Throwing a Fantastic Halloween Bash

The days of trick-or-treating may be well behind you, but that doesn’t mean Halloween has lost its magic. Make your next Halloween bash a success by following these simple tips.

Dress up the Mantle

Old fireplaces lend themselves well to the spooky spirit, so focus your decorating powers there by picking up some old portraits and decorating them with witch hats. Throw in some spider webs or black trim hanging from the mantle, and even DIY some cutouts of candlesticks and bats to bring the space together. Add a pumpkin or two and you have the perfect backdrop for the Instagram of the season.

Choose Simple Colors

Don’t go overboard with orange. Instead, stick to a sophisticated black and white scheme that will bring out the macabre without looking tacky or over the top. Add splashes of red into the mix and you have a perfectly sinister combination.

Pick Your Poison

No party is complete without the right drink. This particular holiday is the perfect time to mix it up with festive cocktails – and we’re not talking the classic dry ice concoction. Try one of these adult cocktails or get really creative with this tart cherry eyeball punch. To top it off, serve the drinks from old decanters or vials. Red wine is a festive choice as well; go all out and order custom party bottles from www.etchingexpressions.com.

It’s always recommended to have non-alcoholic drinks on the menu as well, so try a punch served out of a carved pumpkin or put a spin on a childhood classic and serve Bloody Shirley Temples. Just fill syringes with grenadine to make the gory party pleasers.

Set the Mood

Nothing kills the spooky spirit quite like bright fluorescent lights, so make sure you’re prepared with a lighting plan. Instead of overhead lights, set up candles in traditional or antique candlesticks. Open flame and alcoholic beverages aren’t always the best mix, so go for battery operated candles instead and stack them on old books. They provide the same shadowy reward with none of the risk.

Make Your Own Family Portraits

There’s something inherently creepy about old black and white portraits, so take this opportunity to take it up a notch. Use vintage portraits, cover their eyes with glow-in-the-dark paint and hang them through the house or roll them to fit over jars. Their eyes will

look like they’re following you around and create a haunting effect for your guests.

Focus on Food

There’s a seemingly endless amount to Halloween-inspired food, so make sure your incorporate a few into your party. Finger foods are particularly fitting, from classics like pumpkin deviled eggs and mummy dogs to sweet treats like witch hats and monster munch.

Dress the Part

It wouldn’t be Halloween without a costume, and if you’re throwing the party make sure you look the part. The costume is up to you, just make sure you’re decked out so your guests feel comfortable doing the same. And don’t forget your accessories! It’s all in the details, after all.

Prep the Pumpkins

Pumpkins are a fall and Halloween staple, so make sure they’re featured at your party. Line your front steps with Jack-O-Lanterns for a haunting entrance, and choose nontraditional ways to show them off indoors. Clean out larger pumpkins to use as punch holders as previously suggested, or fill them with ice to create drink coolers. You can also create signs by painting the outside with letters, or write guests names’ on smaller ones to use as place markers or party favors.

There’s no time to party quite like Halloween, so capture all the spooks and scares and give your guests a Halloween bash they won’t forget.

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