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| Set the tone for the party with theme and invitations. |
What is it about the chance to wear a costume that puts everyone in a party mood? Little kids and big kids—otherwise known as adults—get down right giddy over a Halloween party. Not only does Halloween officially kick off the holiday season, it’s nostalgic, silly, spooky, and there’s candy!
The Basics
Every good party needs a strong foundation. A guest list, invitations, a theme, decorations, food and drink, and some type of planned activity during the event are usual. Those basics may be even more important for a Halloween party because guests may have very different expectations. Some see the holiday as child-like fun, some as a chance to cut loose and enjoy a few cocktails and others revel in the scary side of the season. Let your invitations and theme set the tone for the party. If you want guests to wear costumes, or if you’re planning a G-rated event where kids are welcome, make that clear.
More to the Décor
Paper skeletons, carved pumpkins and pictures of warted witches are classic Halloween elements that never go out of style, but there are other fun ways to decorate for a Halloween party. For something more contemporary, pick one or two seasonal elements and build on them. Here’s a few modern decorating ideas to spark your imagination:
- Paint pumpkins black and attach orange polka dots or stripes or bejewel them with stick-on crystals from the craft store
- Instead of black and orange, use black and lime green or black and silver as your theme colors
- Tear Halloween-themed material into strips and use them to temporarily wrap up throw pillows, framed photographs and other random accessories you already have in your home
- Keep it natural by using stalks of cotton, bare twigs, antlers and even bones as décor items
- Print out odd, slightly spooky black and white photographs from the Internet, frame and hang them on a focus wall to set the tone when guests arrive
Fantastic Food
Dancing to the Monster Mash really works up a hunger. Guests need something more than mini-chocolate bars to keep up their stamina for the evening. Party classics like deviled eggs and spicy chicken wings fit into the Halloween theme, and they are substantial without needing a fork and knife. Use a cookie cutter to shape slices of bread into bones and use them to make miniature grilled cheese sandwiches or toast and serve them with your favorite party dip. Halloween party food can fit your theme and be delicious at the same time.
Most of all, remember that guests are coming to your party to have fun and celebrate the holiday with you. They don’t care if the fangs on your bat cookies are perfect or if your home doesn’t look like an October magazine cover. They just want some tricks and some treats!
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