Twilight Party

Here is my New Moon party invite that I just created on Oct. 23.

I know that a Twilight themed dinner is not typically themed as a couples dinner party... but nevertheless it's still a party and I wanted to share it with you. If any of you are even considering this party then read this post for some fun ideas. Some of which are my own thoughts, and others are ideas from other fans and blogs.

Invitation Ideas
These cards can be downloaded for free at http://www.ambrosiagirl.com/blog/twilight-valentines-free/
Twilight party invitations can be as simple as printing a bookmark from an online site and writing the information on the back...Who, What, When, Where...and not only will your guests have an invite, they will have a bookmark too.

You can't go wrong by presenting each invitee with a red apple tied around its stem with a red satin ribbon. Attach a tag on the ribbon with the formal invite and party information printed.
Another option is to make your own invites using black, white and read patterned paper and cardstock. These cards were taken from the twilightations website. If you would like her to make you some custom cards for your party go to her Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5911460
Outside Decor
You might want to hang a sign on the door to alert party goers that they are now entering Forks: something like Welcome to Forks with one arrow labelled Werewolves pointing to the left and another arrow labelled Vampires pointing to the right would get a laugh. Since all guests were asked to bring a Twilight themed snack to share.... this welcome sign on the door only seems fitting. (from Alissa in Arkansas' party)
Wall and Ceiling DécorIf you can afford it, buy yards of the red satin ribbon and suspend it from the ceiling with thumbtacks. You can print out some pictures of the cast of Twilight and put them into picture frames and scatter them about the room. Get white Christmas lights, and get fake flowers, and when you pop them off the plastic stems, they have holes in them. So you can put them over some of the lights. In the main party room: Your job here as hostess is to create an appropriately Twilight atmosphere. Start off with more twinkly lights, both red and white, hung everywhere. To make a misty sort of Forks-y feel, tack white or gray tulle fabric from the ceiling and, for the ultimate Forks touch, have a fog machine going. Fake trees, especially Christmas trees, would make for a nice oh-no-we're-in-the-woods-now ambience as well.
Table Decor
Red, white, and black. Because this is not a dinner, but a movie viewing party with appetizers the places to decorate are slightly different. First set up a table or countertop for putting all the appetizers, dessert plates, napkins, and forks. Set up a table or area for a punch bowl . Some suggestions are black or red tablecloths, and centerpieces can be the icons from the book covers… make a large chess piece from a white Styrofoam block, have white red tipped tulips in a clear vase, some silky red ribbons strewn around the table randomly, your twilight book or books (of course) and a red apple prominently displayed around the base of the large chess piece. Fill jars with red, white and/or black candies. These can serve not only for decor but as treats and favors. Scan/print the covers of books and place in black frames around your home. You could also frame photos of characters from the movie. Make a bloody candle by dripping melted wax from a red candle around a white candle. Use these in a centerpiece as a subtle accent. Fill a clean lined bowl with bright red apples.

Everywhere around the room, put as many Twilight-themed decorations as possible: display the books prominently; hang Twilight movie posters hither and thither; placed framed photos of the characters and of the Cullen family crest on tables and shelves; set bowls of red apples, vases of red and white parrot tulips or fire and ice roses, and oversized chess pieces everywhere you look; fill jars with red, white, or black candy.

Use black netting over a red tablecloth for a nice textured effect.
A red satin ribbon would make a great napkin ring when tied on a black napkin.
Make a bloody glass by dipping the rim of a glass or goblet into a mixture of corn syrup and red food coloring. Let drip down glass. It will set up slightly so you can make these ahead of time.

Red tissue paper hung in arches all over wall


Books on display
Anything red and black
Quotes on posters (ex: and so lion fell in love with the lamb)
Silvery decorations
This is from breaking dawn but it would be so cute if you had a little "beachy" corner that can be labeled "Esme Island". Put a couple fold up beach chairs, palm trees, sand, buckets and it can be a fun place to sit around(most party stores have plenty of beach things)
Use a fog machine and umbrellas to give the effect of Forks, Washington - rainy and misty. (ideas from http://www.studio5ksl.com/)






Twilight DECORATIONS a la Alice Cullen
When thinking of decorations for a Twilight Halloween party, more is better. Think extravagant. Think expensive. The goal is to make the place look like it was decorated by Alice Cullen herself. However, considering the average Twilighter doesn't have access to unlimited amounts of cash as do the Cullens, getting the general feel of Alice's decorating is the most important thing. First of all, the party venue absolutely must be decorated with white twinkle lights, both inside and out, since this is Alice's favorite way to light up a party night. A budget-minded party planner might string up two or three sets of lights (as opposed to the thousands of lights Alice would use). Fresh flowers on every flat surface are a must as well, but if you have a tight budget, a single bouquet of brightly colored flowers as a centerpiece would work. Or, if you want to be clever, use fire and ice roses as a shout-out to the New Moon book cover. Red apples would be a great touch, placed on tables, on shelves, even in the restroom, to represent the Twilight book cover. White tablecloths, with contrasting red napkins and red table runners will create a striking look, reminiscent of the book covers. Red and white candles everywhere will evoke a Twilighty mood.

http://www.zazzle.com/vampire+stickers?pg=2
Dye white/vanilla chocolate coating red (you must use an oil based food coloring - Chefmaster makes a good one) and place it in a chocolate fountain. Serve with a variety of dippers including red apple slices.
Decorate with red/white and black edible glitter (or rainbow glitter - as Edwards skin sparkles in the sunlight). Check out http://www.fancyflours.com/for edible glitter and crystal sugars. Serve apple shaped cookies.
Cream Cheese Sheet Cake is a perfect medium for piping various Twilight themed words such as Edward, Vampire, Wolf, Bella, blood types, and OME. The cake was served on Forks.
To make the cupcakes below: with a white cakemix make 24 cupcakes. Frost with vanilla frosting, sprinkle with red candy's or edible glitter, stick a plastic fork into it with a quote placed in the prongs.

Create cupcakes with a red jam filled center (scoop out top and fill with jam after baking and replace top or insert piping tip and fill with jam). Frost with white icing. Poke two holes in the top and make a small crescent shape to look as thought it was bitten. Drizzle a tiny amount of red jam or red piping gel from the bite mark to look like the cupcake is bleeding.
If you are really talented create the Cullen crest on cookies or a cake.
Oriental Trading Company http://www.orientaltadingcompany.com/ sells candy that looks like medical blood bags.
Add red food coloring to any type of cake, pudding, drink, etc.
Check out the cupcakes below. You can make them by frosting cupcakes with vanilla frosting, then rolling them in green sprinkles (to be authentic roll in red sprinkles to make a red apple), stick in a pretzel with mint leaves for the stem and then take the "bite" out with a child sized fork and add a few chocolate sprinkles.(sprinkles can look like seeds, or just put two across from each other to look like dracula fangs) from www.karascupcakes.blogspot.com

Apple Beer comes in really cool black cans with red apples on them. It would fit well in a Twilight themed party.
Use red paste food coloring in butter and pour over popped popcorn. You could also drizzle popped corn with red candy melts.
Serve red hard candy or lollipops.
Serve baked apples.
This gorgeous white, black and red cake could be used for a Twilight or New Moon party as Bella's birthday cake. Even though it is not as the one described in the book, the colors are totally Twilight and it's a cake!

Music
Play Twilight soundtrack or these songs suggested by author Stephanie Meyer:
The Twilight Soundtrack (according to Ms. Meyer):
1. "Why Does it Always Rain on Me?" — Travis
2. "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" [video edit] — My Chemical Romance
3. "Creep" [radio edit] — Radiohead
4. "In My Place" — Coldplay
5. "By Myself" — Linkin Park
6. "Dreaming" — OMD
7. "Please Forgive Me" — David Gray
8. "Here With Me" — Dido
9. "With You" [reanimation remix] — Linkin Park
10. "Time is Running Out" — Muse
11. "Dreams" — The Cranberries
12. "Tremble for My Beloved" — Collective Soul
13. "Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)" — Billy JoelCOSTUMESThere are many obvious choices here. The "Before Bella" costume could be as simple as a pair of sweatpants and simple t-shirt. The "After Bella" costume would be a sleek, silver dress and sparkly make-up all over any exposed skin, including the face. The easiest Jacob costume would be a wolf suit. Anyone dressing as Edward, or any of the other vampires, should brush their face with pale foundation. A really cool touch would be to wear golden colored contact lenses. There are many other possibilities, including the Volturi (black cloaks and cowls), bad vampires (red eyes!), "Prom Bella," "Wedding Bella," and even "Pregnant Bella." Any of the Cullens would be excellent costume choices. And any of the other vampires from Breaking Dawn would be great, since there are so many to choose from.
Activities
1.Twilight trivia Twilight bingo. Make bingo cards and use stickers or write character names in each of the boxes. Write down each word or sticker you use on small pieces of paper. Fold the paper up and put it in a bowl. These papers will serve as your bingo balls! Have the caller pick one and read it, while the players cross off their boards.
2.Fill fortune cookies with twilight quotes, or read off a quote and let's see if anyone knows who said it. Almost everything can be made into a game.
3.Play movie
4.Bobbing for apples
5.Treat guests to their own personal Alice by hiring a fortune teller to stop by for the evening:
Make red apple-shaped cutouts (one per guest) and number them from 1 to however many guests will attend your party.

When guests arrive, offer them a glass of red punch (with red ice cubes, natch) and ask them to pick an apple from the pile (flip the numbers so they face down and guests can't see the numerals).

Have guests see the fortune teller in the order of their apple numbers. Ask guests to find the next person to go after their turn is over. This will keep guests moving in and out of the fortune teller area efficiently and smoothly throughout the party.

Food
Serve red velvet cake
Potluck red, white or black appetizers
Serve red punch or soda.
Create bottle wraps around red soda bottles using vampire stickers from

New Moon Party Idea Cards

I created these 4x6 cards for my recent blog swap. I wanted to share these New Moon cards with you before the movie comes out! They are a quick reference for the beginning party planner. I have been enjoying so much teaching myself to use photoshop elements that I have been creating some date idea cards and dinner date recipe cards to share with my readers.
You can download these cards at:

Download HERE first side of index card

Go HERE to download back side of index card.

Christmas in July details

Decor

I chose an aqua blue, silver and white for my party colors. Since it's so hot here in Nevada (and I didn't think green and red would really make it feel much cooler) I opted for an icy blue with silver look. It's also very elegant and gives a lot of richness to everything. We put up our prelit Christmas tree with glass balls, silver metalic garlands, hanging jewels, and my kids favorite- 'Carvan' the white dove.


Invitations
See previous post


Tablesetting


White tablecloths, light blue transperant plastic placemats (originally got at a grocery store in the dollar bin), I wrapped sky blue tulle on the left side from top to bottom, tied a knot and made a very nice looking placemat. Then I added white looking china (plate) a glass goblet, silverware and the white linen napkins in beautiful crystal/jeweled napkins rings (got on clearance at Bed, Bath and Beyond last year).


Table Centerpieces


We have many Department 56 Christmas Snow Village village pieces. So we decided to get out a few of them from the Christmas shelf in the garage and use them as the main centerpiece. I also took two pie platters made of wrought iron and got some glass plates for them. On each I put some of the extra Christmas balls and small wrapped presents and the silvery pinecones. They were placed at opposite ends of the table.

Why Christmas in July

( I found a fun explaination about why a July celebration for Christmas is so great!)
http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas_in_july/celebrations.htm

Did you know that most people have a love hate relationship with Christmas? Read on to know more... They love giving presents but hate the crowds; Love the true meaning but hate the commercialism that seems to engulf it; Love the music but hate having six weeks of it. They love the food but hate the weight gain. Is it not funny that, despite all of that, we still hope Christmas comes more than once a year?! And the best part is we have a way to do exactly that - Celebrate it in July and leave the rest behind.. Its not about asking you to give up the late December festivities but adding an extra zing to your holidays and celebrations in the Summer heat. So soak up the sun and celebrate Christmas in July. Surprise your friends, family or mates you really care for with a one night of bonus Christmas celebration in the middle of Summer. Drag out the artificial tree while your love is away for the day or weekend and decorate it. Go to a nursery and find a small potted evergreen to light up, if you get a real one. Bake a couple of your favorite holiday goodies. Put a few presents under the tree. Turn the air conditioner
on high and light a crackling fire in the fireplace while listening to your favorite Christmas tunes. And Folks! Its Christmas in July. Ho! Ho! Ho!

July's dinner

Since Jeff and I started planning out these dinners I have known that I wanted to do a Christmas in July dinner. Complete with a gorgeously decorated Christmas tree, Christmas music, favorite Christmas foods and a gift exchange. I'm still working on the logistics. I bought some aqua/silver colored tree decor at Target after Christmas for 75% off. I got some Christmas cards that would make cute invites at Michael's in their dollar bin, and a lot of candles. I am choosing the Aqua scheme versus the traditional red or green so .... It will be more of a challenge matching the tableware. I think that I will use my white tablecloths and make some Aqua colored runners to go down the center of the tables. I also get to use the crystal/silver beaded napkin ring holders that I got on clearance at Bed Bath and Beyond.
With the way people are so careful about how they spend money these days... I need to think of a gift exchange that won't hurt the pocketbook. Any ideas?

Hawaiian Luau Party Ideas

Often Luau's are held in the backyard under tents, with palm fronds woven together to make windbreak walls. The tent poles are decorated with ti leaves, ferns, heleconia and red ginger. Entertainment is usually provided by friends with guitars and ukuleles and impromptu hulas abound.

FLOWERS

• When you throw your luau, be sure to decorate with plenty of silk flowers or you can even order tropical flowers, foliage and orchid sprays from lei vendors in Hawaii who will ship to the mainland (our name for the other 49 states).


• To save money buy silk leaves and do one large centerpiece at the head table or near the buffet bar and smaller flower bouquets at the guest tables.
  

MUSIC

• Hawaiian music is a must for your luau. You can buy a CD or tape by some of our great local musicians whose styles range from the traditional Hawaiian slack key guitar to Hawaiian-style reggae. Click for our music suggestions.
  
  

TABLES

• To decorate your tables you can create a traditional center table runner of leaves, ferns and flowers or you can go with an ocean theme and spread an ornamental fish-net topped with shells, sand and glass balls.


• Another great look is a Hawaiian print sarong used as a tablecloth. Raffia hula skirts look tropical edging the buffet table.


• Reproductions of the old travel posters from the '30s and '40s would look great on the walls and also make great art for your invitations.

CENTERPIECES

• Place a few real whole pineapples along the center of the table. You can also set out candles in real coconut shells or bamboo stalks.


• For a Hawaiian themed party, wherein you plan for a candlelight dinner, you can very well fit in a pineapple centerpiece. Take a pineapple and carve out small, oval shapes on three sides of the fruit. Scoop out the excess of fruit and let it dry. You can place small light lamps in these openings and place them at the center of the table.



• Another interesting pineapple centerpiece that can be easily made is Pineapple Appetizer Centerpiece. For this, take a pineapple and peel it off. Do not remove its crown. After this, chop other fruits into small cubes or take small fruit items such as grapes, cherry tomatoes, apricots, olives, chunk cheese etc. Now, take toothpicks and prick the fruits, tucking them onto the pineapple. Cover the whole pineapple with fruits and place it at the table. Your guests can pick different fruits with the help of the toothpicks and once they are finished, you can chop the pineapple for dessert.



• You can even make Pineapple Fruit Boat as your centerpiece. Take a pineapple and remove the skin from one of the sides. After this place the pineapple on a table, with the flesh side facing upwards. Scoop out the pulp of the fruit by cutting it into cubes. After you have removed the pulp, it will look like a hollow bowl. You can fill this with other tropical fruits, cut into small cubes. Set it at the table and enjoy the fruit salad.


• Fill up large shells with macadamia nuts, and use a child's beach pail to hold potato chips. Place the shells and buckets on the table.


• With the Hawaiian party theme, you do not have to spend a lot on decorations. You can make the buffet table your Hawaiian centrepiece. Decorate this with a Hawaiian party table centre or table runner and hey presto you have your party theme almost covered.

FOOD WITH A FLAIR

• Paper parasols and slices of pineapple on the edge of drinks will put your guests in a tropical mood.


• Check out our Luau recipes.


• Hawaiian's use a lot of chicken, pork, pineapple and rice in their traditional recipes.

SPECIAL TOUCHES AND FAVORS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Be sure to greet your guests with a shell or flower lei and a big "Aloha" and have them leave their shoes at the door! You can also have loose flowers on hand for your guests to tuck behind their ears. If you're available romantically, put the flower behind your right ear. If you're taken, put it closest to your heart, behind your left ear.

If you also ask your guests to come dressed up in a Hawaiian outfit. This also helps to carry the theme into other rooms, without much in the way of party decoration. This fancy dress approach adds color to the room with you having too.

You might want to contact a dance school or hula halau in your area to have professional hula lessons or professional hula performers at your luau.

Make Hawaii themed cookies to use as place cards. Make a batch of sugar cookies and shape them in the form of flowers. Use icing and write each guest's name on a cookie. Lay it in front of the plate corresponding to the seating chart.

You could pack little take out cartons of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts for party favors or check out Hawaiian Luau Party Supply for a variety of fun kitsch items (like our favorite - the wiggling hula girl sculpture shown here).

A Suggested Menu (for an authentic meal)
Kalua Pig
Poi
Sweet potatoes
Luau or laulau
Lomi salmon
Tropical fruit such as pineapple, mango and papaya
Haupia
Mai Tai Drinks

A Suggested Menu (for a more casual meal)
Skewered marinated meats
Grilled Veggies
Tropical Fruit
Smoothies

Low Cost Mexican Fiesta Centerpiece

They look nice by themselves, but it looks extra nice with the pot wrapped in brightly colored tissue paper and finished off with a ribbon, raffia or twine.
After the party consider letting guests take one home as a favor. The cactus's below have couples names and initials on a card. They are meant to be favors below. They could also be used as a placecard telling guests where to sit.
A Fun Centerpiece
Add punch to a Southwestern- or Mexican-themed dinner with a centerpiece of blooming cactus. Fill a clay pot with Spanish moss, and top it with a green cabbage. Use a toothpick to add a flower head. Or wrap Spanish moss around the end of a trio of zucchinis, stuff the moss-wrapped end in a clay pot, and insert a bloom.

Pretty in Pink Eighties Dinner Party

Eighties parties can be a ton of fun! The music is great! Especially those love songs! And don't forget Madonna, Cindy Lauper, Michael Jackson, New Kids on the Block..
Here is ONE 80's theme party that would make a great all girl party. Even with all the pink it would be a fun couples party. Below you can read more ideas of how to host an eighties party. Decor ideas. Favor ideas. Activity ideas. Check it out.

This party would be easy to replicate if you have access to a thrift store (Goodwill, Salvation Army, Deseret Industries, Catholic Charities) where they sell LP records. Records shown are used as placemats. The centers of the records were replaced with pink labels. The room was decorated with many balloons of different shades of pink.
Pink mums, gerberas, carnations.... roses... any pink flowers you can find. And mix them up!
Pretty in pink movie poster illustration is printed numerous times and made into a table runner.

These favors were cassette tapes purchased at a thrift store and spray painted pink, dried, then attached to box with a pink ribbon. Favor could be any kind of pink item from the eighties. Make a collection of 80's music and burn onto CD's for all guests or go to Walmart where there are bins full of classic 80's movies for $5. Place CD or movie into box with some other simple favors. Place in box with cassette tape bow on top. In Walmart are bins full of classic 80's movies for $5. Place movie into box with some other simple favors.

Random Eighties Party ideas
I had an '80s night in December 1993, and while it was low-key, it was definitely a hit. There were only a few of us, maybe eight. I asked everyone to come dressed '80s and bring music and toys and whatever else. We just played '80s music, Trivial Pursuit, and Atari, and I brought my synthesizer, too. Had more people brought stuff, it would've been more lively. Everyone came dressed in '80s clothing, though, and that was cool. I wore an off the shoulder gray sweatshirt with authentic '80s buttons (Michael Jackson, Wham, Frankie Goes to Hollywood) on it. I wore dark jeans, jelly bracelets, neon bangle bracelets, neon earrings, and a pair of legwarmers that I made by cutting the sleeves off of an old, ugly sweater. Clothing and jewelry can be found in friends' attics and secondhand stores. If you can find quintessentially '80s food at the grocery store, snap it up!
Submitted by: Jennifer Boyer
80s Jeopardy is a big party favorite. All you need are some standard 80s trivia questions, along with video and audio splices for "Daily Doubles." If you've got alot of people, you can play teams where the three contestants switch off every question.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Depending on how lively (or juvenile) your group is, 80s lip synch contests can be hits. If you've got a contest between the likes of, say, the Beastie Boy's and B-52s, and everyone's dressed and acting the part, you're going to have a good thing.
Submitted by: Anonymous
I am having an 80's party and I got a bunch of theme songs from t.v. shows of the eighties...You can get them off the internet or you can buy a cd with them on it...Anyway people have to guess what T.v. show the theme song is from.
Submitted by: Anonymous
For our 80's night I asked all the guest to bring a high school picture from the 80's. Not only did they have to dress the part everyone could see how it really was.
Submitted by: Anonymous
We checked out tons of 80's movies and went through them, finding the 10 best sound clips we liked and digitized them. Then we found 10 80's songs to match those clips (e.g. masterful clipping of 3 dog-fight scenes into one seamless track from TopGun matched with Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins). We burned a CD out of this, made 70-80 copies as party favors.
Submitted by: Loren Cheng
We designed covers for the CD's which sported shots of Miami Vice, very nice color copies (thank God we had access to a color copier at one of our workplaces). We passed them out midway through the party when everyone was totally psyched. Then passed out pens and suggested people open up the foldout covers and sign each others foldouts as if they were yearbooks. People actually really got into it.
Submitted by: Loren Cheng
We put pink and blue streamers all over the room. Borrowed lights from a DJ friend of mine.
Submitted by: Loren Cheng
We borrowed tons of vintage 80's clothes, cut out cardboard cutouts, dressed the cutouts, and tacked them to the wall!
Submitted by: Loren Cheng
We had TONS of movie posters (one of my roommates grew up in a movie theatre -- his dad was the manager); we picked 8 vintage 80's movies and put those posters up around the room.
Submitted by: Loren Cheng
Spent 0 or so at Diddams, a local party store for things that seemed 80's.
Submitted by: Loren Cheng
Put up poster boards everywhere encouraging people to contribute experiences (Most Embarrassing Moment in the 80's, Favorite Action Hero of the 80's, Favorite Outfit from the 80's).
Submitted by: Loren Cheng
Trivia contest using your lists. We printed out the 25 questions we liked best, plastered them on the wall in a large font, then passed sheets out to people on the way in. The sheets were labelled with team names (the Weavers, the Carringtons, the Ewings, etc. etc.). People formed up and tackled questions at their leisure throughout the night. Winners took home Blockbuster gift certificates.
Submitted by: Loren Cheng
Rubik's Cube Contest - Can be done several ways, but usually I give 7 people their own cube, put them out on the dance floor, and whoever can get 1 side done within one song, gets a drink, or some type of giveaway.
Submitted by: From Rikk / Dj80
Stymie Dj80 - This one puts me to the test...If anyone in the party can request an 80's song that I don't have, they win something. This contest is usually the whole night since people think they can get me, and then realize how difficult that is! As a rule, I always have to show the song, or prove I have it. Occasionally I lose.
Submitted by: From Rikk / Dj80
Breakdancing Contest - This one speaks for itself
Submitted by: From Rikk / Dj80
"Name that 80's theme" is also fun. I see this one has already been posted, but I play a sample of an 80's TV show theme song, first correct guess..wins. You can double the prize if they can name the ARTIST!!
Submitted by: From Rikk / Dj80
I had an 80's party a few years ago, which was a lot of fun. Started by raiding my parents house for some memorabilia to put up around the house, like some garbage pail kids cards, old magazines, a poster of Tron and a history of videogames. Next i hit up ebay; for around $100 I got a Colecovision with the Atari 2600 atachment and a bunch of games. I got Dragon's lair on DVD, along with copies of a few movies (including Liquid Sky! if you don't know what it is, do yourself a favor and find out). Next I hit napster (ahh the good old days) and made about four full 90 tapes of 80s music. A good place to start for ideas about music is the time life website or some other one where they sell those compilation cds. Then search on allmusic for other songs by those bands or related bands. You'll have a few hundred in no time. Got to have a few rubiks cubes and their knock-offs laying around. I found my old Lazer Tag as well(it was the copy, called Photon). Last and most importantly, 80s candy! pop rocks for everyone! Hmm.... maybe it's time for another
Submitted by: Lincoln
We're throwing a party for my 30th birthday party in August. I'm going to use many of the ideas I've seen here. We're also planning on buying an old Chevette, restore it and that will be the ride all of my buddies and I will show up in. We found one already for $250.
Submitted by: Benwa
March 2003 : We hosted an 80's Party and required party goers to dress "80's style". I downloaded about 30 photos of the 80's; Back To The Future, Silver Spoons, The A-Team, Ninja Turtles ect., shrunk them down and taped them to the red and blue beer cups. This not only made it easy to find out where you left your beer, but was also a great conversation piece. "I got David Lee Roth..who you got?" "I got Three's Company" Also I downloaded enough 80's music for a whole weekend!! I had a 50/50 raffle and gave away 80's CD's. In the Living Room, I removed photos in our frames and replaced them with "Family Ties", Harrision Ford, and other 80's icons. The basement had a dance floor and we hung Pink and Blue Streamers from the rafters. All the small details took alot of time and work but it all was worth it. Go to eBay and but swatch watches or borrow things from friends like we did (Old Albums / 45 Cover Sleves / Cabbage Patch Kids and display them about the house) It was a great time and people are asking when the next party is!!!
Submitted by: Craig Nemeth
I am planning an 80's night for my 24th birthday in July, 2003. The first thing guests will see is a time tunnel leading up to the front door, taking them back in time from 2003 to 1979. At the opening, a strobe light will provide special effects, whilst at the end next to the front door, my laptop will be set up playing a video clip on DVD by Darren Hayes entitled "Crush (1980me)" on auto-repeat. It will just loop over and over again. I have sent out a list of ideas along with the invitations on what to wear, how to do your hair and so forth. In the lounge room, an Atari will be set up on the main TV with a selection of 80's music on casettes will play on the stereo we got in the 80's. In my bedroom, which will be open to the public for the first time, like, ever, 80's video clips taped off cable onto VHS will be playing on my TV. Thanks to a program called "Golden Years" I managed to tape an hours worth of clips from each year from 1979 to 1989 in cfronological order on 4 tapes. There will be coloured light bulbs replacing every white globe in the house. As my kitchen has fluorescent lighting, I will be replacing the white bulbs with those groovy black UV ones. As I am expecting a group of about 20 laid back people to attend, it's just a matter of 'find your own fun.' There will be PLENTY of free alcohol and maybe even something slightly greener for those so inclined. The idea is not to just remember the 80's, my guests will, for one night, think it IS the 80's. I'm even trying to track down some old calenders.
Submitted by: Daniel Raffaele
Me and my friends being products of the 80's had an 80's night. since we were only alive during the 80's for a little bit we asked our parents what to wear. My friend Nikay actually was wearing clothes from the 80's since her mom still had them. All that we did was watch 80's movies like the cult classics and listened to 80's music but it was totally FUN!
Submitted by: Melissa
Well i don't know much ideas but one idea would be is to compile a top 100 or 500 or 1000 list of 80's songs and do a countdown like in radio style or video style oh and it can be any 80's song from UK charts, US charts or wherever and if you ever have an 80's song/artist freak get him to be tested to see if he has the song i bet i have much music in 80's to test you all out
Submitted by: Matthew
Atari put out a new game system where it is the old atari joystick and all the reset and start buttons are on the joystick..it plugs directly into the a/c cables and runs on AA batteries...it gives the feel of the old joystick and the games are not updated one bit...imagine having an asteroids or missle command contest using the original joystick
Submitted by: Jon
Have had a successful 80's girls night wine and cheese.Planning another girls and guys new years party- making up a disc of all my favourites (70 odd songs) off my 80's collection and going to grab a madonna (like a virgin,material girl,get into the groove etc) kareoke CD.making up a 'happy new years" banner all in 80's style pink neon etc
Submitted by: Paula
I graduated from high school in '88 and pursued various college degrees for ten years afterwards. I threw 4 80's parties between '95 and '98. Some ideas I used for all four: -I had an Atari 2600 set up for people to play. -I passed out a trivia contest when people arrived and had them turn it in when they finished and gave out a prize for the best one. -I told people to come dressed in 80's clothes or as 80's personalities. -I decorated with posters and old LP and 45 rpm covers that I got cheap at a used record shop. -I had various 80's videos and movie clips playing on a big screen TV at the party room I rented (it was the clubhouse for the apartment complex that a friend lived at). -Bought party favors and decorations at a store that specialized in 80's stuff (favorite was Alf centerpieces at the tables). -Played all 80's music (since I DJ'd, I had plenty of material and could set up lights and a fog machine). Some suggestions for your own party: Offer beer. If you charge a small cover charge (say $1-2) people will be happy to pay it if they know they can drink as much as they want). Also, don't save the great 80's dance music hits until later in the night - play them in the middle or early because people are more likely to stay on the dance floor for a mediocre song after a good one than come out to the dance floor for a mediocre one. Food is a nice bonus too. And most of all, don't take yourself too seriously - have fun!!
Submitted by: Dave "80's Guy" Hayslip
We have an 80's themed wedding reception. In the bathrooms for the girls i'm having crimpers and aqua net hair spray. Another fun thing is as our guest book little cutouts of vinyl records will have the guests names on it and the guest turns it over and puts their favorite thing about hte 80's or their most embarrassing moment or who their favorite guy or girl(famous) in the 80's was.
Submitted by: Gina
I am planning a costume ball for the spring of 2004, and the theme this year is the 80's. Several hundred people are coming. We decided to create our own 80's mix mp3 cd instead of hiring a Dj, so that we can be sure to have the perfect mix. Then, we are are camoflauging the mp3 player/stereo equipment by creating a fake stage with large plywood cut-outs of a "typically 80's" band - 4 or 5 hyper-colored rockers with crazy-shaped guitars, etc. we are spattering Tide on the columns of the room (it's being held in a large architecture work studio, so it can get dirty) and shining black lights on them. We are also getting a projector and shining 80's movies on 2 large white walls. We will also have a cool neon light show. It should be "radical".
Submitted by: Amanda
Just one to add so not to say what's already here... 80's celebrity heads as icebreakers - print up tags of 80s famous people, actors, singers, bands, tv shows, etc...and give one to each guest. they then have to guess who they have on their back by asking yes/no questions to other people. great way to get people who don't know each other to mingle!!
Submitted by: Bonnie
In keeping with the TV theme song games, I think it would be fun to have guests sing the lyrics to popular 80's TV shows. To make it into a contest, a rule could be that the first person to get it right, wins a prize. This is on my list for a Dec. '04 80's party.
Submitted by: Raquel D.
We are having an 80's Halloween party. I am keeping the Halloween decor to a minimum. We make an 80's shrine on our fire place to all things 80's.Movie posters, music tapes, clothes, shoes, candy, concert photos etc. Everyone is bringing a photo of themselves from the 80's and we have to guess who is who
Submitted by: Penny
I am having an eighties party and wanted to share some of our ideas. First, I sent out an invite with photos I got off the internet from a ton of eighties entertainment like Dynasty, Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson and more. Everyone is dressing in eighties of course too. In the entryway of my house, I decorated a table with eighties albums I still had including LIke a Virgin, Pac Man Fever and Olivia Newton John's Physical. I also put down a magic eight ball, jelly braclets, rubik's cube and 45's from New Edition, Jack Wagner and Do they know it's Christmas. Then I found a Ronald Reagan calendar, a Breakfast Club poster and Lost boys poster and hung then around. I found additional 45's from the eighties I hung from the light fixtures. Some of the prizes we are using for the trivia games we are playing include pop rocks, aqua net and a mix cd I made of multiple 80s hits. I have also hung up signs of course bright green and pink with messages around the house like who shot JR, Psyche!, I feel the need...the need for speed etc. !!
Submitted by: Sofia
I had an 80's party a couple years ago and did a lot of what the others have posted, but the other thing I incorporated was a PowerPoint presentation that played on a projector for the entire night with the events, inventions, top 5 songs, news, etc. of anything that happened during the 80's. Each event was put in the year in which it took place (from 1980 - 1989) and each slide was dedicated to one event with some info, if needed. It was so much fun to research the 80's and to see how far we have come!! Although it took MANY hours to complete, it was great entertainment for all!!
Submitted by: Misty
The 80s was not only rock n roll. Hip hop became really popular in the 80s. The guys could dress up in the Adidas jumpsuits and big gold chains and sunglasses. Girls in the baggy overalls, big buckle belt and gold jewelry.
Submitted by: Elisha Stewart
Decorate for the 80s. Top movies, albums, TV shows, and other things pertaining to. Get posters of these. Get a good DJ that knows his 80s music. I have all the great 80s songs even the obscured stuff that didn't get radio play. Have an 80s dress up.
Submitted by: Brian
OK... heres a game for the more "athletic" crowd. it's a relay race, what you have to do is fill a dresser/clothes trunk/etc. with 80s-ish clothes... on all of the clothes you tape an 80s trivia question on it. you divide up into 2 or 3 teams (depending on how many 80s clothes you have) then you line up and one person at a time runs to the dresser/trunk/etc. if they answer the trivia question correctly, then they get to wear the 80s piece of clothing... than they run back and slap the next persons hand, and they run to the dresser/etc. and it so on and so on... once there is a team with 2 or 3 items of clothing on, they win!
Submitted by: Paige B.
We had an 80's themed Halloween party. Very cool! Everyone came dresses as their favorite 80's singer/band member. I dressed as Cyndi Lauper (the unmatched outfit, orange hair, rainbow eyeshadow, bracelets up the arm and hightops), my friend came as Lita Ford, my husband did a perfect Nigel from Spinal Tap. It was a blast! We played 80's music all night and remembered the past like it was yesterday! I also broke out the 80's game and we just sat around asking each other the trivia questions. So much fun!
Submitted by: Adrienne Rigney
we had an 80's party for work. we all dressed, had a d.j. play 80's music and played 80' trivia pursuit....way to hard. my team was -6. we also gave prizes for best dressed ( auqua net and banana clips and autobiogrphy of ronald reagan, winning team got buttons that said mullets rock my face off, top gun dvd, and the person not dressed got a sticker that said f*** the80's. also the person who answered the most questions got a 80's cd...tons of fun.
Submitted by: kimberly parker
We had this huge costume box, with tons of embarrassing 80s clothes to wear. So when one of my friends showed up without 80's clothes on, we'd make them wear something from the box.
Submitted by: hannaona
I have a jukebox that's loaded with 80's music, so with the 10 of us we had the music going as each of us dressed up as close to our favorite 80's stars as we could get. The clothes, the hair, you name it. It was the theme. The decor of my basement was done up 100% 80's style where I had movie posters and album covers plastered everywhere. If you don't have the actual prints, simply pluck off what you can find off the internet, print them and if you can, frame them. So with the 80's theme going, music and all and we're all dressed up, we had a blast. The food and drink mainly consisted of pizza, chips, pop and liquor. We had a blast.an
Submitted by: Ryshty

http://www.inthe80s.com/80snight.shtml

Maggie and Erin's Twilight Goody Bag Favors

***Reposted one month later**

Here is a sneak peak of what's in store (so far) for tomorrow night's Twilight DVD release party. As stated earlier in a post for this party- EVERYONE coming to the party is helping contribute to it in one way or another. We have 4 people assigned to bring the movie food/snacks, 2 over decor and punch, 1 over the movie set-up and the rest to bring 12 favors for the goody bags. Just like the stars sometimes get goody bags at movie premieres and the Grammy's or Oscar's - we will have our own! Because we have 28 guests expected there will be a 2 to 4 gals bringing items for the main characters, but each guest may only get ONE of each characters favors. Each guest should go home with about 10 favors in their bag. As the favors come in today I will share them with all of you (and the corresponding quote). Each item had to go with a quote from the Twilight book.

EDWARD




His skin was as icy as ever, but the trail his fingers left on my skin was alarmingly warm- like I'd been burned, but didn't feel the pain of it yet. - Bella (quote attached to BOTH Dentyne gums packs)

BELLA



(below... Mary Kay perfume- 'Bella' Belara
JACOB

DR. CARLISLE CULLEN
Bandaids "Now he is all but immune to the scent of blood and he is able to do the work he loves without agony"

"I'm aftaid you're going to have to make a choice." Carlisle
ESME
"Something about her heart shaped face, her billows of soft caramel-colored hair reminded me of the ingenuses of the silent movie era" Bella's observation of Esme when they meet at the Cullen's

ROSALIE




ALICE


GENERAL TWILIGHT