Halloween is a favorite time of year.  It is a time to dress up, have fun, and be someone you would not normally be.  It is also the last carefree celebration before the “heavy” holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas begins.

To ensure that your Halloween party planning is as carefree as the holiday itself, make a checklist of tasks that must be accomplished and outline what the party will include.  Follow the simple steps below to plan your own party that not only will your guests enjoy, but that will leave you with a smile on your face as well.

Planning a Halloween party

Organizing a Halloween party can be as easy as 1-2-3 if you know the basics. To make sure that this will be a successful one, try conducting a simple research on the things that you can use, tips, and other preparations to make the event easier for you.

Step 1: Plan Your Guest List

Start your Halloween party planning by making a list of the people you would like to invite.  This will help you to determine not only your budget, but also the type of party theme and activities you will have.  It is also necessary before you can decide on a venue and menu.

Step 2:  Sending the Invitation

After your invitation list is finalized, you can now send the invitation.  While internet services such as Evite are popular, they might not necessarily be appropriate if your guests are older or if you know that they do not frequently go online.  Also, if the party is going to be more formal or if you are inviting people whose good opinion matters, skip the online invitations entirely.  While the convenience of online invitations are popular, Emily Post would not approved.   Choose an actual printed invitation and send your invitation by snail mail.

There are numerous resources for printed invitations.  Customizable templates are available online that can be printed on your computer.  Greeting card stores carry a wide variety of Halloween invitations.  Or set your creativity free and create handmade invitations for your guests.

Step 3: Planning the Decor

Once the invitations are sent, the next step is to plan the decorations for your party.  Since it will obviously be a Halloween theme, some staple decorations are witches, monsters, Jack-o-lanterns, and black cats.  Ready to go Halloween decorating kits make planning your decor a snap.  Or you can make the decorations yourself.

Step 4:  Planning the Menu

The next thing that you should pay attention to is the food that you will be preparing. The set of food will depend on the time that you will be holding the party. Since most Halloween parties are usually held at night, you will have to consider a dinner or hors d’oeuvres menu. When it comes to food, it will be your option to mix light and heavy meals, which can satisfy everyone.

Just make sure that all of the food—from the appetizer, soup, main course, drinks, and dessert—will be Halloween-themed. Meaning they should come in Halloween colors such as black, orange, and green.

By Joyce Calcano
www.mypartyplanningsecrets.com