Let's face it, we like the little details. They are what turn a normal college party idea into a fabulous one. This is especially true when it comes to decorations of any kind. The little touches are what people notice and remember. These little things show that you really put the time and thought into it. Whether its streamers hanging from the ceiling, fake cobwebs in the corners of the rooms, or umbrellas in the tiki glasses, little touches can make a party worth remembering. Of course, one thing to be careful about is going overboard and either blowing your budget or worse, looking tacky.
Determining how much to do can be just as important as what to do. My general rule is to ramp up the decorations in accordance with how formal and intimate the party is going to be. The more formal and the fewer people, the more little touches I will add. Remember, as the number of guests gets larger, the other guests become more of a focus than the decorations. Still, even in large casual party atmospheres, setting the scene and mood is a must. My general rule of thumb, is to have one theme decoration per room. Something like streamers, colored table cloths, or some other theme related decoration. For example, if I were throwing a Halloween party for a large group of people, I would hunt down some orange and black streamers to string along the walls. Maybe find some cotton to pull apart and make my own cobwebs. If I had food or a punch bowl I would set it up on a black tablecloth, stretching some cheese cloth to make an unraveled overlay underneath the serving pieces. I'd put the food/punch in one room, streamers and cobwebs in the main room and entry way. Something simple like this can add a great deal to the overall feel. Turn the lights down and you are good to go.
The biggest thing to remember, is to watch your budget. Even the best party doesn't make up for running out of supplies half way through the night, or waking up in the hole the next day. This is where planning comes into play. Determine how much money you can put in on the party. And then never put more in. Go to friends and people who you know will be there and see what they can chip in for the costs. If it's gonna be a large party, and you are going to have live music or a DJ, don't forget to consider charging a nominal cover. Also, check with all of your contacts and see if you can get anything for free advertisement. One of the best parties I have had was a $1 cover, live band, backyard BBQ, that was partially sponsored by Frito Lay. I knew a guy that worked product out to grocery store shelves and he gave me a break on some close dated chips and salsa for free as long as we put a few signs up at the table. I spent ten bucks on 20 bags of chips and 4 bottles of salsa! I have also approached grocery store managers and struck deals with them. Offer to buy all of your beer through them to get a price break on bulk food. Most of the time they will jump on the chance for the increase in sales.So be sure to check around and get the best bang for your buck.
So pick your theme party idea, make your budget, and start getting together your theme party decorations!
