[LV Scott T]

Ok, this may not be a very popular opinion, but it is based on our 13 years of Halloween party experience.

Our first few parties were NOT themed and BARELY decorated. Looking back, I believe that was actually for the best, since we only had a handful of guests (6, then 10, then about 20). If we had put lots of time, money, and effort into building a theme, creating a back-story, decorating, etc, and only had 6 people show up, we would have not only felt like complete failures but might have decided not to have any more.

By our 4th party, we started doing more decorating, and we had almost 40 guests.

Now, some of you may say that we had more guests because we decorated more, but nobody knew how much we had decorated until they arrived.

The fact is, our efforts grew in response to our turn-outs. By our 5th year, we were averaging 50 - 60 guests, and maintained that number until 2007 when we suddenly shot up to 150. Coincidentally, that was also the year of The Pirate Ship - our greatest decorating effort to date.

So, to summarize, decorate, but don't worry about making it "the best". Just make it fun. Being "the best" will come in time.

Oh, and we always tell people that they do NOT have to follow the theme, just that they have to be in costume. The theme just helps those with little or no imagination decide what to be by narrowing down their options.

 

[LV Scott T]

Themed parties are really fun. But they're also hard to put together. If you follow some of the advice here --which would result in a very cool party-- you'll be putting a TON of effort into just decorating. Which is fine, but might be a bit much for your first Halloween party. -Karen

Well said.

Our 2004 theme was the wedding of our two main back-story characters (Lord and Lady Bydingue), and the party was the wedding reception. We even had a genuine wedding cake (made by my good friend Scott Powell). Our invitations were our standard 6-page newsletters, but we had considered using something that actually looked like Wedding Reception Announcements.

Click here to check out the invitation, cake, and our RENTED costumes. Yes, I said the "R" word. We were out of town the 2 weeks before the party and never finished our home-mades.

 

[LV Scott T]

LV Scott, that sounds truly awesome! I love, love, love the grey wedding cake with dripping blood. Too cool. That's just what I was thinking of when I suggested a wedding-themed party!

-Karen

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