HALLOWEEN PARTY WEEKEND

Did you go to any Halloween parties this past weekend? Private or public parties were going on all over. What did you dress up as? My husband and I went to a house party as Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Lots of fun. It was the first time we got dressed up for Halloween before the kids!

I did a better job getting photos of the costumes than the party decor.

How cute are these cake pops??

Yup, even adults play the mummy game!

Enjoy these last few Halloween days!

"FASHIONABLE" PARTIES

In addition to following party blogs, I follow quite a few fashion blogs. I love keeping up with style trends and seeing how different people wear them. So, I thought it might be fun to feature parties that reflect a few of this fall's style trends!

ANIMAL PRINT
Whether it's leopard, cheetah, zebra, giraffe or snakeskin – animal print is big this fall! I personally feel comfortable wearing it in small doses. I have a cheetah scarf and am looking for some booties (I don't think I could wear a full cheetah print dress). We've been seeing animal prints in parties for a while, but it's probably a great theme to do these days if you're planning a girls get together this coming holiday season! Keep in mind, animal print in excess can quickly look tacky. This party does a great job in balancing a busy animal print with bursts of solid color.

Cheetah Print Party at Catch My Party

PLAID

This is perfect for the holiday season. Keep in mind plaid does not have to be in the traditional red and black. I actually love green and blue plaid. And have any of you seen the yellow plaid Clueless-inspired clothing at Target??

Plaid Party at Apartment Therapy

WESTERN

Slide on those trendy cowboy boots for a fun hoedown! This is a fun theme for kids and adults. Best thing about putting together this theme, is you might already have a lot of the decor items. (Think rope, hay bales, crates, tin serving buckets and trays, etc.)

Western Party at Catch My Party

"WILD ONE" 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY

Hello, hello!
Wanted to pop in today to share a cute birthday party we went to over the weekend for a friend's new one-year old. Mom is a graphic designer so I wasn't surprised that all the cupcake toppers and signage looked so good. She used the book, "Where the Wild Things Are" as the theme for the party. I really felt everything was done just right. Not too much. Not too little. It was a cute event. Kids played cornhole outside, enjoyed cupcakes and of course we all watched the little birthday girl smash her own cake.

5 WAYS TO ELEVATE YOUR PARTY

A common theme, probably with any spending these days, is that people want to get the most bang for their buck. They don't want to spend a huge amount of money for a 2-hour party. There are a few things you can do that will help upgrade the look and tone of your party without breaking the bank. Here are a few ideas for you to consider for your next event.

GET RID OF THE GOODIE BAGS: In my opinion this is where money literally gets thrown away! Instead of buying random plastic items that parents are going to throw away or will get lost, use the money to buy one substantial party favor, that doesn't have to cost a lot. Take advantage of your dollar store or use those DIY skills to spruce up a candle, water bottle, or wine glass (for an adult party!) It'll make a much better lasting impression on your party guests.

PLAY WITH HEIGHT: I can't tell you how many times I've gone to a barbecue or party and everything is just put out flat on a table. By simply using wrapped boxes or cake plates (or a plate on a sturdy cup!) displaying food dishes and desserts on varying heights immediately gives your food table a much more attractive and more pleasing appearance.

Photo Source

MULTIPLY YOUR DECOR: You're thinking "if I do that, that means more money." Not if you're using inexpensive items, like crepe paper. Ever walk in to a party and there's literally one strand of crepe paper going from one corner to another, and then another strand in between the other two corners, and that's it? I always think, "Why did they stop there?" Keep going, it makes a serious impact and a wow factor when people walk into a room, as exemplified by the above from The Celebration Society. This can also be achieved with multiple paper fans or paper plates on a backdrop.

Photo Source

USE YOUR DIY SKILLS: Have some inexpensive, solid color balloons? Upgrade the balloons by adhering tissue paper flowers on them (as done above by HGTV.com) or turn them into fruit!

Photo Source

PLAY WITH ICE: For a kids party, freeze ice cubes with something fun (and edible) like gummy bears in them. It'll be fun for the kids to spot the gummy bears in their drinks! Try creating an ice ring for your punch bowl or how about using edible glitter to add sparkle to drinks, as done above by Bespoke Bride?

What other ideas do you have?

WEDDING BURSTING WITH FALL COLORS

This couple was inspired by their favorite season to come up with the perfect look for their wedding. They used crimson red, burnt orange and sunset yellow to create a beautiful "fall oasis in the desert" theme for their Arizona wedding. The reception decor was a family effort led by the bride's mom, who transformed the courtyard into a chic, fall garden party. There is so much inspiration in this eclectic setup, from the colors to the flowers to the pie bar. (Hello Thanksgiving!) Thanks to Arizona photographer Pure in Art for sharing the yummy and lovely details with us.

 Equipment Rentals: A La Carte Rentals // Caterer: Tracy's Tucson Catering // Caterer: Bar-BQ-Ranch // Groomsman Attire:Tuxedos on Broadway // Dress Store: David's Bridal // Dress Designer: Essence of Australia // Dress Store: Maya Palace // DJ: Muse Entertainment DJ Services // Floral Designer: Mayfield Florist // Ceremony Location: Corpus Christi Catholic Church // Cinema and Video: Blar Media Group // Photographer: Pure in Art Photography //

Submitted via Two Bright Lights