20 Feb 2008 07:38:56 | John Lenaghan
Fun Halloween Party Themes and Ideas
Halloween is the day of the year that has the most parties
thrown in its honor. Everyone loves to dress up and attend
Halloween parties with their friends. Most people end up getting
several invitations to different Halloween parties that are
often on the same night. If you are planning to throw your own
Halloween party, how can you get all your friends to head to
your shindig and not someone else’s? You need to come up with
some unique and fun ideas that will get everyone on your list so
excited about your party they won’t even consider going anywhere
else.
Not Just Any Old Theme
Many people don’t bother thinking of a theme for their Halloween
party since it seems to be somewhat of a theme already. But
rather than just putting up some Happy Halloween banners and
fake cobwebs, why not come up with a great theme party idea? You
can do anything from a haunted house or graveyard to a monster
mash or horror movie bash. Once you’ve chosen your theme apply
it to everything from your invitations to your party food.
Guests will love some guidance on what to dress up as,
especially if you do something a little different.
Your Halloween party invitations are one of the most important
aspects of your party. Invitations are the best way to get your
guests excited about your party. Many people don’t even send
invitations anymore so even sending out simple ones will help
your party stick in people’s minds. Be sure to apply your party
theme to your invitations. If you can’t find any invitations at
your local party store that go with your theme you can always
use invitation templates that you can download for free from the
Internet.
You can totally customize invitation templates and add colorful
pictures as well. Guests will love to receive these fun
invitations in the mail. You should send your invitations out
approximately three to four weeks before your party to give
everyone time to make plans to attend. If you’re running short
of time sending electronic invitations is a great idea too. You
can add animation and sound to e-invitations and even check
guest’s responses online. Be sure to contact anyone who doesn’t
respond via telephone since not everyone checks their email
often.
Spooky Decorations
Everyone will expect to see your house decorated to the nines on
Halloween so be sure not to disappoint. Your decorations should
match your theme, so give them plenty of thought. For instance,
a haunted house theme should be complete with low lighting,
smoke, a spooky soundtrack, and even live ghouls to jump out and
scare the guests as they arrive. A horror movie bash might
include retro horror B-movie posters stuck on the walls which
you can find on the Internet and print off at home.
Decorations can be found just about anywhere in the months
leading up to Halloween. Even grocery stores carry a wide
selection. Start shopping early so you can get the best
selection possible and take advantage of any sales. If you can’t
find just what you’re looking for you can always rent
decorations from a local party supply shop or even purchase
decorations from the Internet. The Internet has an almost
endless selection and you can find just about any party supplies
or decorations you’ll need.
Music is an important aspect of any party as well. While some
spooky tunes are fun at first, you’ll want to switch over to
some more upbeat music once the party gets going. People love to
dance so have plenty of high energy songs ready to go. If you
are inviting a variety of different people have several
different types of music so no ones gets bored.
Tasty Halloween Treats
Food is an important part of any party. While you don’t need to
provide a full meal, some creative and tasty snacks and treats
will help keep your guests fueled for the night’s festivities.
Turning simple party food into ghoulish culinary delights will
surprise and please your guests. Try making some bewitching
cupcakes, and put out snacks such as gummy worms and other
Halloween candy treats.
Costumes are a given, since this is Halloween after all. If you
are having a Halloween theme of some sort, let your guests know
on your invitations that they should dress to fit the theme. For
instance, if you’re throwing a horror movie bash, you can simply
say, “come as your favorite horror movie star”. Don’t expect all
your guests to comply with your request. Some people have been
thinking up their Halloween costume since last year!
Don’t forget about the party favors! Depending on how many
people you’re inviting and how much you’re willing to spend, the
possibilities are endless when it comes to party favors. A
simple idea is candy bags full of traditional treats such as
candy corn. Something more substantial might be a pumpkin
carving kit that comes with cutouts and tools. Your guests will
love having a little something to take home with them.
Endless Costume Possibilities
If you really aren’t into the scary aspect of Halloween, you can
always break with tradition and hold a different type of
Halloween party. Have a famous couples party or a crazy hat
party instead. Guests can still dress up but might be more
creative then a white sheet with holes cut out of it. Dressing
up for Halloween is something that both adults and kids can
enjoy so great creative and have fun with it!
Having games at your party isn’t a necessity, but can be a great
deal of fun for your guests. Games act as an excellent
icebreaker if everyone doesn’t know each other. Any games where
you can break people off into teams will help to get everyone
talking. Pumpkin carving contests are a good idea, as is bobbing
for apples. Be sure to give a prize to the best costume as well.
Your Halloween party is sure to be a success if you take the
time to plan. Leave yourself plenty of time and don’t forget
it’s all the little details that help to make a fabulous party.
Enlist the help of family and friends if you’re feeling
overwhelmed, and remember, planning is half the fun!
About Author :
John Lenaghan writes about party planning and other tips for the
Party Ideas 4u
website, where he provides valuable tips and advice about H
alloween party ideas, bi
rthday party ideas and other party planning topics.