I thought it would be fun to discuss this, separate from the "no kids" topic.
What are the benefits of a costume-mandatory party? Do you have this kind of party? How do you let people know? How do you enforce it - if you do? Have you had people decline to come b/c of the policy? Etc.
I'll start.
I've been to several costume-mandatory parties, although I haven't hosted one. I think it depends on the type of party and the people you invite. Our last party was a bad movie night, and most of the people weren't real Halloween geeks, so costumes didn't make sense.
Re: the costume mandatory party -- I went for the 3 years that I knew the people (they split up after the 3rd one). This was a strictly invitation-only party. All invites went out via email, and the rules were pretty clear. If you showed up not in costume, the hostess would dress you. Those parties were a blast. People rarely showed up out of costume more than once; not because the hostess would dress them (she did), but because they started to understand how much fun they could have if they participated fully. Also, you just didn't want that hostess mad at you.
The hostess of these parties had a massive costume closet, with Medieval, Renaissance and Victorian garb, but people that showed up not in costume weren't likely to get a great costume. Someone that counted on that once got decked out in hospital scrubs. The other rule was that if you came in Renaissance garb (we knew each other from the Ren faire), it couldn't be your regular garb. Usually, people went away from that time period, but I knew people that would get new garb but not wear it for the summer season b/c they were saving it for Halloween.
I'm guessing it helps to have a reputation of being serious about your rules, and for not taking any crap.
I should add: some people took their costumes for this party really seriously. One guy shaved his head two years in a row for his very elaborate costumes.
The person with not a lot of imagination in this dept. (me) won part of best "couple" two years in a row. The first time, I went stag, as a vampire, and won half of best couple with another vamp. That was weird, because his date was a great "vampire victim," with long white gown, ribbon in her hair, etc. The next year, two friends and I went as the Sanderson sisters (Hocus Pocus) and won "best couple."
I haven't hosted many parties, but I'm a big advocate of mandatory costumes.
I guess for me, I find it really helps break the ice for the shy folks. I have a few friends who would normally just sit quietly and not bother to socialize, but because they have to dress up, it sparks good conversation that would otherwise not take place.
Also, I feel it makes folks enjoy the party more. Instead of someone just saying to themselves, "well... I'll just show up for a minute and leave." they've actually got to put some time and effort to come. Which, hopefully, means they 'commit' to the party -- meaning not just ditch out in 10 minutes. They stay, enjoy themselves, enjoy others costumes (like you said, you get a some folks that get creative and really spark entertainment with their costume), and it's Halloween - no one should ever complain about having to wear a costume for this.
I always make my Halloween parties costume mandatory and I put on the invitations - "no costume, no entry".. I entice them with the possibility of lots of prizes and I help my less-costume-inclined friends to compose their outfits or just give them ideas of what to wear. All my friends watch me making bits of my costume for the 4 months or so leading up to Halloween and they know how much it means to me...they also know better than to turn up without a costume, unless they want to be made up to look ridiculous in the accessories/facepaint that I have on standby, or simply turned away at the door
One of my best friends is pretty good at enforcing the rule for me as well - she runs around a couple of weeks before making sure people have costumes and if they don't, ensuring that they will buy/make one. I think I have lost guests in the past that didn't come because they couldn't be bothered to dress up, but I would rather them not come if they can't put the effort in. All I ask is for my guests to dress up - and considering the amount of money and time I put into these parties to entertain my friends on this special occassion, I don't think that it's a lot to ask for them to pop down to Asda and pick up a 99p witch hat and wear black, or even put on a sheet and cut two eyeholes in it for goodness' sake! Also, my OH abhors dressing up and even he gets into costume for the night.. so if he can do it - anyone can!
This rule is so important to me because I think costumes really help to create the atmosphere of a Halloween party and as others have said, it makes guests invest a little of their own time and effort into their place at the party. It helps people really cut lose and get into the spirit of the Halloween games we play and I just love seeing what people come up with for their costume ideas, and rewarding them with prizes. Plus it makes for awesome photographs and I'm an avid scrapbooker :P
__________________
Wow..It's all over now..........................what am I supposed to do with myself?!!"
Does anyone ever try coming in regular clothes and saying they're coming as themselves, a computer programmer, etc. (someone that doesn't require a costume)? Or one of those t-shirts that says "this is my costume"?
Really good points about them making a little effort, considering how much you put in. I, too, would rather people stay home if a coordinated outfit and a cheesy hat is too much work.
Does anyone ever try coming in regular clothes and saying they're coming as themselves, a computer programmer, etc. (someone that doesn't require a costume)? Or one of those t-shirts that says "this is my costume"?
lol I don't think anyone has the guts to do that at my party - unless they wanted to be pinned to the floor and painted on
__________________
Wow..It's all over now..........................what am I supposed to do with myself?!!"
I should add: some people took their costumes for this party really seriously. One guy shaved his head two years in a row for his very elaborate costumes.
A couple of friends of ours also host a costume mandatory party every year and she will throw a dirty sheet over your head ala Charlie Brown ghost if you show up without.
Last year the host went so far as to shave off his own eyebrows for his costume. I have no idea what he was supposed to be, but that's just one step farther than I would ever go. I would shave my head... my hair grows back pretty fast.
A couple of friends of ours also host a costume mandatory party every year and she will throw a dirty sheet over your head ala Charlie Brown ghost if you show up without.
Last year the host went so far as to shave off his own eyebrows for his costume. I have no idea what he was supposed to be, but that's just one step farther than I would ever go. I would shave my head... my hair grows back pretty fast.
I don't remember his other costumes, but the one that blew me away was Shaft. It was supposed to be a big secret, but I found out somehow. When this tall, bald, black guy walked in, all I could think was, "well, isn't S. going to be pissed. Someone stole his costume." Turns out, he'd shaved his head and had a fantastic makeup job.
The first year that we threw a Halloween party, it was mostly for the kids, and we didn't require costumes for the parents. BORING!
I now strongly enforce the "Costume Required" code, and try to sweeten the deal by offering prizes for best costume, and even include costume ideas in the invite. Some peeps didn't like the idea, so they didn't come, no biggie.
I've only had one person who showed up un-costumed, and they really seemed to feel out-of-place and soon left.
Our party has 3 rules, and Rule #1 is "You must be in costume".
In 2001, we had a guest we all thought was supposed to be some kind of rock star, like Sammy Hagar. A few days later, we discovered he had actually showed up in his usual street clothes! http://www.starkmadness.com/photos/a...ies/h01/14.jpg
Costume Mandatory
Linear Mode
