How To Plan An Elevated Halloween Event
Boo! It’s that time of year, my friends — spooky season is upon us! That’s right, Halloween is just around the corner this year, and (believe it or not) now is time to start thinking about what you’re going to do and who you’re going to be for one of the most decorative and extravagant holidays of the year.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year for those exact reasons. From a mother’s perspective, Halloween is all about my kids: trick or treating, finding an adorable costume, and spooky school activities, but from an event planning standpoint, all I see is one of the year’s biggest opportunities to get creative!
From over-the-top decor ideas to super thematic cocktail menus, catering and dress codes, Halloween can be so much more than just an excuse to dress up for the night. As a Maryland event planner, I’ve had the privilege of planning a few Halloween parties for clients’ and they have all been ones for the books. The spell books, if you will. *wink*
If you’re planning on hosting your friends for a Halloween gathering this year and want to impress them with an event that is elevated beyond what they’re expecting, I’ve compiled some ideas for you to use...at your own risk *insert maniacal laugh.*
So, without further ado, here are my go-to tips when planning an elevated Halloween event.
Theme Ideas
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, a theme is always stepped 1 to put together a cohesive and memorable event, and this could not be more true when it comes to Halloween! Yes, it’s always a safe bet to go for the classics: skeletons, gravestones, ghosts, and the works, but if you want to take your Halloween event to the next level, why not try a more mature take on “horror”.
One of my favorite themes is a good old-fashioned Murder Mystery. There are so many options online to help you plan a Murder Mystery that will get your guests involved in an interactive way for a night they won’t ever forget. Other great ideas include Carnival, Autumn Harvest, or Mad Science!
A second idea is to turn your venue/home into a Haunted House! If you have the budget and really want to go for it, hire some actors to scare the pants off your guests around every corner.
Last but not least, go for a pop culture reference that your guests will know and love. From American Horror Story to Midsommer, there are plenty of current and recognizable references that not only provide plenty of costume ideas, but also set the stage for the decor, cocktails, and catering.
You can also take a luxe approach to Halloween, sticking with a black and white theme and bringing in dark red or deep purple florals or an all-white Halloween bubbly brunch will not disappoint. You don’t have to use orange and stripes canto add some texture to any tabletop.
Decor
First things first, the decor is crucial to a good Halloween experience! Have some fun with lighting, whether it’s outside your home with projections and color or inside with a variety of taper candles. Lighting is always important, especially on such a “dark” holiday.
If you are going with an all-white theme, white pumpkins and gourds are available at local farms. You can also bring in a bit of metallic with a little DIY spray paint. For the scary true Halloween theme, hanging ghosts and goblins are sure to scare and set the tone for the evening.
If there are kids involved I’m a fan of recreating a pumpkin patch, it adds for a great photo opp and can double as an activity later during the party. Your local farm will sell hay and of course tons of pumpkins for you to select from.
Catering
Are you surprised that the food is my favorite part of the event? Depending on the time of day and age of your guests the menu will vary. But one thing that can stay consistent is all the delicious Fall vegetables that are in season and SWEETS SWEETS SWEETS.
If you are hosting more of a seated meal, bring on the pumpkin ravioli with brown butter sage sauce or a butternut squash soup. A braised duck with figs and port will definitely impress. If it’s brunch pumpkin pancakes and gooey cinnamon rolls won’t disappoint.
If you are hosting a cocktail party, a beautiful grazing board is a must filled with cheese, meats, nuts, dried and fresh seasonal fruit. A pot of meatballs is hearty and easy to make in advance. A popcorn bar can be interactive with different flavors or toppings. Dips are great too such as spinach and artichoke or roasted garlic and white bean, be sure to serve with crusty bread and veggies.
For the sweets, have some fun with a candy bar where guests can do their own trick or treating. Cookie decorating can be fun at any age too. If you are hosting more of an elevated dinner think decadent chocolate cake or a variety of macarons decorated to match your theme.
Cocktails
Arguably the most important part of the evening is the cocktail menu (let’s face it, your guests are dressed up and ready to have a few drinks!), so this is a huge opportunity to impress!
Fall and Halloween especially are great opportunities to bring out your punch bowl, whether it’s a warm mulled wine or cranberry vodka punch. Other ideas include a ginger-pear sparkling cocktail, which can easily turn mocktail by substituting the champagne for sparkling water, and apple cider with gin, honey, and cinnamon will warm up any room.Be sure to garnish your drink with the fruit associated with the drink to make for photo-worthy cocktails.
When it comes to throwing a great Halloween party, there’s nothing to be scared of! With the right amount of time to prepare, you’ll have your guests screaming for more of your events for years to come.
Need assistance when planning your next holiday gathering? Contact Tracie at LeFeast to book a consultation call and find out how her team of professional event planners can help you bring your next event to life.