Planning a Halloween party for family, friends or neighbors (or all of the above)? You'll love our perfect party planning guide for the most spooktacular event around!
Step 1: Choose the date (and choose wisely!)
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Seems like an obvious first step, right? But you would be amazed at how many Halloween parties have flopped because they weren't careful in choosing the party date. Here are some simple tips to keep you on track and ensure the best possible turnout:
1. If you're planning an adults-only soiree, but you're inviting couples who have children, don't host your party on Halloween night. Parents of young children won't want to miss out on Halloween family fun and even if they did, it would be nearly impossible to get a sitter.
2. Avoid weeknights, no matter what night All Hallow's Eve falls on this year. It's better to have your party a full week early (if, for example Halloween falls on a Friday night) rather than the weeknight or two beforehand. Even families without school-age children have obligations such as work, and won't be able to party well into the night.
3. Don't be a Johnny-come-lately. Nearly everyone feels foolish dressing up AFTER Halloween has passed, so resist the urge to have your party the day (or week) after Halloween night.
Step 2: Set the time
The next most important decision after the date is the time itself. Here are a few pointers.
1. Start early in the evening if children are welcome. This allows families to enjoy the party together, without fussy kids (at least, until the sugar crash kicks in).
2. Consider what time it gets dark where you live. It's much more fun to go to a Halloween party in the dark, rather than while it's still daylight.
3. Think about duration. If you're fine with guests lingering until the wee hours, then you can leave the ending time open-ended. However, if you prefer to get your beauty sleep, you may want to put an ending time on the invitations. Four hours is plenty for a Halloween party - anything longer would be considered more of an open house (which may be ideal for parties held on Halloween night itself) and in that case, expect people to come and go as their evening allows.
Step 3: Invitations and Guest List
Now that you've got your date set, it's time to hammer out an invitation list. You might want to include neighbors, friends, family members, co-workers, associates, etc. If children are welcome, be sure to let your kids invite their friends and send out invitations about two weeks ahead of time.
Here is some information to be sure to include on your invitation (besides date, time, and location of course):
- whether or not costumes are welcome (or required)
- if you want people to bring a dish or beverage to share, or if it's BYOB
- what (if any) activities are planned (costume contest, haunted yard or room, etc.)
- whether little "ghouls" and boys are welcome, or whether it's adults-only (this not only lets people know whether or not to get a sitter, but also gives an indication of what kinds of costumes are appropriate).
Mailing invitations (especially for an informal gathering such as a Halloween party) really isn't necessary - if you have email addresses, why not use a free service like evite.com? You can create an online invitation, send it out to your entire guest list, and then track who's read the message, who's coming, how many guests they're bringing, and what (if anything) they're bringing to the party to share.
If you're mainly inviting neighbors, why not hand-deliver invitations if you don't have their email addresses? Invitations can be as simple as typing all the information in a spooky font, and printing it on orange paper. Just keep it clean, simple, thorough, and attractive, and you're sure to make a great impression.
How to Plan the Perfect Halloween Party: Part 1 of 3
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