When you think of camping, you immediately think of it being a boy party. Most girls don't enjoy being outside in the dirt, mud and bugs. So, a camping party never crosses your mind when planning a birthday party for girls. However, you can and it doesn't have to be dirty. Wedding and Party Network has some party ideas and a great party theme for this camping party in style.

Setup & Location

First things first, you need to focus on where you will be having the party. Since most girls may not enjoy being outside, take the party inside your home. Next, choose a place for the tents and where everyone will "camp out" at.

If you don't have space for several tents, make one big one. You can easily create a tent out of some pvc pipe and a white sheet for a glamorous tent. Use draping techniques and tie up each corner with ribbons. From there, you can place the sleeping bags inside.

Along with any party, there needs to be designated locations for each activity. Have the kitchen setup for snacks, let outside be designated for the campfire, party favors and other activities that you have planned should all be set up in different locations.

Party Details

With every party, paying attention to the smallest details are important. These little details are what makes any party stand out, so they should be focused on.

• Party Invitations – A few ideas for this party invitation would be a cute s'more, tent or a pink sleeping bag. Just make sure they're glamorous and show off the theme of the party.
• Camping Decorations – Incorporate the outdoors into this party scheme. Twigs, twine, tree stumps, branches, moss and anything natural are all great party accents. Twigs & branches are great to use in party centerpieces while tree stumps make varying levels on your party food display. Don't forget to choose a color, like a deep plum or aqua color would look great paired with these natural elements. Also, include lanterns that hang from the ceiling for a fun accent.
  

  S'mores On A Stick
• Party Food - Just keep in mind what you would normally eat when you go camping when creating your party menu. Hot dogs, hamburgers and sandwiches are great for this party, except with a twist. Create sliders with a condiment bar and create miniature pigs in a blanket. Also, a fun little side is fruit on kabobs. Your caterer will also have lots of ideas for this type of party as well.
• Campfire Desserts -The first thing you think of when planning for a camping trip are marshmallows and chocolate. Let the girls create their own s'mores for desserts, but also serve up outdoor themed cookies, chocolate dipped marshmallows, cupcakes with orange-colored marshmallow fondant, candy apples and don't forget to serve up a midnight snack for them.
• Party Favors – Fill up a paper lantern or a small lantern with candy or create a gift box that features all the makings for s'mores at home. Even a branch with a bag attached to it with s'mores ingredients would be adorable.

This party is not only great for girls who enjoy staying inside, but can be catered towards the guys as well during the hot summer months and the cold winter months when it's a bit unbearable to go outside. Let the kids run wild with this camping party!

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

Every Friday, Wedding and Party Network will be choosing a theme or color and give you inspirational photos. So, our inspirational board will give everyone inspiration on wedding cake toppers! Wedding cake toppers represent your wedding and show off your personality. Plus, there are so many & creative things to add on top of your wedding cake. Here are some fun ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Not all cakes are created equal. There are no rules to follow when creating your unique wedding cake. Yes, you want your cake to be unique and special – just like you!  Generally speaking, you should order your wedding cake 4 – 6 months in advance and take your time when shopping  for the perfect baker. There are many aspects to consider before making your final decision. Your wedding cake is the centerpiece of your reception. So, make sure it screams out who you are and have fun with it. Your cake can be loud and bright, or soft and elegant.

 When you are designing your wedding cake you will decide on the design, size and number of tiers, the flavor and filling, type of frosting, accents and details and finally the topper. If you decide on a more traditional and elegant style and design for your cake, you can still have a creative and edgy personalized topper. Why not put a touch of humor, spunk or creativity on top?

Special thank you to ann ruthmann, newwavegurly, la mia cuncina, MINInurse, RG photo, -lou-, tedsblog, dollie_mixture, and lilfatdog for their inspirational pictures via Flickr.

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 rainbow weddings! Who doesn't love a rainbow? Your wedding day is a day to celebrate the bond between you and your spouse. A day to celebrate your new journey together. So, what better way than to include vibrant colors to express your happiness? Between the invitations, food, decor, cake and clothing – you can arrange for a multi-faceted, one-of-a-kind wedding that reflects you and your bright personality.

Here are some great ideas to turn your Fall Wedding into a rainbow of delight.

Meshing together different colors can easily get out of hand, but knowing just the right amount can turn an average wedding into something your guests will never forget! You don't have to use every color in the rainbow, you can choose three or four colors, bright and vibrant colors. Then, just run with it.

Invitations: You will want your wedding invitations to look a little bohemian, with lightly muted, yet vibrant colors. Alternate the color of the writing with the color of the patterns and find a subtle but exciting in-between.

The Dress: You want your wedding dress magical for your perfect day. So, find a beautiful white or off-white dress and accent it with one of the colors from your scheme. A bright scarf around your waist, rainbow feathered hair clips, bright nail polish or beautiful rainbow jewelry will add just the right amount of flair. A bright pair of shoes will look fabulous peeking out from under your dress.

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen: Different color dresses will look great when matching the groomsmen ties or suspenders! Multi-colored sunglasses will add a nice touch for the groomsmen as well.

Flowers: Your flowers will tie everything together, especially when using all the colors from your theme. You can create lavish and vibrant centerpieces and wedding bouquets that will leave everyone with a smile.

Reception: If you are having an indoor reception, you can use different colored lights for the dance floor or have them shining on the walls to create a fun and bright atmosphere.

Menu: When choosing your rainbow menu, use brightly colored foods. Your desert and appetizers can include fresh fruit or a serve yourself candy buffet.

The Cake: If a rainbow cake is too much for you, you can create a beautiful and traditional wedding cake. However, the key will be to dye the inside of the cake with your wedding colors. No one will see the rainbow inside until you cut the first piece.

Music: A great version of Some Where Over The Rainbow will bring everything together.

Butterfly Release: Top it all off with a butterfly release. Release beautiful, bright, and vibrant colored butterflies to represent a new beginning for the happy couple.

Special thank you to nattywoohoo, james p wells, dalboz17, manue_aka_crazeecrafteez, jiggs images, ex.libres, concubine, conner keller, janierry, and jj_judes for their inspiring rainbow photos via Flickr.

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!

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!

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 party cakes! Party cakes represent the theme of your event and shows off your individual style. They truly make a party!

Here are 10 great cakes sure to inspire you for you next occasion!

Party cakes are a great way to celebrate any occasion! There are so many creative new ideas and designs; your imagination is the limit when it comes to party cakes. If you can imagine it, odds are that it can be created. Bakeries around the world work hard to keep up with newest trends and tricks, creating amazing eye-popping cakes! They can represent your favorite hobby, movie or even food. The cake should always represent you and with an expert baker, it can.

This post is brought to you by Houston Bakeries.
Not in Houston, TX? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a bakery 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 wedding cakes inspired by nature. Nature inspired wedding cakes are great for outdoor weddings. You can use a variety of elements to incorporate into your cake.

When you think of wedding cakes, you think of soft colors and flowers.You don't naturally think of twigs, berries, pinecones or mushrooms, but you should! The crisp warm colors of nature can easily transform into something magical when it comes to wedding cakes! Being creative and doing something different will captivate your guests and scream individualism! If you use colors that are natural, your cake will fit into any wedding color scheme. And, the summer/fall season is the perfect time to do it! Here are some great ideas to incorporate the beauty of nature into your wedding cake. Once you can picture your perfect cake, sit down with your local baker or wedding cake specialist. They will help you transform your vision into a spectacular reality! Your cake will leave a lasting impression to all who see it!

You are planning the perfect special event or party. You want to give your guests something that they can remember how special your event was with memories. However, do better than that. Send guests home with a special party favor that they will enjoy at home. Letting your guest take a favor home with them will truly remind them of how amazing your party or wedding was, it will bring them back to that very moment. As a part of Wedding And Party Network's cake week, we've found wonderful wedding or party favors that you can do with cake and other sweets! How fun and tasty will that be for your guests to take home with them?

Wedding Cake Tower – What's a wedding cake tower you're asking? Well, it's basically sugar cookies stacked in the form of a wedding cake. All you do is take 3 sugar cookies in a large size, 3 in a medium size and 3 in a smaller size. Ice each one of them with white icing and then stack them according to size. It will create a tier effect that looks like a wedding cake.

Place these in beautiful plastic containers and tie it up with a ribbon. These wedding favors will make absolutely wonderful wedding favors, as well as providing an amazing presentation.

Cupcakes In A Jar - Everyone enjoys cupcakes. Well, why not serve them in a jar for a tasty treat they can take home? All you do is find cute jars, bake cupcakes according to directions and find some colorful icing and ribbon. After the cupcakes have cooled, layer the cupcake then icing and add some sprinkles or whatever else you'd like in the jar.

As part of cake week, you can watch our how-to video  below. You can use whatever type of cake mix you would like and even dye it with food coloring to get the colors of your event. Also, do the same thing with the icing. That way, if you have more than one color to your party or wedding theme, you can combine the two to create a favor fit for just that. To finish it off, tie a fun ribbon on top of the jar!

Themed Cookies -Decorative cookies are always great favor ideas. Whether you are wanting to create wedding cookies or party cookies, your local bakery will be able to fix them up. If you're planning a wedding, let wedding cake shaped cookies be part of your favor. Are you planning a beach themed party? Well, make fun flip-flop or beach ball cupcakes that are colorful and fun!

Tasty Favors – There are actually tons of ideas out there for using food as part of your favors. You can use chocolate truffles and featured them in a cute little box all tied up with ribbon. How divine does that sound?

Are you planning a summer through fall wedding? Is it outdoors? Well, serve up honey in jars that would make such a cute favor! Honey, chocolate truffles, candy and even doughnuts would all make delightful treats that your guests will love!

There's no doubt about it, if you send your guests home with tasty treats as part of their party or wedding favor, they'll definitely remember your event. Whenever they use your favor at home, they'll definitely think of you. Stay tuned for our final day of cake week!

wedding cake cookie photo provided by krystal.pritchett via flickr.

Day 2 of cake week is upon us and we'll be featuring delicious outdoor treats! The summer heat will be upon us soon and that means outdoor parties! When planning your summer party, keep in mind all the ideas that are out there for this time of year. Colorful and bold colors for party decorations and cool, refreshing treats are always a must for any summer themed party. However, have you fun out of great ideas for summer treats that will appease both the little ones and adults? Well, Wedding And Party Network has just the thing for you. We've picked our top 5 favorite summer desserts that will wow your guests each time!

A Pail Of Sand – Yes, a pail of sand is one of our favorite picks for summers sweet treats! If you're planning a beach themed party or just an outdoor party in general, this would be a fun idea for any age group! Plus, it not only serves as a yummy treat, but also a fun centerpiece or even party favors.

All you need is cake, pudding, crushed up graham crackers, candied shells and a sand bucket. You layer the cake with the pudding with the pudding being your last layer and then sprinkled the crushed up graham crackers on top for the sand effect. That simple, yet too cute!

Beach Cupcakes & Cake – No party is complete without the beach themed cupcakes and cake. Another simple, yet fun dessert to have at your outdoor party. Bake cupcakes in fun blue liners like your normally would and then let the icing work it's magic.

Use blue icing for the water and then ice the rest of the cupcake a tan color and then sprinkle crushed up graham crackers on top of that. You can also find candied seashells or plastic palm trees at your party store and place those on top as cupcake toppers. If you're doing a cake, you'll have more room to place other fun beach related items on top.

Summer Themed Cupcakes – Of course, you can do hamburger cupcakes, which are super fun and easy to make! However, start thinking outside the box and what fits your party theme. If you're grilling, then do cupcakes that look like real grills. Take brownie batter, bake it in black cupcake liners. Add 2 drops of black food coloring to white icing to get the color gray and pipe lines on the top of the brownie cupcakes. This will give it a grill like effect.

After the icing is dry, place candy fruit on toothpicks to make it look like a shish kabob or place the candy hot tamales on top to look like you're grilling hot dogs. You can do baseball cupcakes, ladybug or butterfly cupcakes or even corn cupcakes. A lawn mower cupcake would be great for a guy's party. Just bake the cupcake like normal, dye coconut green and sprinkle it on top. For the lawn mower, make it out of a miniature Hershey bar, brown m&m's for the tires and black licorice for the handle bar.

We All Scream For Ice Cream -This would be a great treat for the little ones, we are even featuring a how-to video as part as our cake week. You'll need ice cream cones, cake mix, icing and sprinkles to make this fun creation. Make the cake mix and pour it into the ice cream cone and bake it like your normally would in the oven.

While they're baking, prepare the icing. Use food coloring to dye it whatever colors you would like or keep it classic with white to make it look like an actual ice cream cone. Once they have cooled, begin to ice and top them off with fun sprinkles. Your guests will think they're getting an actual ice cream cone, minus the melting of the ice cream in the heat.

Flip Flop Cookies -Now these would be great for everyone! Not just the kids, but the adults will love them as well. Again, easy and fun to make! You'll need some oval-shaped cookies, visit your bakery for some recommendations, frosting, gummy candy and rope licorice.

Frost 2 cookies to make a pair of flip-flops. Cut the licorice to make the straps on the flip-flops and place them on with some icing. You can mix and match colors to match the theme of your party! These will make wonderful treats or even a great party favor or a perfect accent to a beach wedding.

These 5 summer treats will make wonderful additions to any party. When you're enjoying the outdoors, make sure you have these desserts that everyone will love. They not only will satisfy your guest's taste buds, but they'll also make great accents to the party! So, add some color and blow your guests away with these 5 summer desserts!

This post is brought to you by Richardson Party Cupcake Providers
Not in Richardson, TX? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find party caterers near you!

beach cupcake photo, corn cupcakes & lady bug cupcakes provided by Katie Stine, emilyaugust, Sugar Daze via flickr.

One of the main highlights at an event is the cake. People always remember the cake. How it looks and especially how it tastes. If you're in the Nashville, Tennessee area, choosing The French Confection is the right choice. Their creative eye and tasty cakes will have your wedding or event be the talk of the night! So, let them design a custom designed cake just for you that will make your special night a hit!

Striving To Make All Their Clients Happy

Themed Wedding Cakes & Groom's Cakes

This family owned business with each member bringing their own unique spin on each one of their cakes. The French Connection thrives on satisfied customers and truly enjoys making cakes for each client. Set up an appointment and meet with them so they'll get the full understanding of exactly what you are wanting within your party cake or wedding cake. They want to make sure it's up to all your standards.

A Cake For Any Event

Offering many flavors, you'll be able to pick one that suits your taste buds, as well as your guests. They'll create a lovely pairing of cake and icing to blow everyone away. Whether you are in search of a wedding cake, groom's cake or party cake; they'll do it. Everything from 3D cakes to your classic wedding cake, it will all be amazing and tasty.

Are you in search of a wedding cake to convey the theme of you wedding? Well, The French Confection will make sure that your wedding cake and groom's cake does exactly that. They've designed beautiful traditional wedding cakes to fun and whimsical ones. A beautiful 3 tiered, square cake with bow draping on it looks amazingly elegant. While, a beach themed hippie wedding represents their whimsical and creative side.

For the groom's cake, does he enjoy a delicious, juicy hamburger? Well, they will create it. Does your groom have a love for the Taj Mahall? Their skilled cake designers will create an actual replica of it! Nothing is too big or too small for them. They do it all! With them, they'll truly capture you as a couple and it will definitely show within your wedding cake. Your big day will be fit for you with a beautiful wedding location, amazing wedding flowers and the wedding cake will be the cherry on top of it all.

However, if you're wanting a special cake for a birthday party or event; they'll design something simply amazing for that too. Maybe you're throwing your child's birthday party and they enjoy cartoons. Well, they would love to create a replica of their favorite cartoon character. When your child sees the 3D shaped cake, their face will truly light up and it will be unforgettable.

The French Confection honestly does it all. You won't find a better cake designer around. They strive to perfect every detail to make sure they convey your theme. So, let them design a cake truly fit for you!