Gotham City Dinner Party

A dinner party after my own heart!  I am obsessed with this going Gotham City dinner party.  I love the beautifully executed Gotham City skyline, and the fact that the 'costumes' are provided for you!   With gorgeous gold accents and cutlery, lux linens, and bat silhouettes in the form of stir sticks, it's equal parts sophisticated and Halloween-ish!  More from Cassandra, (the creative genius behind this party): To create that gritty city look, we layered hard metals on a linen with plenty of texture, and added gold flatware to pop. The patterns on the china and napkin mimic the glowing windows of city lights – a nice touch to compliment the centerpieces.

Spooky Dessert table

An all hallows eve party that invokes the ambiance of this season's American Horror Story: Coven.  With its foreboding dessert table, voodoo inspired drink bar and candy table.  It's almost too eerie to partake until you feast your eyes and taste buds on their delicious treats!

Farewell Party Inspiration

Our friends are moving to California.  And although we’re so sad to see them go, we’re excited for them to finally be living their ‘California dreaming’.  We wanted to throw them a little farewell party before the left.  Here’s the inspiration behind their Ciao Chi Town party.



{skyline}



I love the airport codes as a back drop or as a banner.  Other options could include the a map of the USA with a heart in Chicago and a heart in California, connected by a dotted line. 

Every party needs a little glitter, try a fun Bon Voyage banner or go the DIY route by stringing paper airplanes together.

Chalk accents are so popular right now.  I love the I heart Texas chalkboard photo booth props.  And how appropriate is a chalkboard globe guest book. 

Re-purposing boxes as a backdrop is so genius, this would also work great for a housewarming party, and a great use for those empty boxes.   I love those moving box wine dispensers, and such a cute play off of ‘house wines'. 

You can’t have a going away party without an invite.  Love this one’s play off of childhood sayings.

And if you're looking for a more traditional or international travel decor, these Bon Voyage cupcake toppers would be perfect, with their blue and red boarder.  And finally cookies or hard candy in a ‘goodbyes suck’ bag make great favors.

Fat Tuesday Soiree

I love the bright festive colors of Mardi Gras.  This festive Fat Tuesday celebration brings together those colors, as well as other elements of Mardi Gras, in a beautiful and not over the top way.  I love the hand dyed ombre table cloth, the fringe tassels on the bar, and the gorgeous invitations and place settings.  This looks like the perfect party to retire to after a day out on the town.  You can grab your copy of their free printables here.

{photos via Catch My Party}

Favorite Things Party

Thanks to Oprah, we've seen the favorite things party gain in popularity.  The premise, each invitee brings enough of their favorite thing (one for each person), and goes home with a goodie bag full of other invitees favorites.  Every one's favorite things are beautifully laid out and the ladies proceed to shop for everyone favorite items, thus the fun shopping bags.  Alternatively, guests could explain why the item is their favorite or how they use it, and hand one out to each guest.  I love this festive & "girl's night out" take on a favorite things party.

{photos via Dreaming & Sightseeing}

Run for the Roses: Kentucky Derby Inspiration

This Saturday is both Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby. I've always wanted to attend the Kentucky Derby, sipping a mint julep, and sporting a large floppy hat.  If you aren't able to make it to Louisville this weekend, then bring the Kentucky Derby to you.  Whether you prefer sipping on a margarita (on the rocks with salt, please) or a mint julep, here's some Kentucky Derby inspiration for your weekend, enjoy!

{Photos Via: Top Row: Mint Julep Cup, Horseshoe Place Cards, Horse Decanter; Second Row: Horse Centerpiece, Invitation, Roses, Coasters, Julep Cups with Bow ties; Third Row: Kentucky Derby Poster, Spectator, Cupcakes, & Mint Julep Centerpiece}

CarnEvil: Coming to a town near you

There was so much creativity that went into this Haunted Sideshow Halloween party, I don't even know where to start. Inspired by a Haunted Victorian Side Show/Circus these party throwers went all out from decorating the outside of their home, to welcoming guests to a ghoulish display of food and beverages.  The hosts donned on 'the bearded lady' and 'the strong man' costumes and greeted their guests with cotton candy.  Their home was decorated with crows, cobwebs, lopsided portraits, crushed red velvet, and ventriloquist dolls all reminiscent of a sideshow act at a carnival.  And let's just take a second to talk about the food spread.  A freakishly beautiful and theme appropriate spread that was executed perfectly.  And the melon head with bacon and fake teeth, a little scary but ingenious!  And I am in love with their invites: Specimen jars with twins floating inside!  With a card that read: ‘Come one, come all, for only one night.  You’ll marvel and gasp at our shocking sights.  Oddities of nature, all on display.  Come see for yourself on Halloween day.’.  Enjoy!

{photos via Hostess Blog}

All Hallow's Eve Dinner Party

I'm excited about this spooky and grown up All Hallow's Eve dinner party, because Halloween isn't just for kids!  It reminds me of the American Horror Story on FX.   Love the gorgeous and eerie dinner table set with melted candles atop silver candlestick holders and scattered skulls, they create major Wow factor.  And the fabulous dessert table with 'specmin' muslin bags and 'posion bath oil' party favors.  Of course the 'danger ahead' luminaries and the projection of Dracula/Nosferatu, the silent film, create and eerie ambiance.  So many creative details make for one spooky grown up party, Enjoy!

{photos via Hostess Blog}

Swanky 40th Birthday

Who says turning 40 has to be anything less than spectacular.  Love that they turned an empty hall into this swanky nightclub lounge.  And that disco ball cake, fabulous!

{photo via Laurie Arons}

From the designer, Laurie:
"The evening began with cocktails on the balcony patio, designed as a cool urban rooftop deck. We then reveled the dance lounge, draped in lavender with white, grey and hot fuchsia accents. Swanky lounge furniture and high bar tables gave the space a club-like feel. The stainless steel dance floor reflected the warm pink mood lighting and spinning mirror ball. We carried the disco ball design throughout the party, on the invitations, cocktail menus and the unbelievable birthday cake."