It's time to start planning your New Year's Eve party. So, do you have any idea on what you want to do? Sure, you can go out, however, every place will be extremely crowded. Maybe you enjoy that or maybe you don't, whatever you enjoy, you definitely want to have plans for New Year's Eve. If you want to enjoy the evening in, then why not host a party of your own with a timely dinner party? This party theme fits the holiday perfectly and you can share it with your closest friends for a great night in for New Year's Eve.

Sparkly Decorations

 

Sparklers

When you think of this big event, you may always think of glitter and sparkle everywhere. It's definitely the time to bring those elements out. Therefore, incorporate them into your decor is an absolute must.Think glitter, sequins and metallic. Don't forget to incorporate a few clocks in there as well. Use glittery ornaments, spell out "2012" using Styrofoam and coat with glitter, set up metallic streamers in your choice of color for the party decor.

Use various sized vases, champagne, wine and martini glasses to create unique centerpieces for your party. Fill each one with metallic streamers, glitter, confetti or talk to your florist about coming up with a sparkly centerpiece that will grab everyone's attention.

You want this party to be elegant, yet fun. You can do this by choosing the right color combinations, like jewel tones, black and silver, black and gold or even a jewel tone pink and aqua. All these colors will create a great setting for the night.
Party Tip – Don't forget to create signs for your food table to let guests know what's what. Use elegant typography on color schemed paper that matches your party and attach them to sparklers. Place it in the middle of each dish.

Elegant Dinner

Along with this party, delicious food is a must. If you have some great dishes you would love to share with your guests, create it. However, since this is such a special occasion, you may think about having the dinner catered. Having an experienced caterer that has many options for dinner, along with a wait staff will definitely make the night much more special. A full course meal along with a spectacular dessert will truly make the night special.

When The Clock Strikes Twelve

When the clock strikes twelve it's time to start ringing in the new year. How? You can do the normal party blowers or have a little firework show of your own. Gather everyone up outside and light sparklers up. It's a fun way to ring in the new year and can also add to the decor of your party. Remember those martini glasses, stick the sparklers in one of those that is filled with glitter and it's an added special touch.

When planning your New Year's Eve party, think about having an elegant, low-key party inside your home. This beats the crowds that you'll face out on the town and you can share it with your closest family and friends. Who could think of a better way to spend this holiday?

This post is brought to you by Austin Caterers.
Not in Austin, TX? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a caterer near you!

A Halloween party is a great excuse for the inner-child in all of us that loves to dress up and act goofy or spooky to come out. It's way for us to escape reality for a few hours and pretend to be someone or something else. The typical Halloween party is decorated in black, orange and red, with blood splattered serving trays and black widow spiders hanging from above, and there is nothing wrong with that! However, this year we should take it up a notch and create an elegant upscale, but still fun and spooky Halloween extravaganza!

Think white, silver and a touch of bronze. Creating a fun and beautiful Halloween party is simple, especially if you have the creativity and patience to plan it out. Here are some party tips for White Halloween Decor.

• Put Ghost Peeps on lollipop sticks and display on a cake-pop tray.
• Display white jordan almonds, white dutch mints and white champagne bubble candies in white serving bowls.
• White pumpkins spread around the room look dazzling paired with silver sparkling skulls.
• White table clothes, sparkling white bat cut outs and spider webs are great for added party decor.
• Bones are white! Decorate with plastic bones,  mummies, ghosts and white chocolate covered fruit.
• White frosted cupcakes, white sparkling cookies, and sparkling white grape-juice are just right for your frightful night.
• Don't forget white spiders, white serving trays, and silver touches through out the party.

Have fun and get creative – thinking  outside the box will pay off when you see the final outcome of this fabulously frightening Halloween Treat!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Decoration Suppliers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a party decoration supplier near you!

Special thanks to Sweet.Eventide for her fantastic photo via Flickr.

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!

National Breast Cancer Awareness health campaign is during the month of October. This month-long observation brings awareness to health for women and it's very important for them to be aware of this growing concern. So, if you're a company or even if this is a cause close to your heart, throwing a party to raise awareness during this month is a great way to get people's attention. Wedding and Party Network is here to give you a few party ideas and tips for your pink party!

Facts & Tidbits

First off, here are a few facts and tidbits about this awareness month. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985 as a partnership with American Cancer Society. From the beginning, they have striven to promote mammograms for women to help with breast cancer. During this month, several activities occur, like The National Race for the Cure, Breast Cancer 2 Day, Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure, Ride to Empower, Global Illumination, Pink Day and other various activities throughout the country.

Party Ideas & Tips

First off, make the guest list. It just has to feature the people you want to spread awareness to, like close friends and family members. Even if you know survivors of breast cancer, invite them as well. They'll make wonderful speakers at your party to share their experience. Also, a little donation goes a long way. Even if it's not a lot, ask your guests if they would mind donating towards this great cause to promote awareness.

Next up, focus on the decorations. When people think about this awareness month, they think of pink and the ribbon logo. Therefore, that's what you need to decorate your party with. Also, as party of your party decorations, place out pamphlets or articles about breast cancer and what this campaign is all about.

Now for the party food, focus on pink themed food. Focus mainly on finger foods or mini desserts for this get together. Your event will probably have a few friends and family members over, so going with a light party menu is the way to go. Pink cupcakes featuring the awareness ribbon, pink chocolate dipped strawberries, pink candy and even pastries with pink icing are great ideas for mini desserts. To top it all off, don't forget about the pink lemonade.

The main focus of your party needs to promote awareness. So, focus on providing your guests with the information they need to better understand this topic. If you know someone who has dealt with this, is a breast cancer survivor or works with the association, have them as a guest speaker. Don't forget about interesting articles and pamphlets to hand out to your friends. Your party will be informative, promoting and giving back to this society.

So, when throwing your pink party, don't forget to incorporate information and have fun with it. Your party is a great place to help raise awareness, promote Breast Cancer Awareness and even raise a donation to help further their research and promotion.

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

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!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Caterers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find party caterers near you!

Every Friday, Wedding and Party Network will be choosing a theme or color and give you inspirational photos. We want to help give you inspiration for your next event, wedding or party. So, take a look and we hope to give you a bit of inspiration when planning your wedding or party. Our inspirational board will give everyone inspiration on using balloons for party decorations! You can use balloons for so many reasons. Party decorations have never been so unique and fun!

When it comes to parties – you can't go wrong with BALLOONS! There is almost nothing you can't do with balloons. If you haven't seen already, the newest fad in fashion is balloon wedding dresses! Yes, you read that right, wedding and bridesmaid dresses made of mini inflated balloons. Practical? No, but unique and inspiring? YES! If you can't jump on the balloon-dress band wagon, you can still decorate any event with balloons to create unique and fun decor. No matter the occasion, the style, theme or time, balloons can be turned into anything your mind can imagine. So, have fun and get creative!

Special thanks to Vigilant20, Nhanusek, FotoGB, and ChimChim for thier pictures via Flickr.

What everyone looks forward to during the month of September is Labor Day weekend, which means a 3 day weekend for them. So, what better what to celebrate than with an all white party. Fashionably speaking, this is the last day to wear white jeans, pants or white. Therefore, you should celebrate with an all white party. Wedding and Party Network is here to give you the party tips you need to make your party a success.

Party Invitations – Your party invitations represent the theme of the event. Your guests will immediately see the tone through the party invitations. Therefore, create an elegant white party invitation that informs your guests to wear all white.

Party Decorations – This party is elegant with all the white accents, which are easy to find since all you have to focus on is white decor. Focus on finding clean, crisp white linens, white flowers, candles, lanterns and vases.

If you have these items around the house but in the wrong color, spray paint i. You can spray paint almost anything and it will make items go with the decor. Talk with your florist about creating gorgeous white centerpieces that will draw your guests attention to the elegance of the party.

Also, this party is great outdoors. So, grab up your chairs and place white towels and pillow on them to create a relaxing atmosphere. Don't forget the white curtains or sheets that you can hang outside to create a tent or help divide up parts of the yard. Don't forget to accent them with string lights to finish off the beautiful setting.

Party Menu – Are you asking yourself, how will I prepare a party menu that reflects the theme? It doesn't have to be white, of course. That would leave you very limited or give you such a variety of food that it wouldn't make sense.

So for starters, think of white cheese to serve, homemade potato chips, hummus and white pizza. These represent the party theme. However, also throw in some bruschetta, marinated olives, pita chips and a variety of breads and crackers.

For dessert, serve a variety of cheesecakes, vanilla bean cupcakes or angel food cake. Guests can pick their favorite dessert instead of just having a cake to eat. Along with desserts, don't forget about making the perfect pairings with the drinks. Water, white wine, infused vodkas or some refreshing lemonade all make great pairings.

Now that you have all the party essentials planned out, you can start inviting your guests. This party is a great way to end summer and spend great times with friends & family. Now, go and get your party whited out!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Caterers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a wedding planner near you!

white cupcakes, cheesecake provided by clevercupcakes, su-lin 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.

Are you planning a party? Do you think it's a lot of work? When planning do you follow the party etiquette rules that you've always heard people talk about? Well, you may have heard wrong. Wedding and Party Network is here to put all those party myths to rest.

Myth #1. Throwing a joint party is never successful

Wrong! You can combine birthday's, holidays, and special occasions without taking away the spotlight from the special guests. Whether it be two birthday parties at once or maybe combined baby showers, the two focal points will create a one-of-a-kind party!

• Intertwine two mini themes or create one party theme that covers both occasions to celebrate with style. Depending on what you are celebrating, your menu, entertainment and activities will revolve around each special guest. Having two-party cakes is a great option or you can create a desert bar with several finger-food desserts so you will satisfy both guests of honor. Create a neutral menu to include both occasions. Say you're having a child's birthday party and an anniversary party together, the themes can be beach/mermaid theme. These two things create the same feel, yet are two separate themes.

Myth #2. If you want to throw a successful party, you have to spend a fortune!

Not so! If you are throwing a big bash, things can add up quickly leaving you with a big bill. However, with a little creativity and imagination your party can be a hit without breaking the bank.

• Start by creating a budget and make sure you stick with it. It's best to leave a little elbow room in case you need any last-minute extras. Home made party decor is always the safest bet when trying to keep costs low. Dollar stores and craft stores have great inexpensive party decor that will mix well with anything home-made. Balloons are a great choice for decor when you are on a budget, they look great, take up a lot of room and don't cost much at all. Flowers are also a great way to bring class and elegance to any party. You can easily work with a florist to create simple centerpieces that will keep you in your budget. As far as your menu goes, think small finger foods or go for a potluck party where your guests will bring a dish to pass.

Myth #3. Every party has to have a theme.

A party is a party with or without a theme! Bringing friends and family together to celebrate for no reason at all is nothing short of FUN! Even if you are throwing a birthday party, it doesn't have to have a theme, just invite your friends and family over for some great bonding time. You can still have your cake, your party food and even decor, without having a theme or even a reason to party!

Myth #4. You have to invite everyone to your party, other wise you will offend people.

If you are throwing a big bash, it's easy to invite all of your friends and family to join in on the celebration. If your party is more intimate, it can be difficult to narrow down your guest list without offending certain people. Here is how to do it without offending anyone!

Start by making a list of all the people you would normally invite. Next, break down your list into three categories including,

• People you NEED to invite.
• People you would LIKE to invite.
• People who you MIGHT invite.

Once you have sorted through, you will get a better estimate of how many people you are working with. Start by eliminating the last group – the people you MIGHT invite. Then, work your way up. If you get questions about why someone wasn't invited, you can mention that your party is very small and would love to invite them to the next one.

Myth #5. Creating a party menu is too much work.

We live in a time where the world is at our fingertips. Creating a party menu is as easy as 1. 2. 3. You just need to know where to begin!

• If preparing your own food is out of the question, all you will need to do is a have a broad idea of the type of food you want, the date and time of your party and a list of local caterers. Party Caterers will build your menu for you without a fuss. Desserts? YES! Along with a themed cake, also incorporate delicious desserts into your menu. Professional bakers are trained with pioneering techniques and can create some mind-boggling desserts. All you need is an idea of what you want your cake or dessert to represent and your baker will do the rest.

With a little creativity and a touch of imagination your can bring your perfect party to life! Have fun and enjoy the ride as well as the destination!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

The end of Summer is near and with the welcomed Fall season right around the corner we have plenty of opportunity to celebrate! So, Wedding and Party Network is here to give you great reasons to celebrate this September!

September 1st: LABOR DAY – Labor Day is nearly 100 years old and is a day to celebrate the value and dignity of work. It is a day to honor how hard work is vital and deeply rooted in our American heritage. However, as far as myself and my fellow neighbors are concerned – the best part of Labor day is a 3 day weekend!

• Throw a big bash to end the Summer with your friends and family! Take one last trip to the beach for a beach picnic, throw party at your local park or BBQ in the back yard. This might be the last chance this year to do so!

September 13th: GRANDPARENT'S DAY – In 1973, Marian McQuade from West Virginia, made Grandparents Day official. It's intended to show respect to the elderly in our lives. A day to say thank you to our grandparents for all that they do.

• The official flower for Grandparents Day is "forget-me-nots". So, celebrate by sending flowers! Have a small get together with your family and close friends to celebrate your loving grandparents and don't forget the forget-me-nots!

September 19th: ROSH HASHANAH – Roshanah is a Jewish holiday celebrating the New Year. It is a day to look over your accomplishments and to make new resolutions for the next year.

• Celebrate with family and friends by bringing in the new year together. Hold a late night dinner party featuring pomegranates (A Rosh Hashanah custom) and Apples dipped in honey. Challah is a round loaf of bread that signifies the circle of life. Your dinner feast will welcome good memories and fun stories to share with your guests.

September 22nd: FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN – Fall has arrived! It is the day of the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward.

• Fall is perfect for spending time outside, since the heat is calming down and it's not too cold. Plan a fall picnic with bobbing for apples, three-legged races and bonfires! Who doesn't love a good bonfire with friends, family and toasted marshmallows?

If these 4 holidays aren't enough inspiration for you to host a fiesta – or if your just looking for another reason to celebrate. Here are 10 strange and unique holidays (yes, they are real) to celebrate this September.

10 Strange but Fun September Holidays

• Sept. 5th: Be Late for Something Day (At least now you'll have an excuse!)
• Sept. 9th: Teddy Bear Day
• Sept. 12th: National Video Game Day
• Sept. 13th: National Positive Thinking Day
• Sept. 16th: Mexican Independence Day
• Sept. 19th: International Talk Like A Pirate Day (Ahoy Mate!)
• Sept. 22nd Elephant Appreciation Day (When was the last time you thanked your local elephant?!?)
• Sept. 28th: Ask a Stupid Question Day (I know a few people who celebrate this one every day!)
• Sept. 28th: National Good Neighbor Day (Send flowers to your favorite neighbor or have a block party to celebrate your neighborhood!)

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

 A special thank you to buzz.bishop for the great Autumn time picture via Flick.