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Developing a theme tends to improve your overall event for you and your
guest. A theme will help focus attention on a main topic and provides a
unifying factor which will pull the whole event together. The use of a
theme will keep your affair from looking disjointed or like it was
planned haphazardly. Incorporate your theme into all areas of the event
- the location, invitations, decorations, favors, food, party
activities, entertainment to reinforce the overall effect.
Use one of these as your theme and build from there.
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Plan the birthday party
around the guest of honor's hobbies/interests.
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Salute the Decade in
which your the guest of honor was born.
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Transport the birthday
guy or gal to a Fantasy Birthday Location.
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If a trip down memory
lane would appeal to your guest of honor, choose a theme with a
nostalgic mood.
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Of coarse there is
always the Over the Hill Theme.
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After selecting a
Birthday theme for your party, choose a slogan to use in your
invitations and to tie in decorations , favors, party activities,
and food ideas for your bash.
Slogans:
“You’re not getting older…You’re getting better”
“Aged to Perfection!”
“40 Years Ago…A Star was Born!”
"You're the Star"
“Better than Ever”
“Nostalgia Night”
“Blast from the Past”
"Hats off to You..25 Great Years
“Life Begins at 30”
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses at 50”
"Set the Night to Music, In 30 Yrs You Haven't Missed A Beat"
Oh No...the Big 30
Invitations:
Choose invitations that let your guests know that they are an important
part of this birthday celebration.
Visit our
Carlson Craft website for Birthday Invitations. There is also
a section to help you with Verses for your invitations. At the top of
the page chose "VERSES" then select "Birthday" and then "Adult Birthday"
for ideas.
If this party is a surprise, enclose an uninflated
balloon that say’s
“Please don’t blow it”.
Setting the Mood:
Decorating Tips:
Remember the tops of the tables provide you with a very large surface
area and covering them with a beautiful tablecloth is the easiest way to
change the feel of a room.. It is also the most cost effective way to
decorate. Ten tables covered with a theme or specialty linen print for
example will make a statement that no white tablecloth can make.
For a casual event use
themed paper goods (plates, napkins, cups &
tablecovers) or
birthday themed paper goods.
For a semi-formal or formal event rent themed or specialty linen print
table linens and rent real china to match your theme (eg. floral print
plates for a garden theme or blue speckled enamelware for a western
theme and etc). Your event planner can assist you by providing you with
a list of vendors for party rentals and they can often negotiate with
the vendor for a discounted rate.
Accent your tables:
Place flowers in unique containers (Baskets, Shells, Glass vases,
Watering cans, Beach pails, Galvanized Buckets, Pedestals, Planters,
Pottery, Urns & etc) to create beautiful centerpieces. Add real fruits
and vegetables to centerpieces for unusual accents. Use candles for mood
lighting and to accent a table. Use small favors items like beads,
sunglasses, shells, sea glass, river rocks, and a host of other items to
accent a napkin. Below are a few ideas.
Use
themed centerpieces like:
Bamboo Torch Candlesticks or Tiki Candles
for a tropical theme, a straw bale with wildflowers on top for a western
theme, a film reel and clapboard for a Hollywood or movie
theme, tall clear vases filled parfait style with colored beads for a
Mardi Gras theme and etc. Use beach pails filled with flowers or sand
and shells for a beach theme.
Piñatas also make excellent centerpieces and can later be used for a
game. Piñatas are available in lots of shapes from treasure chests to
football helmets and both little and big kids love them..
Cover a table top with glass vases in different sizes and shapes, fill
vases to the top with colored sports drinks (don't use water colored
with food coloring as this can stain glassware).
Place flowers into a large toy dump truck or race car for a cute
centerpiece.
Use wheat grass (available at health food stores) as a runner down the
center of a table, tuck one are two flowers into a water tube, then
place the flowers down in the grass. Cover the edge of the wheat grass
with wide ribbon.
Place pillar candles of different heights on a round or square mirror
for a romantic centerpiece. Place votive candles around the outside of
the mirror.
Place a long mirror down the center of a table like a runner and place
candles of different heights and shapes along the length of the mirror.
Tuck a napkin into a pair of
sunglasses for a
beach theme or use a pair
of
retro sunglasses for a decade theme.
Tuck a pair of sunglasses into a floral arrangement for a cute accent.
Wrap a napkin in a pair of
beads or use a
silk flower bracelet for a
tropical theme.
Place a bandana down into a wine glass for a western theme.
Place
mini maracas
on top of each napkin for a fiesta theme.
Use
light up glassware like: Margarita Glasses, Martini Glasses,
Pilsners and Mugs.. Margarita Glasses are great for a light up desert
too.
Light the drinks with
flashing ice cubes.
Place
flashing ice cubes down in clear glass vases to create a light up
centerpiece.
Serve beverages from a
light up pitcher.
Bring color to the table via cloth napkins. Give each person two napkins
slipped into one napkin ring. Use two different colors, two coordinating
patterns or one patterned and one solid-colored napkin. A colorful
setting can be achieved with little effort this way.
Scene Setters:
What are scene setters?
Scene setters are additional elements that fill
in gaps and round out spaces. They can include floral arrangements,
wreaths, arches, columns, pillars, pedestals, canopies, wall murals,
background scene rolls & borders, signs, banners, chair decorations &
etc.
Our Scene Setter product line includes: background rolls, borders, signs
& other decorations that are an easy & affordable way to set the mood
for your party. Mix and Match these fantastic collections of scene
setters, now available in our theme sections for:
Wall Murals:
Transform a room into a large scene using
Photo Murals. If your budget
is low, but your dreams are grand, consider the depth of a giant photo
mural. They fill an entire wall, and better yet, they provide guests
with the most realistic setting imaginable. They also make an excellent
photo background too. When else will your guests have the opportunity to
relax beneath a tropical sunset, or enjoy the scenery of a underwater
paradise in the company of friends?
Personalized Banners:
Greet your guests by hanging a
personalized birthday banner from your
front door or entrance, with a special message for the guest of honor.
If you have decided to use a theme, then use a custom theme banner. A
fabulous way to add spunk right from the get-go!
Other Decorating Items:
Choose from a variety of paper goods, decorations and even toilet paper
to add fun to the special day in these sections:
Theme Section
Decade Theme Section
Hobbies & Interests of the
Birthday Guy or Gal:
Golf– "Teeing up for an awesome Birthday!", "40 suits you to a Tee!"
Baseball– "A Grand Slam of a Birthday!", "Take me out to the Ballgame!"
Tennis – "Serving up wishes for an Ace Birthday"
Fishing– "Casting Wishes for a "Reel" Great Birthday!'
Sailing/Boating– "Setting Sail for A Birthday Bash", "Anchors Aweigh
Birthday!"
Sports Spectator/Couch Potato - "King of the Remote", "Sports Fanatic!",
"Take me out to the Ball Game!"
Bowling - "Striking-up for a Ball of a Birthday"
Racing – "Revved-up for Birthday"
Surfing – Surf's Up Theme
Boat Building- "Building a Birthday to Remember", "Anchor's Away
Birthday Bash!", "Cruising the Seas Birthday".
Traveling- "A World of Wonder Awaits!"
Nature - Hiking/Camping – "The Great Outdoors awaits!" Environmentalist
– "Rainforest Safari"
Jigsaw Puzzles - "You've made this picture complete!"
Music - "Set the Night to Music", " In 30 Years You've never missed a
Beat!"
Motorcycles/Harley Davidson - "Hog Wild Birthday!"
Pro Wrestling - "Stone Cold Steve (retiree's name) retires at the Peak
of his Career!"
Wine Connoisseur - Wine Tasting party-"A Vintage Birthday!"
Gardening "Everything's Coming up Roses" or "Time to Blossom"
Woodworking/Crafting/Sewing - "Crafting a Birthday Just for You!"
Rodeo/Square Dancing - "Wild Wild West!", "Buckaroo Birthday"
Flying/Hot Air Ballooning/Skydiving- "Flying High Into the Future!"
Nostalgia:
If a trip down memory lane would appeal to your guest of honor, choose a
theme with a nostalgic mood:
"REMEMBER WHEN…"
"ROAST AND TOAST!"
"THIS IS YOUR LIFE!"
"NOSTALGIA NIGHT!"
Using a nostalgia theme is a wonderful way to hi-light the Birthday and
life of the individual you are honoring. Do as much research before the
party as you possibly can.
Decorate a special chair for the honoree to sit in while they are being
toasted, shine a spotlight on him or her, and preserve as many mementos
as possible. A thoughtful scrapbook can then be assembled at a later
date.
If you are including a "Roast", ask the roasters to balance the silly
comments with flattering comments…this party should make the guest of
honor feel good! Ask each guest to come up with his or her own toast or
tribute. This can take many different forms: a tape recorded message, a
video segment, a telegram, a singing telegram, a poem, song, or skit, a
photo collage, slide presentation, or a homemade music video.
If you think you may have reluctant presenters in your group, ask an
outgoing guest to serve as MC for the evening, and put everyone at ease.
There's a ham in every group!
Salute the Decade of your Guest of
Honors Birth
If the idea of spotlighting the life of your birthday guest of honor
doesn't appeal to you, but you'd still like to invoke a feeling of
nostalgia, salute the era most appealing to the guest of honor, or the
decade in which he/she was born. These themes are always a big hit:
"RETRO THEME" 60's, 70's, 80's
"FABULOUS FIFTIES"
"SWING PARTY!" – A salute to the 40s!
"ROARING 20s"
Fantasy Birthday Locations:
TROPICAL PARADISE? Luau,
Caribbean,
Tiki
SANDY BEACH? – "Beach Bash"
YACHTING AROUND THE GLOBE? - "Anchors Away"
A DUDE RANCH? – "Wild Wild West!"
LAS VEGAS/MONACO? – "Casino Night"
THE AMAZON? – "It's a Jungle out there!"-
GLOBE TROTTING? – "A World of Wonder Awaits!"
SULTRY SOUTH AMERICA? – "Mexican Fiesta!"-
Decorate your party rooms to resemble the fantasy location as much as
possible. Include lots of authentic music, lighting, and food to
transport guests to a really soothing place!
Party Activities:
Here are a few suggestions for activities that are every bit as
entertaining as that!
Definitely Roast the guest of honor.
Create a slide show such as “This is your life – way back when, before
you were 40/50”, and play it during the party. You could also make a
thin screen of gossamer and have guests hide behind it and disguise
their voices. Have them tell funny stories and have the guest of honor
guess who is behind the screen.
Let the music begin! Add Rhythm to the Night... with maracas,
tambourines and noisemakers in a wide variety of styles, colors, shapes,
sizes and sounds. Play music from earlier generations with an
announcement that “This should really take you back”. Play Lawrence Welk,
Pops, Big Band, and music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
Hire a Fortune Teller!
For an Over the Hill Birthday - Deliver a bag full of surprises for the
guest of honor: Geritol, Metamucill, prune juice, bran, false teeth,
Viagra, Early Bird Special coupons, and AARP cards. Some people take
razzing well and will find a touch of poking fun at the age cute.
Compile a memory book for the birthday guest. Here’s how: Offer each
guest a card that says “You’ve reached an important Milestone, but I
remember when…” Each guest fills a card out at the party then all the
cards are collected and put into the memory book.
Have each guest’s picture taken at the party, either with or without the
guest of honor, and put all the photos into the memory book.
Limbo is always a fun for any party. A Bamboo Limbo Kit is great for
all ages with 8 levels of difficulty (beginners to experts).
Pinatas are always a great activity at any event, for both the liitle
kids and the big kids. They also make get centerpieces too
Party Food & Cake:
Depending on what time of day you will be serving food and how much you
want to spend, you have several options for great food. The sky is the
limit for choices, but here are some fun ideas: Choose foods that match
your theme, if you will be hiring a caterer they can give you assistance
with your menu selections. Or try our Recipes section for some theme
recipe ideas.
“Let’s not “Dessert” Katie…just because she’s 40/50” Dessert Bar –
perfect for afternoon or evening parties instead of a full meal.
Set up a full Mexican bar. Have all of the fixings for some great
burritos, nachos, tacos, and more!
Serve all of the guest of honor’s favorite dishes.
Hold a potluck where everyone brings a dish and a recipe card for the
birthday girl. It’s never too late to start a new recipe collection.
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LED's & Party Items
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