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!

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.
Not in Washington, D.C.?  No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a caterer near you!

Birthdays are a day to celebrate! So, you throw a birthday party, great! But, lets take it a bit farther. Lets make it a day full of surprises. Who doesn't love a little extra attention? Whether the birthday star is a child or an adult, here are some fun and exciting ways to make their birthday super special!

Good Morning Birthday Surprise!

Fill the birthday star's room with balloons while they are sleeping! Using as many balloons as you want, create an exciting morning surprise. What a great beginning to a great birthday!

A Breakfast Fit For Royalty

• Who says birthdays cakes are only for parties? You can create a cake out of breakfast foods to say good morning with style!
• Create a stack of pancakes topped with whip cream and strawberries or a favorite fruit. Top it off with a candle to make their birthday sweet.
• A fruit parfait makes a fun way to start the day.
• Not a fan of sweets in the morning? Create an egg, sausage and cheese sandwich or muffin and top it with a candle for a finishing touch.
• A fresh fruit smoothie will make a nice side with whip cream on top.

A Small Surprise

After breakfast, the birthday star will begin their daily routine. Whether it be getting ready for school, work or just preparing for the day ahead, you can plan a surprise for them before they leave. Write a special birthday poem and attach it to a small wrapped gift. Place it in their backpack, briefcase, purse or somewhere they wont be expecting it. This is sure to bring a smile and to let them know that you are thinking of them through out the day!

A Radio Dedication

Call your local radio station (one that your birthday star listens to) and ask to make a birthday shout out and dedicate their favorite song.

Send Flowers or a Birthday-Gram

Sending flowers is a great way to make your love for the birthday star known. They will love the beautiful colors and great aroma that a fresh bouquet of flowers bring. If you want to make an even bigger impression, hire someone to deliver a singing telegram! It is such a fun and unique way to surprise someone! It will get a huge reaction if it is at a place of work or school!

These are all fun and affordable ways to make someone's birthday extra special! This will be a day they will never forget!

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 party decorations 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! Cakes are such a huge part at any party. They are the main focus and grab everyone's attention.

Party cakes are so fun and unique. Plus, they represent that special person. Cakes can be stacked, tiered, 3d or themed and can be catered towards anyone at any age. They are so fun and really make the party. So, when talking to your baker about what kind of party cake to create, make sure you represent the special person or event. If they like baseball, create their mascot, baseball hat, uniform or even a baseball field cake. Maybe they enjoy their car, well have your baker create a 3d party cake. Just remember, be creative!

Turning 50 is a HUGE milestone and one that many people dread. This party will be as special as the birthday guest!
Over the Hill is a commonly used  party theme and by playing it up with an ALL black party decor, you'll have a successful 50th birthday party that everyone will enjoy!

Over the Hill Food

Over the Hill Menu

Fruit trays, chips and dip, veggie trays, chicken wings, finger sandwiches on rye bread, hamburgers, brats or grilled chicken will all make wonderful party food. Keep the menu enjoyable for everyone. If you don't feel like cooking, call your local caterer to create a wonderfully personalized menu!

You should definitely think black for your food. Your menu can contain fruit dipped in DARK chocolate, black olive kabob with cheese, black bean salads, blackberries, black mushrooms, black rice, black licorice and a fantastic black birthday cake!

Create a signature drink with a funky personalized name. Add black food coloring to for a finishing touch.

Black Party Decorations

Keeping up with the black party decorations will be easy. Just visit your local party store and you'll find everything you need. So, stick with the basics, such as black balloons, black flowers, black napkins, table clothes, confetti, and even black foods. The party decorations are easy,  but will definitely set the theme for this birthday party.

Decor:

• A great centerpiece for an over the hill party is a birthday chronicle featuring historically accurate information as a newspaper page. With the birthday star's picture and bio as the focal point, you can include fun facts from the their birth year.
• 

  Over the Hill Decor
  Create a slide show honoring the birthday guest through out their 50 years of life.
• Music : Play oldies all day long, and set up a dance floor to get guests moving!
• Accessorizing tables with wind-up false teeth, laxatives, magnifying glasses, dentures adhesive, icy hot and fiber pills will get a laugh!
• Set up the guest of honor's table with a walker or cane, bib and ear horn.

Entertainment

A fun game to play is name that tune. Split the guests into teams, play 5-10 seconds of music from the 50's and see which team can name the song and artist first! Each correct answer gets the team a point, each incorrect answer loses one point. The team with the most points in the end wins!

Whether your party is simple or elaborate this party is sure to bring laughs and good memories!

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!

This is our last day of cake week and today we are talking about all the unique ways you can display your cakes, cupcakes and favors! Sure you may have tasty desserts at your special event, but displaying them in a unique way is even better. It'll grab the attention of your guests and make them question if that is what they think it is. So, for our last day of cake week we are going to talk all about fun ways that you can display special treats!

Cupcake Trees – Of course, most everyone has heard of cupcake trees. However, play them up and make them unusual. Make the tiers round, square or a unique shape. Make them your own. A display that will represent the theme of your wedding or event. If you use a cupcake tree, incorporate the elements of your wedding or even into it.

Use ribbon or scrapbook paper for the cupcake tiers to incorporate your wedding colors or party theme into it. Make it an odd shape, start with the smaller tier first and get bigger as you go up. Or create a tree out of your cupcake tower, where it actually looks like a tree. There are all sorts of unique things that you can do with a cupcake tower, just get creative!

Flower Pots – Yes, flower pots are great ways to display cupcakes! It can serve as a centerpiece, delicious treat and even a party favor. As part of our cake week videos, we are giving you a how-to video on cupcake flower pots. They sound so adorable, right? All you need is a styrofoam ball, cupcakes, flower-pot and icing.

Bake the cupcakes like you normally would, ice them like you normally would or put fun designs on it and stick them into the styrofoam ball with toothpicks. Arrange them like you normally would flowers in a centerpiece. To fill it the gaps, ice green icing in them to make it look like grass or actually use Easter grass. It makes for a fun display!

Vintage Cake Stands -Vintage cake stands are so divine for any party. You can find them in various colors with unique designs that would be great for a shabby, chic wedding or event. Use different colors and designs and pair them with different textured and colored cakes. Make a table completely dedicated to cakes with vintage cake stands. It will truly be an attraction at any wedding or event.

Replica – Another fun idea that you can do when using cupcakes is actually make a replica of something. This would be ideal for a special event or birthday party. Just bake cupcakes, ice them in the colors that you want and get to creating. Place them out on the table to resemble a flag or a flower or even a pirate ship. These would be great as birthday cakes!

For example, use pink cupcakes for the petals, yellow cupcakes for the middle and then green cupcakes for the stem and leaves. All you have to do is make sure you have enough space on the table and lay the cupcakes out in that design. It's like you're drawing a flower out of cupcakes!

If you're really creative, carve a design out of styrofoam or even wood. Use toothpicks and icing to hold the cupcakes in place on the 3D sculpture. How fun would that be! Maybe your son loves race cars, well make him a race car out of cupcakes! It would truly be a unique sight to see!

These are just 4 ways that you can display cakes or cupcakes at your event and each one is so unique and creative! Your guests will be wowed at each display! Not only will they receive delicious cake, but they'll have a unique presentation to look at. Presenting your sweets in a fun way truly adds to your event. With one of these displays, your wedding or reception will be one to remember.

cake stand photo provided by LOLren via flickr.

This week, Wedding And Party Network is kicking off the start of cupcake week! We have tons of unique ideas that we will be talking about and showing you through our videos! Cakes and cupcakes are such a great accessory to any party of wedding. You can truly make them your own and show off your personality and theme through cakes. So, for our first day of cake week, we are going to talk all about the fun things you can do with cupcakes!

A Variety Of Different Flavors & Icing

Wedding Cupcakes

Cupcakes are such a great treat for your guests to enjoy! They're simple and easy enough to pop in your mouth as you go. Plus, you can feature them in different flavors to appease all sorts of taste buds. You can feature them in vanilla, white cake, chocolate, strawberry, banana, cherry, butter pecan and pair them with delectable icing to go along perfectly with the flavor of the cake.

Your local bakery can come up with lots of variations of cupcakes, you just need to visit them and see! Now that we've covered the basics on the fact that you can feature cupcakes in a ton of flavors paired with different icing and are a delectable bite to pop in your mouth, what can you do with them to make them your own?

Get Creative

Are you wanting to use cupcakes for your wedding? Great idea! Again, you'll have guests at your wedding that don't share the same taste buds. Therefore, you can feature many flavors for your guests to try and you'll satisfy each and every one of them. However, get creative when showing off your cupcakes. Use fun cupcake liners or toppers.

You can feature cupcake liners that have your wedding colors or party colors in it. Also, another way to incorporate the theme of your party or wedding is with cupcake toppers. You can create fun little shapes out of fondant to place on top of your wedding cupcakes, come up with cupcake toppers that feature your name and wedding date or feature beautiful edible pearls or flowers.

If you're wedding colors are pink and green, feature a strawberry cupcake with green icing and a pink cupcake topper. Maybe you're throwing a nautical themed party, so, feature a vanilla cupcake with white or blue icing and place a fun lifesaver or anchor on top! Maybe you're throwing a kid's birthday party, guy's birthday party or an outdoor BBQ, well serve up hamburger cupcakes (You can see Wedding And Party Network's how to video on hamburger cupcakes below)! A cupcake with a brownie in the middle and some red icing will make a wonderful addition to any party! There are so many ways that you will be able to incorporate the theme of your event with cupcakes!

Now For The Display

Hamburger Cupcakes

You've got delicious tasting and creative cupcakes that represents you, now all you need to do is display them. Use a cupcake tower, set them out in a unique pattern or send them home with guests as part as a wedding or party favor. Use a round, square or a unique shaped cupcake tower to display your cupcakes on. You can decorate each tier with paper or paint to fit the theme of your event. Create a unique shape for your cupcakes.

Create a tree out of wood and place your cupcakes on that if you're having a all-natural wedding. Are you throwing a princess birthday party? Well create a large princess wand and have side tiers going up it to place princess themed cupcakes on! Again, there are so many unique ideas out there, you just have to think outside the box and get a little creative.

Cupcakes are great accents to have at any party and all you have to do is get a little creative with them, or have your local bakery. They are fun little bites that can be placed in the mouth to appease all taste buds. Come up with unique taste combination, as well as coming up with a creative design that fits your event.

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!

Each month Wedding and Party Network will be picking our favorite pictures and themes that have been submitted into our photo gallery by YOU. It may be wedding cakes, party cakes, wedding reception decorations, party decorations or wedding bouquets. This month we have chosen party cakes! There are lots of fun and creative party cakes that stand out. So, we hope these party cake pictures give you some inspiration. Enjoy!

Football Shaped Helmet
This party cake is actually shaped into a football helmet. Representing his favorite team with chocolate covered strawberries surrounding it. Great for a guy's birthday or a groom's cake.

Designer Party Cake
A single tiered cake with brown fondant features this girl's favorite designer. It has the LV logo all over it with her best friend on top. A wonderful happy birthday cake.

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