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Theme Party
Planning Tips & Ideas -
Parisian Party Ideas
Party Resource Guide
Presented by Event & Wedding Planners
Cafe Rendezvous - Springtime in
Paris - To Paris With Love
Paris - can anyone think of a
more romantic and wonderful setting? With some of our ideas,
it can be done easier than you think! You might also
consider a
Vintage Paris Theme.
Because Paris is such an incredible place to relax and enjoy
pastries at an outdoor bistro overlooking the cities
landmarks - it makes a perfect setting to recreate in your
own home or the nearby hall with the Toujours Cafe
Decorations. Read More
The key to pulling off a coordinated
event: Evoke your theme throughout the affair. Whether that
theme is as general as a season or a feeling, or as specific as
a special flower, it should be the subtle thread that ties
everything together. Your location, invitations, flowers, menu,
cake, and favors should all cleverly reflect one common concept.
Then, get as creative as you can!
Paris Theme Planning
Ideas:
When planning your
decorations for a Parisian Theme,
envision a stroll down the boulevard with the beautiful
Eiffel Tower and city skyline as your backdrop, or a
beautiful outdoor café surrounded by fresh flowers and
charming bistro tables. Then keep this setting in mind as you
coordinate all of your details.
Parisian Motif:
The motif is the visual
representation of your theme, which is created by the use of objects or
symbols. This symbol may be repeated on your invitations, program, plates, or
decorations. Sometimes the use of several different symbols will be used
as components of the theme.
Develop your motif using a list of words related to the theme.
Brainstorm a list to create your pool of ideas. This list is very
important for generating ideas that can be applied to all areas of the
event. For a Parisian theme you might come up with words like cafe,
arches, artist, Eiffel Tower, springtime, Harlequin, paintings, Fleur De Lis,
Mosaic, Wine, Perfume, Wrought-iron, Crystal, Tapestry,
Arabesque pattern, Pewter, Olive Wood, Wire Baskets, Fruits (Almonds, Apples, Apricots), Truffles, French Milled Soap,
& Bistro
tables .
Create a special entryway
Create a
special entryway and guests will feel as if they are
walking down a street in Paris, drinking espresso
at a
Parisian Cafe, or standing in a Paris Garden
overlooking the Eiffel tower.
Bring
the magic of a Night
in Paris to your event with an Eiffel Tower outlined in Twinkle
lights.
The Location:
Select a location that works well
with the theme. For a Parisian theme – an art museum, French
Restaurant, historic mansion in a French architecture.
Invitations:
The first step in setting the
Parisian mood, of course, begins with the invitation.
Here are a few ideas that we
think say, "Bon Jour, please come and join us" for a
Parisian theme! Even if you
don't speak French add a touch of French to your invitations.
Mon amour, Mon cher, Bon apetite to name a few. Look up a friend
or your old high school French teacher for ideas.
If you are hosting this
themed party for a special occasion such as a birthday,
refer to the guest of honor as "Mademoiselle or Madame
Davidson" in the invitation to create an authentic French
feeling.
Sprinkle some
Eiffel
Tower Confetti inside your invitation to give
guests a sneak preview of the Parisian charm that is in
store for them at your party.
Parisian
Table Decorations:
 
Create a Paris Table that will wow
all of your guests!
At some
point during the planning stages of your event the
subject of linens will arise. When it does stop and
think of all the possibilities available to you
before you go with standard issue white polyester
tablecloths. 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.
Black & White or Black & Cream Toile is lovely as an overlay on tables. For
a splash of color, red traditionally works quite nicely,
with black and cream toile, make sure you choose the right shade, as a red that’s too bright won’t work with the subtler tone of the cream.
Other tablecloths or overlays patterns might include:
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Toile in primary and vintage color groups like wine, pastel pink, pastel blue, and lilac.
-
Black & White Harlequin Chiffon or Satin
-
Filigree - White with Silver or Gold with Gold
-
Marquis Damask in Silver or Wedgwood Blue
-
Fleur De Lis in Champagne
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Lafayette Damask in Salmon or Plum
-
Armani or Deauville Damask in
Cream
Suggested
table accents:
The centerpiece of the
party, the cake, can be in a Harlequin or Eiffel Tower style. trimmed with roses and surrounded by
ribbons & rose petals. Magnifique!
Harlequin stacked hat boxes (large pink box with black top, medium pink & black harlequin
patterned box, small pink box with black lid, use as
centerpieces or other table accents.
Create fanciful
pillar candles by covering the bottom with a border of
Harlequin-inspired studded diamonds.
Plain black sconces
with a mirror background or Fleur De Lis pattern.
French advertisements for
wine & perfume.
Bring a little bit of French summer to your
party with bouquets of dried lavender. The scent is divine and will linger for a long time.
A fresh pear for a place card
Colorful ribbon
rosettes, placed in the center of each plate.
Linen
napkins folded in the shape of a bird or rose.
Eiffel Tower tea light lamps
Edible roses and
rose petals
Imprint
Napkins
with a Parisian theme design, Eiffel Tower Silhouette
or with French words.
Table runners, tablecloth and chairs covered in striped fabric
Copper-colored charger plates or Fleur de Lys charger.
Toile and striped; napkins
China with gently scalloped borders and a Fleur de Lys in a raised motif in gold or ivory
Glassware reminiscent of Versailles, delicately decorated with a shell motif.
Elegant crystal glassware donning a traditional tulip shape, a perfect example of French beauty and grace.
Ice
sculpture in the shape of an Eiffel Tower or French
Sculpture.
Espresso Cup & Saucer like those found in French cafés
Decorate
your tables with
Gossamer,
and
sprinkle
Eiffel Tower Confetti all around.
Medici vase (classic urn shape) filled with spring tulips, wildflowers or red
roses.
A
Glass
Candle Lamp
Fresh
flowers or loose
petals scattered around.
Candlelight
for even more ambiance and romance.
Personalized
Napkins:
Show
your guests just how much you care by offering
Personalized Napkins
by Carlson Craft that complement your theme.
Napkins can be laid out on a buffet table, or can be
displayed at each place setting.
Place napkins in the
center of each place setting at an angle, or unfold
them and place them in glasses for a tall dramatic
look.
The napkins can also be tied (and bundled with
plastic cutlery) with a multitude of items to match
your theme. Try gossamer streamers or ribbon.
Room
Decorations:
- Wrought-iron or
Pewter chandeliers, candleholders, tables & chairs.
- Crystal candlesticks
and chandelier with crystals
- China & glassware
with a Fleur De Lis pattern.
- Tapestry Chair
Covers
- Candleholders or
Lanterns etched, with a beautiful Arabesque pattern
- Olive Wood Items
- Wire baskets filled
with Fruits (Almonds, Apples, Apricots)
- Hang a border of
Eiffel
towers
around the room.
- Rent "carts" and
fill them with flowers or place them around the room
and use them as serving stations for food or place
favors in them for guests.
-
Be sure to accent your decorations with some
berets,
an assortment of yummy pastries, croissants, and
bottles of French wine!
Paris Favors:
Entertainment
& Music:
Give your event a Parisian Flair.
The main activity for this
sweet and romantic gathering is really great eats and
wonderful conversation, but sometimes just a small activity
or two can really make the party one that is filled with
memories to last for a long time. Here are some suggestions
for just the right touch of entertainment!
Have your guests arrive in berets and scarves. Have a
contest for the best dressed, or most authentically French!
Hire a Caricaturist to sit
with a easel, wear a beret, and draw Caricatures of your
guests.
Hire a local artist or two and have them bring their
palettes and easels to your party. Not only will this idea
enhance your atmosphere, it would also be fun to have a
demonstration on different forms of painting. Provide paper
for all your guests and let them try to create their own
watercolor masterpiece!
Hire a gardener (or just a friend that has a green thumb)
and have them give a flower-arranging lesson. You could have
the expert also provide some basic gardening instructions
that will help your spring flowers look as magical as those
in the Jardins des Tuilieries!
Set up a runway and have a fashion show of all the latest
spring designs!
Play an interesting game of "French Trivia". Before the
party, look up some interesting and unusual facts about
France, French people, French cuisine or art. Give a prize
to the guest that knows the most about this beautiful
country and its heritage!
If your guests are interested in wine, arrange to have
someone from your local wine shop and give a short
presentation on French wine. At the end of the presentation,
let guests have a taste of the wine.
Have a French cooking lesson and teach guests how to prepare
a traditional French delicacy. Crepes are a good idea,
because they are quick and tasty. Allow guests to sample the
food at the end!
Why not
hire a French Quartet (complete with a Accordion
of course) or just a Accordion player to
stroll around serenading your
guests.
The Food:
Although you can't transport your guests to a party at the base of the Eiffel Tower, you can cast the charm of the city's spell at your
event.
The
country's epicurean delights are- foie gras,
truffles, Roquefort cheese, well-built
crustaceans, succulent snails plucked off
grape vines, sharp-tasting fruit tarts.
A typical
day's eating begins with a bowl of café au
lait, a croissant and a thin loaf of bread
smeared with butter and jam.
Lunch and
dinner are virtually indistinguishable and
can include a first course of fromage de tête
pâté (pig's head set in jelly) or
bouillabaisse (fish soup), followed by a
main course of blanquette de veau (veal stew
with white sauce) and rounded off with a
plateau de fromage (cheese platter) or tarte
aux pommes (apple tart). An
appetite-stirring apéritif such as kir
(white wine sweetened with syrup) is often
served before a meal, while a digestif
(cognac or Armagnac brandy) may be served at
the end.
Other beverages designed to aid
digestion and stimulate conversation include
espresso, beer, liqueurs such as pastis (a
90-proof, anise-flavoured cousin of
absinthe) and some of the best wine in the
world.
When it comes to food for your
event, it really is possible for it to be elegant and economical at the same time. Your
caterer will be able to make suggestions on
the perfect menu that will fit your budget.
With a buffet meal, you and your guests will be able to mingle and converse more easily than at a sit-down dinner. Serve easy-to-eat finger foods that will lend a casual, comfortable feeling to
your event.
Your menu doesn't have to break the budget. To carry out your Parisian theme, put out baskets of baguettes, oodles of olives, and Smoked Salmon Pâté to spread on toasted baguette slices and mini-croissants.
Serve deli chicken salad to which you have added fresh tarragon.
For hors d'oeuvres, serve Palmiers (puff pastry pinwheels filled with chopped olives), and mini-quiches.
You'll also want to have a variety of French cheeses and
wines at a Parisian event.
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