Break out your flapper dress and cloche hat. We're going to a party!

I have one word for you: Themes

Themed events are tons of fun and really exciting to plan. To take an idea, expand it, and create an interactive version of it takes vision and creativity.  I personally love themed parties. Almost every party I've gone to from age 14 to 25 had a theme. Now, this is in part due to the creative nature of my family and secondly because of the residence hall I lived in while I was in college. (Shout out to all my former Prestonites!)  When my parents would get their friends together at our house it could be just a casual get together or one of my father's grand ideas. My dad came up with some of the most clever themes. I think the most memorable being the "Come As You Were" party. Basically, who do you think you were in a past life and come to the party as that person. We had a variety or characters show up. Everyone from Cleopatra and The Grand Duchess Anastasia to a Samurai warrior and an Amazon Princess. And my dad.... decided to take a more literal approach and show up in a gorilla suit. Bless him.

Now some people may shy away from theming their event because they fear it might make it feel cheesy and they don't want to exclude someone who can't participate. Both of which are valid concerns. But just because your event has a theme doesn't mean you have to show up in a gorilla suit. You can have a Luau family reunion, a little cowboy baby shower, or a sweet and salty desert party. Each of these would be easily executed without having the guests do too much work or feel too intimidated.

On the other hand....
Going all out from top to bottom can be a lot of fun. If you have some good friends who you know will enjoy a great themed party... go for it! I have a friend in Florida who use to have about 10 themed parties a year at the house she shared with a few friends.  Some of their themes were:

~New Years 

~Masquerade

~Choose Your Own Adventure (come as whatever you want basically, choose your adventure and live it!)

~Spirit Animal          

~Blacklight Party

~Red Party (She raised money for a friend that was in a car accident)

~Rubix Cube (wear all the colors of the rubix cube and trade items [hats, shoes, accessories, t-shirts, etc.] and solve yourself)

~Doppelganger (come as your evil twin)

  There was always a good turn out and people were always anxious to hear what the next theme would be.

                                                                                                              Nicki's spirit animal is an owl

Themed parties can also make good traditions. You can have an annual themed event like a Casino Night on New Years Eve. Or every year on your birthday throw a themed birthday party but change the theme every year. To this day my favorite themed event was the annual "Gatsby Banquet" that Preston Residential College held every Spring. As the name suggests, the banquet was modeled after the parties that the character Jay Gatsby would throw at his house in the book The Great Gatsby. It was held outdoors. Starting on our expansive front porch then moved into the garden behind Preston for dinner and Jazz music. 1920's attire was encouraged though not required but many rose to the challenge. But as long as you made an effort to look formal you were good to go. It was also a good excuse for some of the girls to break out their old prom dresses.

The Gatsby Banquet has been a tradition at Preston since its founding in 1995. And it is something that the residence look forward to every year.

Now that I've given you some ideas and told you about a few of my favorite themed party memories tell me about some of yours! And if you haven't been to a themed party, what theme would you give a party if you threw one yourself?