THEMES

It's a proven fact that guests just have more fun at a party when it relates to some sort of theme.  Planning a theme party is actually easier and more fun than planning one without a theme.  A theme is like a road map to help you reach your destination and, once there, to make sure that you have everything you need.  A theme will give you a focus and pull together the various aspects of a party, with the end result being less stress and anxiety for you. For dozens of theme ideas, click on Theme Parties and Hundreds of Party Themes!, where you'll find a Vintage Hawaiian Party, Disco Party, Toga Party, M.A.S.H Party and more! Go shopping for all of your party needs.

So how else can you come up with a theme?  The answers are almost infinite.

Holidays - These typically lend themselves to a theme, such as "Trim a Tree" , "Ornament Exchange", or "White Elephant Gift" for Christmas, "Chocolate Decadence" for Valentine's Day, "Eggstravaganza" at Easter, "Old Glory" or "Colonial Times" for Independence Day, costume parties designed around one theme in particular, such as comic or cartoon book characters, favorite celebrities, Broadway shows, etc. for Halloween or New Year's Eve, and a "Bountiful Harvest" celebration for Thanksgiving.

Parties by design - Plan an anniversary or adult birthday party around the year in which the couple was married or the honoree was born: Big Band Era, Fabulous Fifties, Hippy Sixties, Disco Fever, Birth of the Personal Computer.

College graduation parties can be designed around the graduate's major:  Finance lends itself to a party surrounded by the trappings of Wall Street and big business.  For my math major son, I decorated with children's arithmetic books, plastic math place mats, rulers, protractors, math flash cards, refrigerator magnet numbers, his elementary school math awards, and anything else I could find that was math related.  When my daughter graduated with a degree in theater arts, I posted and displayed reviews,  playbills and programs from all of the shows in which she had performed throughout her life.  And of course I had to display all of the many costumes we had saved over the years.

Themes can be easily drawn from the celebrant's hobbies and pastimes, either current or past.  When a co-worker celebrated a recent birthday, we decorated her office in a western theme, complete with a genuine saddle and lots of tack, burlap and straw, and plastic toy horses, knowing that in "another life" she had participated in rodeo competitions.  She was thrilled by the memories it invoked.  For the mountain biker, we brought in a child's bicycle, displayed bicycle books and magazines from the library, and either hung or attached old bicycle parts and riding gear all around her work area.  Spandex riding outfits were hung from file cabinets. The surfer hobbyist was surprised to find a beach umbrella and folding chair in the center of his office, accompanied by a pile of real beach sand, plastic beach toys, fish netting, sea shells, driftwood and a giant swirl of genuine, dried seaweed.

Virtually any hobby can be adapted to a theme party.  Whether it's gardening, reading, sailing, bird watching - whatever the favorite pastime pursuit, you can create a theme that showcases what he or she loves.  And solicit the help of friends in gathering up whatever theme oriented items they may have in their possession.  I know from personal experience, that if you get them started and give them the idea, they will enthusiastically come to your aid.  The mountain bike decorations mentioned above were gathered with only 24 hours notice!

Still can't pin down an appropriate theme?  Let the venue suggest the theme.  If the party is being held at your home and you live in the country, why not have a casual picnic party?  Instead of renting tables, spread out blankets and tablecloths.  A home furnished in a Mediterranean style lends itself well to a Roman Holiday theme, with a menu of scrumptious Italian cuisine.  A Western saloon could be created around a game room with a pool table.  A simple beach party can easily become a Pirates at Sea, Survivor Party or Hawaiian luau. 

Keep in mind that, in addition to decor, your menu should compliment your theme whenever possible.  For instance You wouldn't serve a main course of pasta at a luau or "froo-froo" food at a Western Dude Ranch party.

Whenever possible, carry the theme through with the music and entertainment.  The local library offers a wide selection of tapes, CD's and yes, even vinyl!  And feel free to ask your guests to bring any music that would be appropriate for your event.  If your budget permits, consider hiring a small mariachi band for your Mexican Fiesta or a tow or three piece steel guitar group for your reggae party. Live music is always appreciated by your guests.

Here are some suggestions for some fun themes.  Let them be a springboard to your own creativity.  

Tropical Splendor

                                                                Masquerade
                                                                Arabian Nights
                                                                Far East

                                                                Red Hot Salsa
Retro Sixties
Mardi Gras
Victorian Romance
Hollywood Nights

                                                                                      Disco Seventies
                                                                                      Country Hoedown

Circus, Circus
Murder Mystery                                Ocean Party
Roaring Twenties
On Broadway
                                                          Fabulous Fifties
                                                          New York, New York
Gone With the Wind

 Western Dude Ranch

                        

Jolly Old England
                                                                   Oktoberfest
Casino Night
A Touch of Magic
Pajama Party
Astrology
Toga, Toga, Toga
                                                            Camelot
Board Game Mania
Bookworms
Collectors' Showcase
Went to a Garden Party

Cruisin'

Around the World in 80 Days
Jungle Safari
                                                            Go Fly a Kite
Olympics
Kentucky Derby
                                                                March Madness
Role Reversal
Swap Meet

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