Thread: 2010 Party Ideas: Graveyard Social

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I'm hoping to collaborate with my friend in planning a party for the closely-knit support group we're members of, plus anyone each person would like to invite from their extended network (an estimated turnout of anywhere from 20 to 50). Due in part to our shared affinity for the "darker" side of Disney, I've decided to propose a "graveyard social" theme as inspired by the Haunted Mansion attraction and particularly its theme overture, "Grim Grinning Ghosts." Though many of my ideas are still in inkling phase, I've been able to think up several ways to tie in the Disney inspiration with other elements we like, such as period etiquette and dress (mostly late Victorian), tea parties (think Burton's Alice), and steampunk influences.

Provided the graveyard setting, the "character" emphasis would primarily be on ghosts communing to haunt, but I thought I'd include a twist by "welcoming" zombies and the undead as well. I would host as the White Rabbit's ghost (essentially a fusion of the Burton and American McGee interpretations), and my friend would most likely incorporate similar ideas for his costume to employ the Disney influence without letting it spill into the theme. The guests could come as anything they desired but would be encouraged to carry over the ghostly theme, perhaps with an extra category in the costume contest for "best ghost" as incentive.

The trick, as I'm imagining, will be convincing the guests that on setting foot in the party, they will be "among the undead", even though their costumes may indicate otherwise. I initially wanted to use the "random death" game and toe tags from this forum as a lead-in to make the guests realize they're no longer "alive", but I soon decided that would only further complicate things. If only I knew a really clever and effective way of stating it in the save-the-dates and invitations, maybe the point would finally come across.

All considering, here are the few "definites" I've thought of:

• Tombstone-shaped invitations printed with the full lyrics of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" (there's some great imagery in there to get people excited)
• Door prizes of some sort - what might you suggest?
• Costume contest: Scariest, Funniest, Best Ghost, Best Couple, Best Overall - trophies either custom-made or made from "cheap" Halloween trophies mounted on real bases
• Food and drink served in durable yet classy-looking tableware - may have to borrow

I'm still in need of a central game to tie everything together (in the vein of "Tempt Your Fate" or the winking game) - something a $50 Best Buy gift card would work as a grand prize for. I could also use some decorating and menu inspiration.

I'm eager to know what you all might add to this! I'm really looking for my planning to pay off this year and for a good time to be had by all.

Happy hauntings!

Save the Date - Obituaries or Sympathy Card
Maybe the save the dates can be "Obituaries" of all of your guests, or some of the primary ones. Or perhaps a "sympathy card" for the death of the guest, saying that when they are buried (the day of the party), that the living will not bother them anymore, they will be at peace with the dead. Or something like that. That might help drive home the idea that everyone at the party will be "Dead".

Door Prizes
Then the toe tags might still be useful to use to pick door prizes, etc. Peniwise used 5 dollar dvds from Best Buy for door prizes for his party. I think that's a good idea. I might make custom t shirts for my party and give some as door prizes, or best costume prizes...along with trophies. You might also customize the prizes to your group of friends. I have a bunch of friends who play darts whenever we go to the bar, so I gave darts out for prizes once. If your group is a reading club, maybe give out a particular type of book, etc.

Twist on Tempt Fate - Escape Realm of Hell
A twist on the Tempt Your Fate game might be good. Maybe "Escape to the world of the Living". I mentioned something similar to this on another thread, but can't remember where. You could have assorted keys hidden around the party, or just keep a bucket at front. If people want to try and "escape the realm of the dead, they'll need to use a key to open the gates of the underworld" If they choose a "good fate" key, then they escape and receive a prize. If they choose a "bad fate" key, then the "Lord of the Underworld has foiled their plans to leave and demands a sacrifice..." You can be the gatekeeper that they show the key to and you interpret.

I did something similar at my party last year. I used a deck of cards for the tempt your fate game. I opened up the possibility of tempting your fate every 30 minutes or so. A few people would pick a card, and I would interpret it in front of the entire party. Demand a sacrifice, etc. Then we'd go back to the party. It was very theatrical and everyone got involved in watching the bad fates and the prizes, but it wasn't a ton all at once. It worked really well being disbursed throughout the night and being a focal point of the evening. We had small prizes for the people who got good fates (5 dollar dvds, handcuffs, etc).

Scavenger Hunt - Dante's Inferno Circles or Disney Villians
You could have a scavenger hunt in the party. Completely optional for guests. The background story might be a "way out of the realm of the dead", but first they need to collect 9 sacred items from the 9 circles of hell (have each item related to the 9 circles of dante's inferno). Maybe create riddles for each item and then have them hidden around the party. So, for example, the second circle of hell holds those condemned with lust. So, maybe hide a bunch of "candy hearts" or something cooler. You can pass out the riddles for each item when people enter....or have them posted in the bathroom or something. Then people could search if they pleased. You could also use excerpts from the Dante's poem as clues. You can find some excerpts here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(Dante)

Ok, I realize I'm being ridiculously long winded. And perhaps none of my ideas relate back to the Disney theme all that well. Oh, maybe the "7 sacred items to escape death" are related to your favorite Disney Villians. That could be fun. So, Maleficient could be tiny sculpted dragons, or something else.

Riddle/Trivia as oppose to Scavenger Hunt
Or maybe it's not a scavenger hunt, but every 30 minutes or so, you provide the riddle for the group (make it hard), and people get to write down their answers. At the end of the night, the person with all or most answers, gets the prize. You can start with simple riddles related to the theme, and progress to harder ones.

Ok. I'm done. Hope this at least sparks some ideas for you or others. Good luck.

P.S> Love the whole Dark Disney idea. Love it!

I have this game and I call it Monster's War, there are no prizes for this game. what you need is two teams with a balloon tied to a string, rope, ribbon or something to the guest ankles. Make sure the balloons are if two colors. One color for each team.
The idea is the teams are to stomp the balloons out. Black team stomp out all the white teams balloons. Again, its a WAR!! Once one team is the last standing. Turn them on each other! It is great fun and you can call it the Dead's War...or Zombie's War.
Warning make sure no one is wearing high-heels or boots. THAT HURTS!!

Hmm...while I can't exactly write off what either of you said as unhelpful, those ideas don't exactly fit my presumed "spirit" of the party, so to speak, and I realize that I didn't quite "set the scene" in my first post to really supply anything to work with. Since then, the theme has somewhat begun to take shape. The party now has a title, "A (Mildly) Grave Affair", and I'm hoping that it balances out the main aspects of the theme: a somewhat sophisticated gathering which takes place in a graveyard that's more "enchanted" than "haunted", with minimal use of the more gruesome stuff.

I've attached some invitation graphics I've been able to piece together (with identifiables smudged as necessary). Hopefully these will offer more of an idea of where I'm headed. As always, I'm eager to hear from you guys.

Invitation
Like the invitation. Love the stone background!! It's a bit wordy, but so are mine (people have suggested that I shorten mine, and not do paragraph form... Break it up with pictures, headings or something). Just passing along some feedback I get.

Door Prizes
As for door prizes that might be more relevant to theme....
"The Best Ghost Stories Ever" is sold on Amazon for 3.99 (not sure if it's good, but worth checking out = [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Ghost-Stories-Scholastic-Classics/dp/0439574269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277174459&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.com/Best-Ghost-Stories-Scholastic-Classics/dp/0439574269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277174459&sr=1-1[/ame]
Can't think of anything else right now.

Games/Activities
Murder Mystery
There's always the option of a murder mystery style game. You'd adapt it so that people don't have to act in characters, but instead you could place clues around the party alluding to different suspects. I've seen several threads that discussed this. I think it could work, and again, could be more of a sophisticated activity. Just do a search if this idea peaks your interest.

Scavenger/Trivia
I still like the scavenger hunt for sophisticated parties...but you just have to roll it out right. Instead of hiding things under rocks, you hide them in plain site..but use clues or riddles that the guests have to figure out. That way guests don't have to "run around" searching for things, which could be a bit tedious. And maybe the point isn't to "escape the spirit realm" but rather to simply find objects of those gone. You can have objects of or answers that are famous people who have died. Or again, maybe disney characters.

Well, whatever you decide. All the best to you. I'm sure there are tons of other forum members that could give you ideas. Try doing a search for "sophisticated party", if you haven't already" Good luck!!!