Green Damask Retro Party

I am a huge fan of theme parties and have created many incredible theme parties over the years, so naturally I was intrigued by the solicitation of party ideas that I found on the Party Starters FB page. The following are my ideas for creating a retro-style, green themed party with the various elements that the birthday girl is seeking. I thought it might also make a nice hub, so I decided to share it with the general public. 

SUBMISSION

I am so pleased to be able to present my ideas for your 38^th birthday party. Whichever plans you choose, I hope you have a wonderful time!

YOUR INVITATIONS

Let’s start at the beginning. Your invitations will be the calling card to your special event. As such, they should reflect the degree of elegance and fun that your party will surely offer. Because you are a fan of damask, and are hoping to incorporate a “green” theme, I thought that making invitations with green damask covers would create a lovely, classic flare. You can simply apply cream-colored letters spelling out, “You’re Invited” onto the damask covers using hot glue. Letters can be found at most scrapbook stores or retail stores that sell scrapbooking materials. You can use either damask design card stock, or actual damask wallpaper that you can glue (with wallpaper glue) onto the front of your card stock after folding it in half. Create scripted inserts on your home computer that offer the party details including your theme colors. You may even encourage people to dress in one or more of the theme colors. 

DIY CUPCAKE AND DESSERT BAR

The DIY cupcake bar will definitely be a highlight, but in addition, I would offer other sweet fare such as pistachio pudding and chocolate pudding served in martini glasses. Rim the pistachio martini glasses with powdered chocolate before filling with pudding. If you haven’t had it, pistachio pudding is delightfully sweet and green! You may even consider using small, edible orchids as garnishes. The chocolate pudding glasses will be garnished with strawberries or Andes mints. You can also fill tall thin flower vases with green M&Ms and set out on the dessert table. Mini-cupcakes may nestle comfortably in a graduated votive candleholder tree. Toppings for your cupcakes might include a variety of premade frostings, that have been loaded into icing tubes, chocolate jimmies, colored sprinkles, chocolate curls, mini-M&Ms, edible pearls, almond slivers, macadamia nuts, cocoa powder, fresh raspberries, etc. In order to add more of the damask design you are fond of, find napkins in such a pattern and be sure to have plenty on your table. You’ll need them!

THE AMBIENCE

If you have access to any of the following furnishings, they would not only add a touch of elegance to your party atmosphere, but would also fit in well with the color scheme. First, the dessert buffet would be gorgeous on a glass and chrome table. Guests could nosh on their sweets at small, white laminate tables that harken back to the stylish days of art deco. For an added flare, hang metallic green, circular and crescent shaped streamers from the ceiling. If that is not possible, consider floating a combination of green, gray and cream-colored pearl helium balloons from your ceiling and allowing small lengths of curling ribbon to hang from them. I envision the entire ceiling in the main party room being filled with the balloons, so it is likely easier to rent a small helium tank and filling them yourself at home. Party decorations may also include clear glass vases with calla lilies in them. The stems will bring out the green in your party’s theme and the blooms are classic crème colored. You can change the lights in your lamps to low wattage green bulbs that will illuminate the room in a thematic glow. Another excellent idea for adding a green retro flare to the ambience is to get a couple of green lava lamps and set them in the corners of your party room. The larger the lamp, the better it will look. 

OTHER ELEMENTS

You love music, and the music you choose will definitely set the tone of your party. If you want to create a low-key, retro atmosphere I would recommend music by the likes of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr., Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and others. Since you are going with a “green theme,” it might also be fun to spend time selecting music that fits into that category such as tunes by Green Day and song with the word “green” in the titles. They don’t have to be exclusive, but could be prominent enough alert guests that the music is part of the theme. I like to have different music in different areas that reflect the events in those rooms. For example, the room in which the dessert bar is located may feature background music while another room may feature dance tunes that encourage guests to cut loose.

You are also quite the softie and from the way you describe yourself, probably quite sentimental and a bit nostalgic. If that is the case, it would be fun to have a homemade video montage of your life so far which you can play, without sound, on a wall mounted television for everyone’s enjoyment. As much as possible, include photos of as many of the invited guests as you can, and the special moments that they have shared with you. That will be sure to keep everyone engaged. It also makes a great conversation starter.

If you’d like your guests to leave with a little something to remember your party, consider selecting small gift bags with a damask pattern that you can stuff with green or cream tissue paper and printed copies of the recipes you’ve used for your cupcakes and martinis, homemade CDs featuring your party play lists, small cream-colored mesh bags tied with green or gray ribbon and filled with green M&Ms, and/ or other small novelties.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your special day!