Handsome Hubby and I hosted a Halloween Party on Saturday night.
Thanks to the generosity of Shawn from Seriously, HH and I were fabulous vampires. She loaned us these great costumes. We got compliments on them all night long and people were amazed to hear that a bloggy friend I’ve never actually had the pleasure of meeting in real life would mail these from Florida. (My make-up isn’t reading as scary in the pictures, but that is only because I’m next to Mr. White-Face here… I look like I’ve been in a tanning bed next to him!)
I spent weeks slowly pulling together the little details for this party. It is the type of thing that brings me joy. I had a blast doing it.
We set up a tent over our grass, but then decided against putting the canvas on. Instead we left the frame up and ran icicle lights along the framework, letting them “drip” into the middle, creating a chandelier effect for the table.
I had been collecting sticks and branches and spray painting them black. I suspended them from our patio cover.
I love how it turned out. The effect was exactly what I wanted. In addition to the branches, I took empty glass jars (jelly, spaghetti sauce, etc) and wrapped wire around them. I filled them halfway with rock salt and wedged taper candles in the salt. It was really cool. (Cheap and easy… you know how I love cheap and easy…)
My multi-use chandelier had been painted orange and it hung in front of our front window as guests walked up.
I draped black tulle around my temporary Halloween plates….
… and Grant and I spent some time tracing bats onto black card-stock, cutting them out and taping them to the wall. He had a great time creating a bat “colony.” Double stick tape and some black feather boas turned my lampshades into something Halloween-ish.
I had been hating my mantel, but 2 giant black branches made it better.
There is so much fun to be found in the details. I lit a red candle and let the red wax drip down the white candlesticks. Bat clip art popped into frames or temporarily glued onto a platter helps to add to the overall effect. (Did I mention cheap and easy? This was free and easy since I already had printer ink & paper and candles….)
Personally, I think the most important part of any party is The. Bar.
I decorated planters and used chandeliers I already had.
I’d never used this spiderwebby stuff. I like it.
For this planter, (which is not doing too well because the dog keeps hopping in there and trampling plants) I tossed in a few pumpkins and extra branches that I did not have time to spray paint. I spread the spiderwebs all over everything and put candles behind it all. The effect was great.
While the decor is fun, it is no good at all without good friends.
Snooki and this 80’s spandex/hair band rocker were my favorite costumes of the evening. (You have NO IDEA how normally buttoned down and reserved this rocker is in his real life. Hysterical!)
It was sooooo much fun. I had such a great time.
There were lots of things I had intended to do: Black roses made out of coffee filters…. paper mache spiders and pumpkins…. dry ice in jars, hanging from the patio cover along with the candles…
But here’s the thing: unless my party guests read my blog, they have no idea anything was missing. The only person who knows I didn’t get it all done is me. (And, well, you guys…)
I guess I’ll get to those things next year. For now, I better just concentrate on cleaning up the aftermath.
For now, I think I’m going to take an Advil, drink some water, and start pulling down spider webs. Hope you all had a great Halloween!
Looks like a blast, you and the hubs look wonderful!
You sure know how to throw a party, V! Love your costumes and all the little touches 🙂
You really know how to throw a party…looks like such a fun time. I love all of the decorations and all of the branches turned out so well. How sweet of Shawn to help you out with the costumes too! Blog friends are great friends.
girl! you know how to throw a party! it must have been SO FUN!!!! i have to throw a party one of these years! i had an idea to have a dexter-themed party, and much like MANY of ideas, it never got off of the ground! argh! next year! i’ve gotta do it, but i am not saying it would be as good as yours!!!!
Would it be very rude of me to sat that you look like you could use some Advil?
Great party, I love Seagrams Sweet tea vodka, I spied that on the bar, mixed with a Crystal Light lemonade and Fresca mmmmm girl I could drink those all night!
It looks like everyone had a blast and I’m sure they all walked around in awe of the way things looked!
I bet the party was a blast! Decorations and your costumes looked fab!
So much fun! I’d love to attend one of your parties! Great job on all the details!
Love all of the costumes too.
Oh, I’m always so excited to see your parties!! It all turned out fabulous, and you and HH were hot vampires, to boot! 🙂 Or boo…? lol
Looks like a huge success-congratulations!
Awesome!!!! You guys looked great! It looks like a fantastic party. Well done. My party was insane with the kids. I think next year I will do an adults only. 🙂
You are my idol. Just like Martha Stewart, yet without the staff, and therefore likeable. 🙂
Love all the costumes!!! I think I am going to have to host a party next year just to get my hubby to dress up….
~Becca
Looked like it was an amazing party, but of course it was you were the host! You & HH looked so great! Man, you are for sure the hostess with the mostess!!!
Love the costumes and the decor. Redrum = scary. That movie terrified me. 🙂
Everything turned out AWESOME! I agree with you that details are what make the party. You did an awesome job. What’s even more amazing is that you were able to pull it all off on a budget.
Glad it was a hit!
I LOVE it all!! The party turned out FABULOUS!!! I love your attention to detail…we are kindred spirits when it comes to party planning. It makes me super happy. I really love the last pic.
Glad you guys had fun!!
That is awesome!!! How sweet is Shawn I love her she is awesome! You and handsome hubby’s look awesome! So maybe scratch the idea vampire idea from the other post haha
Loves and likes ya <3
Gigi
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO fun!!!