It is hard to believe that Fall officially starts this weekend, Halloween events and parties will be in full swing in less than a month.
If you are like me, I just haven't made any plans for Halloween this year but that doesn't mean it is to late to get started. Just set aside some time this weekend, follow these simple Halloween party planning tips and you'll be on your way to a Successful Halloween Party.
1. Select the Date for Your Halloween Party
This year Halloween falls on a Monday, which means that a few people might have small gatherings and dinner parties on October 31st, but most Halloween parties will take place on October 28th & 29th with early birds holding their parties on the 22nd of October. So review your calendar and decide which date is best for you.
2. Determine Costume Party or Halloween Theme Party
While a general Halloween costume party is fun, sometimes doing a theme party adds that special something to your Halloween party. Need ideas then check out our
Halloween Party Ideas page to get you started. Another fun idea for smaller groups is to do a
Halloween murder mystery, which is perfect for dinner parties.
3. Set a Party Budget
In this day and age it is important to set a realistic budget and stick to it.
Invitations,
Party Supplies,
Decorations,
Costumes and Food. Most people know that hosting a party can be expensive and if your budget is tight consider borrowing Halloween decorations or props from friends, ask guests to bring a haunted snack or finger food to your event.
4. Send out Halloween Party Invitations
I'm a little late on this one but Halloween Invitations should go out between now and October7th. The latest formal invitations should go out would be October 12th. Guests then should be requested to RSVP by October 20th or at least 5 days prior to your event. Need invitations, check out some of our favorite
Halloween invitations on our site.
5. Halloween Decorations
Your budget comes into play with your Halloween decorations, often I recommend have one dramatic item (like an
animated Halloween props) or a scene as a centerpiece and then balance it with creative accents that cost less but add interest. I really like scene setters,
spooky bottle labels, butchers garland, stretchy cobwebs and those sort of things that set the mood and work as conversation starters.
6. Decide Your Halloween Costume
Hosting a Halloween party is pressure enough, so at least plan in advance to have your Halloween costume wrapped up by mid-October. Not sure where to start check out our
Halloween costume favorites now.
7. Halloween Games or Costume Contest
Do you need games for 5, 10, 15 yr. olds or do you want to hold your own Halloween Costume Contest? Well good news there Party Game Ideas has over 50
Halloween party games for all ages, so check out our list and start planning for fun. Plus, if you are hold a costume contest it is important to define how guests will be judge, check out our How to Hold a
Halloween Costume Contest page for more.
8. Plan Your Menu
Do you want spooky looking finger foods that look like real fingers, fun cookies with legs so they look like spiders, a ghoul throwing up salsa for your chip and dip? Often the food doesn't have to be gourmet for a Halloween party but the display should be visually entertaining and sometimes even tongue and cheek. View
Halloween tableware,
creepy food molds and other
Halloween party supplies.
9. Create a Checklist & Stay Organized
With so many things to do, you might want to spend a few minutes now and create a checklist and dates to get things done now. This would include scheduling a week by week to do list and involves confirming what you need to get done and what you need to purchase by when. I often find this helps me keep focus and not panic before the party.
10. Halloween Party Staging & Set Up
Once you have everything then it is time to put your scenes and Halloween decorations together and set them in the rooms where they will be located for the party. For some of my friends this can take days, but for most people a few hours of going through everything 3 or 4 days before the party allows you to make sure you have everything and allows you to still pick up anything that you forgot. Last is setting up for your party. We tend to set up 2 days in advance, then turn on the foggers and enjoy what we created.
Follow these Simple Halloween Party Tips and you should have a Successful Halloween Bash this year. Good Luck and Happy Halloween.
Stay informed about Halloween Trends,
Costumes,
Decorations and
Halloween Games by visiting the
Halloween section of Party Game Ideas, the
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Sarah - The Party Game Ideas Lady
Party Game Ideas for
Halloween Party Games,
Costumes,
Halloween Decorations and more
I didn't think much of the Creepy Scarecrow other then it looked interesting and it was well put together, then I saw the Try Me Button and had to press it and to say the least I really liked this prop. 
