black lights. Request that guests come dressed in 70's style. Tie-dyed material works great for decorating tables. Hang a smiley face piñata filled with groovy prizes. Have a bitchin' time!

• Cooking School: Host a party at a cooking school. Guests form groups and each group is responsible for part of the dinner (dessert, entree, etc.). Great ice breaker!

• Pizza Parlor: Buy some pre-made pizza dough (Trader Joe's has) or crust, sauces, cheeses, and make loads of different toppings such as sauteed mushrooms, onions, meatballs, etc. Allow each guest (or form teams) to create their own "Master Pizzas". Give awards afterwards for the tastiest, more creative, messiest, etc! This is a great way to get guests to interact. Lots of fun!

• Occupations such as movies, medicine, law, fashion or teaching

• Birthday Bistro! Set tables with drippy candles in empty wine bottles, checkered tablecloths, wine glasses filled with Italian wine and a big basket of Italian breads. Prepare large bowls of pasta in varying shapes and sizes and have different sauces available with lots of parmesan cheese (parmigiano-reggiano). Let your guests choose their own Italian meal. Play Italian music (mix in some opera) and hang Italy travel posters.

Create invitations that suit your theme and the mood of the
party (silly or serious, casual or dressy)

• Add fun and flair by sending invitations printed on lunch bags, bookmarks, calendars, magnets, balloons, postcards, puzzles, wine labels

• Try mailing it in an unusual container like a bottle, paper tube, box or colorful envelope. Or attach it to an object that relates to your theme. (i.e. Sunglasses for a luau.)

• Check out our custom invitations.

• Include a theme-related jigsaw puzzle piece in each invitation. Upon arrival the guests begin working on the puzzle as a great ice breaker.

• Use the party's theme to create an atmosphere that sets the stage.

• Spread a checkered tablecloth for an Italian spaghetti dinner, hang netting on the wall and tissue fish from the ceiling for an under-the-sea party, or light tiki torches for an outdoor celebration.

• Imaginative centerpieces help set the focus. Use a dressed-up baby doll for a baby shower or classic record albums for a school reunion.

• Create a menu that relates to your party theme. Try something different such as a salad bar, a dessert contest, a chocolate party for Valentine's Day, mini pizzas for a pizza party or assorted hors d'oeuvres for an appetizer party.