Thread: Party hosts: When do you put your costume on?

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No matter how early I stop the frantic party prep, there never seems to be enough time to get into costume. Our party starts at 7pm and I try to stop what I'm doing and get my costume and make-up done by 5pm at the latest. Somehow it never works out and everything isn't completely done before the 1st guest arrives.

I just want to have a second to sit still and collect myself before people start showing up. How do you all do it?

i don't.

I frantically throw it on if I remember about an hour before, but if it involves wigs, makeup or anything that is more detail orientated, it gets rushed or left out completely. I've gotten to the point where I'm not really even thinking of my costume as a "must do" but as a "maybe" if I have time...

I second the "I don't". I would looove to have even just a second to myself to sit down and relax before the first guests arrive, but typically I let the first few guests in and then run off to put on my costume while my husband entertains them. I'm always running around like a maniac right up until the first knock on the door.

It's always so crazy the day of the party, but I try really hard to get as much as physically possible done up to the day before. After all the work I put into my costume, I'd hate not to show it all off! I'll shower in the morning so it won't take so much time to get ready later, then I enlist my husband's family to help out. They usually come over three hours before to help with last minute prep. We'll work together for a while then I'll get them going on easy things like slicing up the tortilla rolls or placing out the dips while I run upstairs and finish putting on my costume. Usually we're all done with some time to spare so we can take a family picture before all the craziness starts. If you don't have helpful in-laws, ask a good friend or neighbor. As long as you as majorly prepared beforehand and give specific instructions, you should get a moment to collect your thoughts and get yourself looking fabulous!

I take the 2 days off before the party to get the final details done. I go in around 5pm and get ready my cotume stuff is all ready and together so I don't have to find something. (ocd)...lol...anyway, I am usually pretty relaxed the day of the party. I turn on the lights and things that need to be lit up before I go get ready so iI don't forget that and then I am ready to par---tay from dusk to dawn I say.......

I'm glad there are others with this problem too. For the past 3 years I've barely had time to throw on my costume. This year I think I'm going to try and put it on 2 hours prior to the start of the party and just finish the last minute preparations while I'm wearing it.

DappledDawn, that's what I'm considering. Our party is next weekend and we're going to start decorating this weekend. My plan is to get as much done as possible this weekend and during the beginning of the week. Then on the day of, I'll do all the last minute food prep and prop tweaking up until 5pm. Then I'll get all dressed up and do the rest in costume. I'm 4 months preggo, so I made sure my costume for this year is super comfy. It's a loose, ruffly clown costume, so I think I'll be fine finishing the rest of the party prep in costume.

Thanks everyone. It's reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one that struggles with this!

I'll let you know tomorrow!! LOL Mine is mostly makeup, so hopefully I'll be able to get it done as it's fairly intensive....

Usually about 15-30 minutes before party start time. My parents and my sister & brother-in-law usually come over a little early to help with last minute set-ups and food prep. And my husband usually gets his costume on earlier. Since other people typically show fashionably late, that seems to give me time to get dressed and get makeup on. I usually come running down the stairs when the next guests arrive. If I wasn't busy until the very last minute, I think I'd probably puke from nerves...but yet I love the excitement.

I start working on the party prep in June and continue at my leasure until it's hump time, two weeks before. That's when I really ramp up the warp speed and get my wife in gear with all of her responsibilities. We use a caterer, so that takes off a lot of the load, but we still have special F/X things to set up, make-up to have done, and costumes etc. to attend to. Everything seems to always fall into place just as planned and we just take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the party. Hope all goes well for everyone else hosting a Halloween party, and we look forward to seeing your party pics on HF!