| What is the easiest way to give your next event | | | | Another way to include costumes is to have grab |
| or fund raiser that finishing touch? The best | | | | bags full of costume accessories tied into the |
| events companies use costumes to put their | | | | theme that can be left in the guests hotel suite |
| events into the big league. Here are some helpful | | | | prior to the event or when they arrive at the |
| ideas. | | | | front door. A disco theme could have funky |
| The easiest way to tie in costumes to your next | | | | glasses and an afro, Mardi Gras theme elaborate |
| event is to select a theme where costumes are | | | | mask and beads, and a Woodstock theme peace |
| predominant. Popular themes such as Carnival, | | | | necklace, tinted sunglasses and a flower child |
| Mardi Gras or Venetian Ball are the most obvious. | | | | wreath. That way, if guests haven't arrived with |
| But there are other themes that can lend | | | | any costumes, a few accessories can easily |
| themselves to costumes, food and decor. Your | | | | create the look for the event. |
| party attendees will love cultural themes like | | | | If the event has karaoke, you can even have |
| Brazilian, Hawaiian, and Mexican, or era themes | | | | small groups have a dress-up table where they |
| such as the Roaring 20's, Dirty 30's Prohibition, | | | | can select costumes that tie in with their song, |
| Swing, 50's Rock'n'Roll, Disco and so on. Other | | | | such as "Summer Lovin'" from Grease or "Love |
| popular themes can come from movies, T.V. and | | | | Shak" by the B52's. Another popular idea is to |
| Pop Culture: Moulin Rouge, The Godfather, | | | | have a dress-up photo booth. Guests can select |
| Superheroes, Grease, Gilligan's Island, Austin | | | | costumes and accessories from racks and have |
| Power, and more recently Pirates of the | | | | pictures taken by a photographer as a souvenir |
| Caribbean. | | | | of th evening. The costumes can be tied into the |
| The next step is to use costumes in the theme. | | | | theme such as saloon costumes for a cowboy |
| For example, if your theme is Mardi Gras, use | | | | theme or groovy 60's costumes for an Austin |
| beads, masks, feather boas and coins to | | | | Powers theme. A bonus is to have a painted |
| decorate. Place these items on the dinner tables | | | | backdrop and photo printer on hand for |
| and receiving tables. Have staff and catering staff | | | | immediate prints! |
| dress in costumes and ask guests to come in | | | | Whatever you do, don't pressure your guests to |
| costumes. Just make sure that the "dress" is | | | | wear full costumes. It's supposed to be fun, so let |
| clearly written on the invite so there is no | | | | them express themselves how they want to. |
| confusion about what they are to wear. Have | | | | Remember, the idea is to create a memorable |
| incentives for guests by offering door prizes for | | | | evening that your guests will talk about for days |
| best costumes. | | | | and months to come. |