Sad to say, the baseball season is almost over. Tentatively, Oct 19th is the beginning of the World Series. After that we'll begin 6 months of down time until the next season starts. So, come on all you baseball fans – let's end this season with a HOME RUN!

Here at Wedding and Party Network we have some MAJOR fans of baseball, and they just can't wait for the Series to begin – a big baseball bash is the only logical way to end the season, right!?!?

Hosting a World Series Party is as easy as 1 2 3. So, batter up!

Decorate your party space featuring the team of your choice. If you have fans of both teams, you'll have to divide the party decor to be fair. Use the colors of the preferred team. You can create an elaborate atmosphere or a simple, kick-back kind of party space with your party decorations. Choose what fits your party best!

• Memorabilia is always a great way to decorate for a sport's party, and don't forget the big foam hands! If you want to add  a touch of elegance to the decor, incorporate some fresh flower arrangements sporting the colors of choice with miniature team flags inside!

Hot Dogs – Get Your Hot Dogs Here!

As far as the party food goes, think concession stand. Hot dogs, nachos, chips and dip, over sized pretzels, candy and popcorn are all staple food for any baseball stadium. Therefore, this is your party menu. Drizzle melted chocolate or caramel over your popcorn for added flair. Sodas, punch, sports drinks and a signature drink (Yankee Doodle Spritzers) are perfect for this World Series party! Don't forget about the desert! You can special order cupcakes with your team's logo on it or a personalized team cake that will pull everything together!

Mixing and Mingling

Make sure to have adequate seating, since most of your party will take place in front of the television. You will want to set your food tables away from the seating area – as to give your guests a reason to get up and mingle a little. Snack bowls arranged close by seating will help when the munchies kick in! You can have fun activities for commercial breaks – something like baseball trivia is always fun.

Send guests home with a token to remember the party – anything from a key chain, flag, t-shirt or personalized candies with the team logos will hit the mark!

Who doesn't love a good party???

Between, great food, friends, family, entertainment, great music and lots of laughs, there isn't a better way to reconnect with the people you care about! Yes, parties can be stressful if you're the one planning them, but here at Wedding and Party Network we want to help relieve that stress by bringing you the best tips, trends, and inspiration for your top-notch party!

What's your party theme?

So, do you really need an occasion to throw a party? NO! Not really. If you can't think of a good enough excuse to throw a party, you should know that everyday of every month is actually a holiday! Somewhere in the world, someone is celebrating something fantastic! Do a little research for the day you're planning your party to get inspiration for your little shindig. (Sept. 12 is National Chocolate Milkshake Day – throw a 50's style ice cream parlor party)

Now that you have your theme or excuse to party – What do you think about decorations? Do you really need to spend the majority of your budget on party decorations? I wouldn't suggest it. Play off of the holiday or theme you have chosen and find a basic color scheme. Say your colors are coral and turquoise, use these colors in your balloons, streamers, table clothes and paper-ware. A few lanterns, banners and floral centerpieces will tie everything together. Simplicity is key! Don't go over board, your guests are there to mingle and have fun. Just keep your focus on the food and entertainment.

A good menu – equals a good party! So, once again, play off of your theme. You can reflect the color scheme in your food menu as well. Brightly colored fruits and veggies are always a hit – appetizers and finger-foods are a great choice too. It makes it easier for people to mingle and walk around with their plates and not be stuck at a table. When it comes to party food - variety is key! Not all of your guests have the same taste in food – so make sure you have different options for everyone to try. Cater to those of your guests who might be vegetarian or have food allergies by having the proper foods available.

As for desserts, you can stick with mini desserts by having small pastries, cupcakes, a candy buffet or ice cream bar. However, the party cake is what ties everything together! Your cake should incorporate the atmosphere and theme of your party all in one. After all, who doesn't love to cut into one of those big tasty, over-the-top cakes?!? Be ready for some "oooing and aaahing'!

Entertainment – Don't stress, it might seem impossible to find the PERFECT entertainment to keep everyone happy. It's really not as hard as it seems. Fun activities and games are always a good idea – it keeps people mingling and moving which keeps things entertaining. The key to good entertainment is good music! Finding the perfect music will set the tone for the entire event. A great jazz band or steel-drum band will get  people on their feet. Go over the list of guests in your head and think about what the majority of your guest list enjoys to do – then mix it with your theme and Voila!

The keys to a good PARTY are:

P. Is for Plan. Planning your party ahead of time is Key. With a good plan – you can't go wrong!

A. Is for Action. Put your party plans into action – send invitations, send reservations and shop for supplies.

R. Is for Rest. Make sure you don't over do yourself – ask for help.

T. Is for Telling. Tell everyone about your party! Your friends and family might have creative ideas perfect for your event.

Y. Is for YOU! Remember that the party is planned by you, decorated by you, and hosted by YOU. So, you need to enjoy it too!

Relax and have fun – YOU deserve it!

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Have you had close friends or family members recently become engaged over the summer? Is it time to start planning her bridal shower? Well, what type of bridal shower will you host? There are so many themes out there that you may not know where to begin. Well, Wedding and Party Network is here to bring you our 5 favorite bridal shower themes!

Spa Shower – Yes, wedding planning is a little stressful at times. If not a lot stressful at times. Therefore, taking time to relax is a must. So, why not host a spa bridal shower? It's the perfect stress reliever! Now, you can either go to a spa or bring the spa to you. Set up different stations if you're having it at home like, manicure, pedicure, facials & massages.

Guests can choose which one they would rather do. Create a soap bar that resembles a food table. You see soaps that come in various shapes, sizes & replicas and they're all so adorable. If you're hosting this shower at home, guests can bring presents. However, if it's at a spa, let everyone pitch in on a spa gift certificate, embroidered robe & slippers. This is truly a relaxing treat.

Vintage Bridal Shower – Throwing vintage into any party theme is a huge trend. However, it's perfect for a bridal shower. How do you incorporate this into a bridal shower? It's all how you decorate your bridal shower. This is the key to incorporating it into a bridal shower.

When decorating, choose vintage mason jars and glasses for centerpieces. Line them down the center of the table with a few flowers in each one. Use pastels, delicate flowers, chevron print, vintage suitcases, fun straws and texture.

Five Senses -This bridal shower is truly unique. When finding inspiration, consider the five senses. For sight think about how you can draw eyes to unique shower decor. Think of having art for centerpieces or unique floral arrangements to draw guest's attention. Have mellow music playing in the background for sound. Touch is represented by incorporating different textures. Of course, taste will represent through the menu. Lastly, smell is achieved by placing various candles and fragrances out. All of these elements combined will create an amazing setting for any bridal shower.

Breakfast At Tiffany's -This is ab absolute classic, which is exactly what you're going for with this bridal shower theme. Think Tiffany blue & white, diamonds, bows and black. Of course, having that little blue box that girls all over love is a must. Use them for centerpieces or for your party favors.

Create cupcakes with in the Tiffany blue with a ribbon on top. Also, for centerpieces, use white carnations, create flower balls with them and sprinkle some diamonds on each table. For event food, serve up breakfast! Fresh fruit, casseroles, breads & scones are all great items to serve for this shower. A shower theme that everyone will love!

Sweet Love - It's all in the name with this bridal shower. Of course, your main focus is to serve sweet items. Think colorful when choosing your shower decorations and floral arrangements. Don't forget about the candy bar for this theme. Use various candies, like jelly beans, lollipops, taffy, chocolate and the bride's favorite candy for your candy bar. This is a fun bridal shower that is a must for a colorful bride!

So, when planning your next wedding shower, choose these fun themes to help make it a success. Showers are a great time for the bride to take a break from planning and to kick back with great friends and family.

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Decoration Providers.
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Shower centerpiece, cupcakes photo provided by Eloise Claire, clarescupcakes.co.uk via flickr.

Gender Revealing Parties are a growing trend amidst expecting parents. Let's face it, half  the excitement of pregnancy is finding out if it is a boy or girl. So, it makes sense to celebrate the surprising news with friends and family and this party theme is a great way to let them know.

Here's how to do it:

Expecting parents typically have their gender revealing ultrasound around 20 weeks gestation. However, instead of  finding out the gender during the ultrasound, ask the technician or doctor to keep it a secret, and write it down in a sealed envelope.

The second step is to have a family member or close friend take the envelope to your local baker. The cake is dyed on the inside either pink or blue (depending on the sex of the baby).  A neutral icing is used to hide the secret inside. No one will know the surprise until the parents-to-be slice into the baby shower cake!

Party Decor

• Decorate your party space with pinks and blues, greens and yellows. Rubber ducks, diapers, pacifiers and bottles work great scattered around the food tables. Don't forget about the diaper cake!

The Food

• Serve all the expecting mom's favorite cravings – pizza, ice cream, popcorn, chips, whatever it is, include it in the menu. It's a fun way to mesh everything together. Have your party menu represent the mom-to-be.

Party Activities

• Ask your guests ahead of time to wear pink if they think you are having a girl or blue if they feel it's a boy. Those who get it right will win a door prize. Blue and pink cigars are always a hit!
• Have your guests write down their names suggestions on a poster board – each guest will rate the other names as well.
• Baby shower games will work at this party too – anything from "Guess Mommy's Cravings" to "Guess the Baby" where each guests brings their own baby picture. During the party, each guest will try to guess who each baby picture belongs to. This is always one of the funnest games at a baby shower!

The Big Moment

• When it comes time to unveil the cake – the surprise will be out and you can all celebrate together! It will be a nail-biting moment for everyone there…

Popping of champagne and clapping of hands will surely arise when the color of the cake is revealed! Door prizes and games will begin once the sex of the baby is revealed.  Your party gives friends and family great opportunity to celebrate and share in your happiness. Now that you know what you're having – it's off to the nearest shopping mall!

 

Special thank you to treyevan for the beautiful picture via Flickr.

Quinceaneras date back to ancient times in the Aztec societies. It's an old Hispanic tradition that symbolizes the beginning of womanhood in the Latin community. Quinceaneras are an exciting moment that young girls often plan and dream about for years as they approach their 15th birthday.

Although there are several deeply rooted and meaningful traditions, there is still plenty of room for creative planning. Combine old traditions with new ones to add your own personal touch!

Quinceaneras Traditions

• A Quinceanera Ceremony is preformed by the family priest during Mass. A candle is lit during the ceremony signifying reaffirmation of the baptismal vows made by her parents. By participating, the birthday girl is accepted by the Church, by God and the congregation (including her friends and family) as woman.
• The First Dance Tradition is the sweetest of all. The father of the birthday girl changes her shoes from flats to high heels and then dances the first dance with his daughter. This represents him accepting the birthday girl becoming a woman.
• The Quinceanera Court is a mixture of seven girls and seven boys that play a prominent role in the party. This equals 14, plus the birthday girl equals 15 which represents her age. Typically the court includes siblings, cousins and other family members. The Court will do a big dance after the father and daughter dance.
• The Doll Tradition is where the birthday girl will give a porcelain doll to her younger sister, meaning that she is now leaving her childhood to her sister. It is the last toy she will have and will pass it on.
• The Last Pinata is similar to the last doll tradition. Pinatas are often used at children's parties, and this being the birthday girl's last party as a child will get one last swing at a pinata.
• Cutting of the cake is a fun tradition where the birthday girl will make the first cut and take the first bite of her special cake.
• A toast is made by the guests at the party in honor of the special birthday girl.

Gifts will be given from family members that have symbolic meanings behind them such as,

• A tiara is given to the birthday girl by her parents or god-parents.
• The mother will often give a Bible, prayer-book, rosary and cross as a sign of faith to her daughter.
• A ring and bracelet are given representing the circle of life.
• Earings are also given to affirm that the birthday girl always listens to God.

Adding some flair!

So, now that we have gone over the traditions of the past, let's think of ways to incorporate a modern twist to show off your personality!
You party can have a distinct theme reflecting your personality without taking away from the traditional quinceanera feeling.

Here are some fun themes to consider

• A Black Tie Event
• A Retro Party
• A Hollywood Party
• A Garden Party
• A Princess Party
• A City Chic Party
• A Beach Party
• A Paris Themed Party

Between picking out your dress, cake, food and decor, this special party is a huge one and one to be excited about! Your community will have a wonderful time celebrating and experiencing a once in a life time event catered special just for you! So, remember to keep the traditions that are rooted deep in the Hispanic culture but add your own personal flair to make your party shine!

Special thank you to SariDennise and Justplainhope for the great pictures via Wikipedia and Flickr.

Every child is different and unique and wants their special day to be just as unique and special as them.  Playing off your teenager's likes and characteristics will really help when planning their fabulous sweet 16 birthday party.

It takes a lot of time and organization when throwing a party. Communicate with your teen about what party theme will work best for them (and your budget!). Decide on colors, styles, music, party food and place. Working together (unless this is a surprise) will make things a lot easier!

Once you have decided on the party theme and the budget, choose a site and menu. Do you want to offer the food yourself or have the event catered? Do you want the party at your house, a local park or event hall? There are a lot of things to consider when hosting a party at your house, no matter what kind of event. Along with all the little details, focus on the party theme.

It is the most important detail and is the first step in planning a party. You choose the theme and then everything else falls into place after that.

Here are some ideas for your party!

16 Party Themes for A Super Sweet 16 Birthday Party

1. Pool Party
2. Bonfire Party
3. Murder Mystery Party
4. Beach Party
5. Surprise Party
6. Bowling Party
7. Dance Party
8. Hollywood Theme Party
9. Spa Party
10. Slumber Party
11. Winter Wonderland
12. Glow In The Dark Party
13. Scavenger Hunt Party
14. Go Green Party
15. Totally 80's Party
16. Movie Night Party

What ever theme you decide on, the party will be a sure hit! You can use balloons, flowers, banners, pictures and ribbons to decorate any location to make your party stand out from the others. Just remember to have fun!

It's not an easy task to surprise your main man with a party. However, men like to be pampered too! We aren't talking spa pampered, we are talking about throwing him the great party! Featuring whatever it is he likes.

What is he all about?

Is he a big BBQ guy? Why not throw the biggest back yard BBQ with him as the guest of honor instead of the cook!

Football fan? Decorate the place with his favorite team's memorabilia. Using the team colors as your party theme, you can create a football fantasy of a party!

Basketball? Same as with the football, find the team colors and run with it! (This works with any sport including Baseball, Hockey and Rugby)

If golf is his hobby of choice? Arrange for a miniature gold party in the backyard.

Vegas Baby! He loves to play poker – so arrange a Vegas night in your home!

Are electronics his passion? Throw a strobe light dance party with lots of fancy lights and smoke machines.

Does he love to go out and hang out with the guys? Rent a limousine to pick him and all the guys up for a night on the town!

Is he more of a kick back and relax kind of guy? Try throwing a lazy Sunday party where everyone can kick back and watch a game or movie.

Does he have the travel bug? Surprise him with a vacation, even if it is somewhere close, arrange for sight-seeing and exciting new adventures!

Whatever you chose to do, make it all about HIM

Party Limousine

• Create or buy a party cake designed to make him smile.
• Create or hire caterers to WOW him with all of his favorite foods.
• Make sure to invite his closest friends and family – even if they are not your favorites!

Trust us, if you can pull off a fun party theme for your special guy, he will be MORE than grateful!

This post is brought to you by Washington, D.C. Party Planners.
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With school starting back up, your kids will want to spend quality time with their friends since they've missed them all summer. So, a great way to do this is host a slumber party at your house. Slumber parties can get a little drab and over done. However, there are lots of party ideas and tips to make your slumber party truly stand out and Wedding and Party Network has them here.

Slumber Party Decor

First things first, choose a sleepover theme. A "night owl" theme, haunted sleepover, princess themed sleepover, movie theme or you can even go the route with a traditional sleepover and choose no theme at all. However, it's more fun with a theme. Once you have chosen a theme, you can start preparing for the party.

Sleepover Invitations

Whatever your sleepover theme, make sure it shows with the party invitation. You can create an adorable owl for your night owl slumber party or a sleep bag with all the details. Also, don't forget to check out your local stationery store, they have a wide variety of adorable party invitations.

Party Setup

The best idea is to set up different stations for the kids. It helps you stay better organized and the kids will know exactly where to go for things.

Of course, everyone gets hungry at some point. A great place to eat their food is on the bed! However, it doesn't have to a bed where crumbs can be left, you can create one out of a table. Take a table and make it as you would a bed with bed sheets, blankets and pillows. You can then take a piece of wood, plywood or an actual headboard and place it at the end of the table to create the bed look. Place a pillow, stuffed animal and book on the bed. Once you have it setup, start setting out your plates, glasses and napkins. You can even do adorable place settings to match you theme. Bring color to life with your table set up.

Another great station that is a must is a station for them to get ready for bed. If you are having a few over, buy everyone matching pajamas. Set out toothbrushes, floss, wash cloths and whatever else they may need to get ready for bed. Decorate this area with colorful table cloths, books and stuffed animals.

Overnight Food

Sleepover Food

What do you serve at a sleepover? Whatever the kids like. Create sandwiches, burgers, macaroni and cheese and chicken strips for their dinner. You can also keep it healthy with vegetables and fruits. For dessert, create an adorable party cake to match the slumber party theme. You can also contact your local cake bakery and have them design a themed cake with kids tucked into sleeping bags. Create an ice cream bar as well and even a candy bar if you can handle their sugar rush.

Don't forget to set out a snack bowl for the kids when they get hungry during the late night. Get matching bowls and fill them with popcorn and candy.

Games & Activities

Mainly, you should let the kids do what they want and not have set activities for them. You can give them some craft ideas, like making their own pillow, scrapbook or a picture frame to remember the sleepover from. Also, don't forget the movies.

It's not hard to put together a sleepover. Don't worry about keeping the kids entertained, they'll entertain themselves. Focus on the decorations. The theme of the slumber party should stand out. So, celebrate the start of a brand new school year with a sleepover!

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Sleeping bag & tent photo provided by cubist castle, ohsohappytogether via flickr.

Welcoming home a loved one is an exciting and joyful experience. Why not make it even more special by throwing a welcome home party for that special somebody who has been go so long?

A welcome home party is not much different from a birthday party. You will want to the theme to reflect where ever it is that your special guest has been.

Where will your party be?

If your home is big enough, it's the perfect place for a welcome home party! It brings a warm sense of home to the guest of honor. If holding the party in your home isn't an option, you can use a friend's house or backyard, rent a party hall, or plan on a picnic or park party.

Decorating the party

Is your loved one returning from the military, a mission trip or from a semester abroad? Are they moving closer after a long time apart, coming back from college, boot camp or returning from a long hospital stay? Focusing on the theme will allow you to decorate the party with your special guest as the focal point!

Inviting your guests

Set a side a time and send out party invitations 2-3 weeks before the party if possible. If time is not on your side, a simple phone call, text or email will be fine. If you are keeping this party a surprise, make sure you tell everyone coming to keep their lips sealed!

What to serve

Let your menu feature your guest of honor's favorite foods! Serve foods inspired by their journey. Or you play up the home-coming theme and make all the good ol'e comfort food you know they have missed! Hiring a caterer will help if you are short on time, or ask your guests to bring along a dish to pass around.

Desserts!

No party is complete with out a cake! You can't go wrong with a  cake personalized for your special guest! Not a cake fan? Try a dessert bar with several small desserts!

Fruit dipped in chocolate, home-made cookies, brownies, cupcakes, pies, fruit salads, or anything that fits in with the theme.

Refreshments

A specialized drink made in honor for your guest of honor will top the party off!

Presents?

Gifts are not required at a welcome home party. But if you feel the urge to splurge, by all means, buy away! Shower your guest of honor with gifts reminding them of where they have been and where they are now. Having a guest book or poster board for friends and family to write a message for the guest of honor is a great way to make the party last a lifetime.

This welcome home party is a fun way to show your loved one how much you have missed them. The warm smiles and friendly faces will make your special guest glow. Remember to keep the party short, your special someone will probably be in need of some rest!

This post is brought to you by Philadelphia Caterers.
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A special thank you to the United States Navy for the great picture via Wikipedia

Having a back to school party is a great way to re-connect with friends and to end the summer with a BANG! Your party will help kids ease their anxiety for the new school year and have a great time doing it! Invite friends, family and some of the children from your school. This is also a great way to make new friends! Here are some creative ideas for a great School themed party.

Creative Party Invitations

• Apple Invites: Using red card stock, cut it into the shape of an apple. With black marker, write U+R Invited! include date, time, place and RSVP.
• Report Cards: Find an outline of a report card online and fill each one out with the information for the party. It's an A+ Party!
• Crayon Notes: Using different colored card stock, cut it into the shape of a large crayon. With several different colors, write out the party information and include RSVP.
• Blackboard: Write out the invitation on a black board and snap a digital picture of it. Print them off or email them to your guests as their party  invitation.

Party Decorations

Red, blue and yellow are the colors of school! You can use your school's colors for added flair too. The main party decoration at your party is to decorate your party space with school supplies!

• Decorate your entry way with a message to your guests with sidewalk chalk!
• Cluster balloons and streamers and hang them from above
• Fill vases or buckets full of pencils
• Place a row of apples down the center of your table
• Use rulers and glue and arrange them into a "school supply bouquets"
• Bunch together crayons and markers for added decoration
• Scatter letter magnets along each table
• Display letter and number cut outs
• Use a globe as your centerpiece
• Laminate pictures of maps to use as place mats
• Fill vases with crayons or letter magnets and then add fresh flowers in basic colors to top it off!

Back to School Food

Keeping your party menu child friendly will make for happy children and easy cleanup!

• Serve small meals in a paper sacks! Sandwiches, chips and fresh fruit with a juice box or lemonade.
• Make your own pizza bar. Set out already made cheese pizza and let the kids add their own toppings!
• Alphabet or crayon cookies will make great desserts
• Build your own Sundae bar
• School Bus Cake
• Create brightly colored cupcakes and place apples, books or pencils on top as cupcake toppers
• Jello squares

School Inspired Activities

Every party needs entertainment, but when it comes to a school themed party, you can create fun activities that will keep the kids happy in no time!

Incorporate school ground games such as hopscotch, red rover, dodgeball, simon says and hide and go seek.

• Bobbing for apples is a fun game for kids of all ages. Just make sure to offer supervision.
• Water balloons -  Warn your guests before the party to bring extra clothes and towels!
• Finger painting – Provide smocks or plastic covering to protect clothing.
• Three legged race
• Musical chairs
• Hot potato
• Bookmarks – Lay out pre-cut card stock, glitter pens, stickers, markers and glue. Let each child create their own bookmark.

Goody Bags

Send guests home with school supplies! Use a paper sack with each guest's name written on the front to hold the supplies.

• Brightly colored notebooks
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Stickers
• Backpack charms
• Sidewalk chalk
• Glitter pens or rulers

A great way to give back to your community is to ask each guest to bring a few school supplies to donate to local children who are less fortunate. Set up backpacks near the door for the guests to drop their items in. Call your school to get information on what supplies are needed and where to take them.

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
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Special thank you to Lluisbres, Clevercupcakes, Sagolla, Dmdizine's, and Manon.paradise for the school inspired pictures via Flickr.