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October 12, 2011 by Kelly Curtis

It’s An Art Party!

Want a party that truly stands out from any other? Do you have little ones that enjoy painting and crafting? This party is definitely for them then! Throw an art themed party for your next birthday party or even a themed party for yourself. So, Wedding and Party Network has party tips for throwing this great party! Your guests and you will enjoy getting crafty!

Party Invitations – Of course, your party invitation should show the party theme. When your guests see that you’re hosting an art party, they may not know what to think. Therefore, the invitations should give them a little clue so they’ll know what they’re in for. A great invitation is an art pallet and have the party details in the paint spots.

Party Decorations – The party decorations should feature all the colors of the rainbow. Also, incorporate art supplies into your party decorations. Create a flower arrangement and incorporate paint brushes, pencils or other art supplies into it and place it on each table. You can even visit a local paint tore and get paint samples and create a banner out of those and hang them from above the food table. Even hang crayons from the ceiling or colored pencils. Think of all the accessories that go along with art and think of ways you can combine them into your party decor.

Party Setup –The party setup should include different stations for the crafts that you and your guests will be doing and a place for the party food. Print off adorable paint pallets and write on them to show which station is which, such as, canvas painting, modeling clay, painting their own shirts or making their own crayons. There are many activities that you can do at this party, just think of anything crafty that you enjoy doing and want to share with your guests.

Artsy Party Food – Of course, your party wouldn’t be complete without the delicious food. Again, incorporate the arts into your party food. Use various colors throughout your food. Colorful candy, suckers, hard candy, cookies with colorful icing, vegetable trays and fruit trays are ideal for this party. Desserts are big at this party since you can do so much with them. Create a themed cake that is a replica of an art pallet or even buy one and place cupcakes on them that show off different colors of “paint”.

This party is great for a young girl’s birthday party or even for adults if they enjoy creating art. Have stations setup with examples and let everyone get creative. So, get artsy!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Decoration Suppliers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find party decoration suppliers near you!

October 10, 2011 by Kelly Curtis

Hosting Parties In Cozy Spaces

Do you love hosting parties? However, do you shy away from it because you think your home is a bit too small to do so? Well, that definitely shouldn’t stop you from hosting parties in your own home. Cozy spaces can be great for parties. So, Wedding and Party Network has some great ideas and tips for your next party in a cozy space.

Spacing

Rearrange – Remove bulky furniture from your living room. It’s easier for guests to maneuver around the room when there isn’t a over-sized coffee table or end table in their way. You can place these in the garage or laundry room. It’s easier and looks cleaner, especially with a lot of people in your home, when it’s clutter free.
Spare Room – Don’t forget to designate this area for the coats, jackets and purses. This frees up their hands and removes clutter from the living room or kitchen.
More Than One – Use all the rooms you have and expect for overflow into these rooms. So, don’t think that no one will see them. Prepare to remove the clutter from those rooms and straighten them up as well.

Cooking & Your Party Food

Prepare – This goes for any party if you want to enjoy more of it, cook beforehand. Sit down and plan out your menu. Lean more towards food that can be prepared earlier, even the night before. Once you have your menu figured out, create a grocery list, go shopping and create a timeline for your food. If you have party food that can be ready the night before, put that on the timeline first. Think about what needs to go in the oven and how you can keep your it warm while you prepare the next item.
Buffet Style – Since you don’t have a lot of room to possibly seat all your guests, serving your food buffet style is the way to go. Your guests can pick what they want, while mingling around with everyone else.
Setup –This doesn’t have to be in one designated spot or in the kitchen. Mix it up a bit. Clear out a bookcase and place your appetizers there or set them up throughout the party on end tables. This helps get the guests flowing and not bunched up at one table. They can truly mix and mingle at your party. This goes for the drinks too!

Decorating Your Space

Overhead – Since decorations can take up room, think about hanging your party decorations overhead. Use banners, balloons or streamers for your party decorations. However, if it’s more low-key, no decorations are required.

No matter what size home you’re entertaining in, your party can be a success. There’s no need to stress over if you’ll have enough space or not, you just have to think outside the box.

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Caterers.
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October 3, 2011 by Celebration Advisor

An Elegant Halloween Treat

A Halloween party is a great excuse for the inner-child in all of us that loves to dress up and act goofy or spooky to come out. It’s way for us to escape reality for a few hours and pretend to be someone or something else. The typical Halloween party is decorated in black, orange and red, with blood splattered serving trays and black widow spiders hanging from above, and there is nothing wrong with that! However, this year we should take it up a notch and create an elegant upscale, but still fun and spooky Halloween extravaganza!

Think white, silver and a touch of bronze. Creating a fun and beautiful Halloween party is simple, especially if you have the creativity and patience to plan it out. Here are some party tips for White Halloween Decor.

Put Ghost Peeps on lollipop sticks and display on a cake-pop tray.
Display white jordan almonds, white dutch mints and white champagne bubble candies in white serving bowls.
White pumpkins spread around the room look dazzling paired with silver sparkling skulls.
White table clothes, sparkling white bat cut outs and spider webs are great for added party decor.
Bones are white! Decorate with plastic bones, mummies, ghosts and white chocolate covered fruit.
White frosted cupcakes, white sparkling cookies, and sparkling white grape-juice are just right for your frightful night.
Don’t forget white spiders, white serving trays, and silver touches through out the party.

Have fun and get creative – thinking outside the box will pay off when you see the final outcome of this fabulously frightening Halloween Treat!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Decoration Suppliers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find a party decoration supplier near you!

Special thanks to Sweet.Eventide for her fantastic photo via Flickr.

September 29, 2011 by Kelly Curtis

Make Your Bachelorette Party A Success

Do you have a friend who is about to get married? Are you apart of the bridal party? Well, what’s one thing that happens before the wedding takes place? A bachelorette party of course! It’s her last night out as a single girl. Therefore, it must be special. However, planning one is a bit tricky. Some brides are different from others and want completely different things. Not just with their weddings, but their bachelorette parties too. Well, Wedding and Party Network is here to give you a few tips to make sure the bride-to-be’s bachelorette party is a success.

Dress Up – Everyone seems to enjoy everything much more when they’re dressed up in costume. Yes, everyone does it, so why not join them? You can go as far as school girl outfits, punk princess, Mardi Gras, flappers or just have everyone wear the same colors and accent it with feather boas and beads. Wear matching flashing rings, wigs, sashes, matching t-shirts or hats. That night is the definitely the night to go all out.

The Right Foot – Start the weekend off on the right foot. Have everything organized and planned so you’re not just waiting around trying to figure out what to do. If you’re going out to dinner, make sure you have reservations ahead of time or if you plan on doing a shower in the hotel room, decorate it. Streamers, balloons, big diamond rings and pink table cloths will get you in the right direction. Make it glamorous and don’t be afraid to go over-the-top for this, unless she’s a more casual bride. It’s all about planning and making sure the bride has an amazing time. Also, don’t forget about the adorable bachelorette cake or cupcakes!

The Veil – Yes, the bride MUST wear a veil. It shows off to the world that she is the bride-to-be. Purchase a ready-made veil and decorate it to fit the bride’s personality. Decorate it with ribbon, streamers, diamond rings or other unmentionables to make the bride stand out.

What To Do – So you’re all dressed up, so now what? There are plenty of things to do for the bachelorette’s night out and here are a few tips.

Rent a limo – Yes, rent a limo or party bus and drive around town all night. This is a great for a large group and no one has to worry about driving.
Vegas – Plan a trip to Las Vegas! It’s the bride’s last night out, so she deserves to have a great time. Plus, Vegas offers great activities from low-key to a night out on the town!
Karaoke – Hit up all the karaoke bars and go dance and sign the night away. It’s a great time to be had by all!
Lingerie Shower – If the bride is more low-key, a lingerie shower is ideal. They’re fun and it’s a great time for the bride and bridesmaids to laugh the night away.

Don’t forget to plan early depending on the number in your group and what you’re going to do. Planning is key to make this night a success for the bride-to-be.

This post is brought to you by Philadelphia Limousine Services.
Not in Philadelphia, PA? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find a limousine service near you!

September 26, 2011 by Kelly Curtis

October – The Month of Apples, Golf & Bologna?!

October is knocking on our door and is ready to appear in the next couple of days. This is a great month to host parties due to the beautiful weather, gorgeous fall colors and limitless party ideas. There are tons of great holidays to celebrate and use inspiration for your party. Wedding and Party Network is here to give you great party ideas and tips for the month of October.

Fun October Facts

October is the 8th month of the year and one of the seven months that has 31 days in it. Where did the name come from? It retained its name from the Latin word “Octo” meaning eight. It was named after Julius & Augustus Caesar, which was placed into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans.

October is associated with the season autumn in the Northern hemisphere and spring in the Southern hemisphere. Also, in common years, October starts on the same day of the week. While, no other month starts on the same day as the week as October in leap years. October ends on the same day of the week as February every year and January in common years. In leap years, October starts on the same day as August of the previous year. Just some fun facts about October.

Birthstone & Flower

The birthstone for October is opal. It is actually said that the opal will crack if worn by someone whose birthday is not in October. The color of opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta slate, olive, brown and black. It also varies in opal density from opaque to semi-transparent. Use this birthstone as color inspiration for your party or even as part of your party decorations.

For the birth flower, it’s the calendula, otherwise known as the pot marigold. These flowers come in beautiful yellows and oranges which represents the autumn weather perfectly. These are a definite must for floral centerpieces!

October’s Astrology

The astrology signs for this month are Libra, Scorpio or Virgo. Libras are diplomatic, romantic & charming, yet self-indulgent. Scorpios are determined, emotional and yet jealous. While Virgos are modest, shy, yet a worrier.

October Events & Holidays

Adopt-A-Shelter-Animal Month
Family History Month
National Apple Month
National Pizza Month
National Popping Popcorn Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 1st – Homemade Cookies Day, World Cardmaking Day
October 3rd – Child Health Day
October 4th – National Golf Day
October 5th – World Teacher Day
October 8th – National Costume Swap Day
October 10th – Columbus Day
October 12th – Farmer’s Day
October 15th – National Grouch Day, Sweetest Day
October 16th – Boss’s Day, Dictionary Day, World Food Day
October 20th – Monster Mash Day
October 24th – National Bologna Day
October 31st – Halloween

October is a great month to celebrate. Use popcorn, apple and pizza as part of your party menu to represent these national observances. Also, if you have a 1st birthday for a little boy, create a golf or farmer party theme. How cute would that be? Don’t forget to go all out for your Halloween party! There are many great ideas out there for your party, so start planning!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find party planners near you!

September 21, 2011 by Kelly Curtis

Tips for Surviving a Sleepover

Yes, everyone has now gotten in the swing of things for back-to-school. Which, can only mean one thing, sleepovers. Everyone is in the swing of things and they are ready to plan their first sleepover with their friends. However, are you planning a sleepover for more than two kids? That can seem overwhelming for one parent or even two parents to handle. That is why Wedding and Party Network is here to give you some sleepover tips to help you survive the night.

Feast for the Hungry – Yes, kids are hungry. Therefore, be ready! First off, ask your children what they would like served at their sleepover. Don’t think it has to be a junk food frenzy, you can still throw in some healthy items on the menu. It is for the kids though, so try to serve mainly what they enjoy. Also, have the kids make their own food. This will serve as another activity for them to do and they will love it. Let them create their own pizzas, hamburgers or even their own sundaes. Kids will love doing this. Tip: Don’t forget to have snack bowls with snacks placed throughout the kitchen and living room if they get hungry.

Organization –When having a sleepover, it can be complete chaos sometimes. However, eliminate that. Have your activities already planned out for the evening. Create an arts and crafts station, board games, spa activities and even have the movies set out for them to pick from to help make everything run smoothly. Being organized will help you become stress free and you will know what is planned next, instead of running around trying to think of an activity. Tip: Create station signs so the kids what station is what.

Just Go With It – Don’t stress, just go with it. Of course, things hardly ever go according to plan. Therefore, don’t get stressed out about it and just go with the flow. It’s not the end of the world. Kids may get home sick, get sick or even throw a little tantrum. It’s natural. So, be prepared to drive them home play nurse or referee. Tip: Have a first aid station ready to go and all the essentials in a place you can get to easily.

Fun – Don’t forget to have fun with it. It’s the time for kids to let loose, eat their favorite candy and not going to bed on time. Tip: Don’t forget to have fun yourself!

So, the next time you are planning a sleepover, don’t stress about planning and things not going as planned, have fun with it and be ready with these sleepover survival tips.

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

Sleepover photo provided by pseudonymiss via flickr.

September 20, 2011 by Kelly Curtis

Apple Pickin’ Party Theme

Fall is knocking at our front door. So, do you know what means? It’s time to start planning all of your fall parties! The weather is gorgeous outside and the pretty colors are upon us. During fall, there are oodles of party ideas. One that comes to mind that is great for the family is an apple pickin’ party theme! Wedding and Party Network is here to give you a few party ideas and tips.

Party Location – Of course, the idea place for this party is an apple orchard. Find the closest one to you and call for information. Don’t forget to pack the right supplies, such as towels, paper bags, trash bags, blanket and wipes. Have everyone dress so and always plan. However, if you’re not close to an apple orchard, bring it to your own backyard.

Party Invitations – Definitely the only way to go with your party invitations is with an apple. Make sure and give out all the details, site and require an RSVP so you know how many people to plan for.

Party Decorations –Of course, stick with your theme and go with apples as part of your party decorations. Use red and white for your party colors with a touch of green. Find checkered table cloths, paper plates and paper chains to use as party decorations.

Don’t forget about the centerpieces. Find a rustic bucket that you would actually use to pick apples with and fill them up with apples for a centerpiece. However, you could also use red flowers and maybe incorporate an apple into the design, just ask your local florist. This party is all about simplicity and incorporating rustic and vintage finds into the party decoration to make it feel like a true fall apple pickin’ party.

Apple Party Food – Don’t think that you have to serve apple in every one of your party dishes. You can serve different food in the shape of apples though. Think apple rice krispy treats, apple cake, miniature apple pie, apple sugar cookies and apple cupcakes. There are many ideas out there. Don’t forget the candy apple bar and the spiced apple cider to go with everything. Make sure you display your food properly to make it an eye-catching presentation.

Party Activities – This is an easy one. The first thing that comes to mind is bobbing for apples. Who doesn’t love this childhood game that’s ideal for fall? Everyone will try it. You can even make a relay game out of it between two teams. That way, everyone gets involved, even the adults. There are also a variety of crafts for the children to do and the adults can even get in a little competition by seeing who makes the best apple pie.

This party theme is idea for the fall weather. It’s a great time to get friends and family together to share in fall festivities. However, don’t limit this party just to the fall. You could also use this theme for back-to-school parties or even a first birthrate party. So, get out and enjoy this apple party theme!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

Bobbing for apple & candy apple photos provided by Caitlinator & Edmondson Photography via flickr.

September 19, 2011 by Kelly Curtis

Give Peace – International Day of Peace

International Day of Peace is on September 21st and is dedicated to peace and the absence of war. Do you know how you plan on celebrating this holiday? If not, it doesn’t have to be anything grand. It’s all about the small gestures with this holiday. Haven’t a clue on what to do? Well, Wedding and Party Network has some Peace Day ideas to get you started.

The scale of your activity doesn’t matter at all. Just as long as you’re willing to take part. That means everything. If you haven’t planned, here are a few tips to promote this great holiday.

Facts

The first year this holiday was celebrated was in 1981. Since then, a variety of foundations, activities and acts of peace has stemmed from this day.

At Home Activities for Children

Let children brainstorm a list of conflicts that are happening around the world.
Ask them why people fight
Have them come up with a possible solution
Draw a poster that promotes their solution
Create doves – which is the symbol for this day
Crafts – make peace poles, peace malas, peace trees
Volunteer

Other Activities

Create an event – A Peace Walk in your neighborhood is ideal.
Hold an event at your workplace
Film screening – Variety of films to watch or documentaries that promotes peace
Help the environment – Plant a tree, pick up trash or start to recycle.
Celebrate – Get your family together over a nice dinner and discuss this holiday and what it means
Volunteer – It’s always nice to volunteer and to give back

This post is brought to you by Washington, D.C. Florists.
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September 15, 2011 by Celebration Advisor

Calling all Baseball Fans! Its a World Series Party!

Sad to say, the baseball season is almost over. Tentatively, Oct 19th is the beginning of the World Series. After that we’ll begin 6 months of down time until the next season starts. So, come on all you baseball fans – let’s end this season with a HOME RUN!

Here at Wedding and Party Network we have some MAJOR fans of baseball, and they just can’t wait for the Series to begin – a big baseball bash is the only logical way to end the season, right!?!?

Hosting a World Series Party is as easy as 1 2 3. So, batter up!

Decorate your party space featuring the team of your choice. If you have fans of both teams, you’ll have to divide the party decor to be fair. Use the colors of the preferred team. You can create an elaborate atmosphere or a simple, kick-back kind of party space with your party decorations. Choose what fits your party best!

Memorabilia is always a great way to decorate for a sport’s party, and don’t forget the big foam hands! If you want to add a touch of elegance to the decor, incorporate some fresh flower arrangements sporting the colors of choice with miniature team flags inside!

Hot Dogs – Get Your Hot Dogs Here!

As far as the party food goes, think concession stand. Hot dogs, nachos, chips and dip, over sized pretzels, candy and popcorn are all staple food for any baseball stadium. Therefore, this is your party menu. Drizzle melted chocolate or caramel over your popcorn for added flair. Sodas, punch, sports drinks and a signature drink (Yankee Doodle Spritzers) are perfect for this World Series party! Don’t forget about the desert! You can special order cupcakes with your team’s logo on it or a personalized team cake that will pull everything together!

Mixing and Mingling

Make sure to have adequate seating, since most of your party will take place in front of the television. You will want to set your food tables away from the seating area – as to give your guests a reason to get up and mingle a little. Snack bowls arranged close by seating will help when the munchies kick in! You can have fun activities for commercial breaks – something like baseball trivia is always fun.

Send guests home with a token to remember the party – anything from a key chain, flag, t-shirt or personalized candies with the team logos will hit the mark!

September 14, 2011 by Kelly Curtis

A Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness

National Breast Cancer Awareness health campaign is during the month of October. This month-long observation brings awareness to health for women and it’s very important for them to be aware of this growing concern. So, if you’re a company or even if this is a cause close to your heart, throwing a party to raise awareness during this month is a great way to get people’s attention. Wedding and Party Network is here to give you a few party ideas and tips for your pink party!

Facts & Tidbits

First off, here are a few facts and tidbits about this awareness month. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985 as a partnership with American Cancer Society. From the beginning, they have striven to promote mammograms for women to help with breast cancer. During this month, several activities occur, like The National Race for the Cure, Breast Cancer 2 Day, Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure, Ride to Empower, Global Illumination, Pink Day and other various activities throughout the country.

Party Ideas & Tips

First off, make the guest list. It just has to feature the people you want to spread awareness to, like close friends and family members. Even if you know survivors of breast cancer, invite them as well. They’ll make wonderful speakers at your party to share their experience. Also, a little donation goes a long way. Even if it’s not a lot, ask your guests if they would mind donating towards this great cause to promote awareness.

Next up, focus on the decorations. When people think about this awareness month, they think of pink and the ribbon logo. Therefore, that’s what you need to decorate your party with. Also, as party of your party decorations, place out pamphlets or articles about breast cancer and what this campaign is all about.

Now for the party food, focus on pink themed food. Focus mainly on finger foods or mini desserts for this get together. Your event will probably have a few friends and family members over, so going with a light party menu is the way to go. Pink cupcakes featuring the awareness ribbon, pink chocolate dipped strawberries, pink candy and even pastries with pink icing are great ideas for mini desserts. To top it all off, don’t forget about the pink lemonade.

The main focus of your party needs to promote awareness. So, focus on providing your guests with the information they need to better understand this topic. If you know someone who has dealt with this, is a breast cancer survivor or works with the association, have them as a guest speaker. Don’t forget about interesting articles and pamphlets to hand out to your friends. Your party will be informative, promoting and giving back to this society.

So, when throwing your pink party, don’t forget to incorporate information and have fun with it. Your party is a great place to help raise awareness, promote Breast Cancer Awareness and even raise a donation to help further their research and promotion.

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

It’s An Art Party!