How gorgeous does my baby, Sonny, looks in his Halloween pugkin outfit?!
This week it feels like Autumn has well and truly come to Manchester! Instead of waking up to our usual Manchester Drizzle, or dare I say it, the rare Summer Sun we were blessed with this August, we are now in full blown frosty mornings and dry Fall sunrises. It’s lovely, and it’s spurred me on to change out of my Summer wardrobe into my Autumn one… And even start thinking about this coming October!
Of course, the biggest highlight in October has to be the build up and celebration of Halloween, which seems to be getting bigger and bigger in the UK each year. Although I’m not a dab hand at a fancy dress outfit, my friends (I hope!) can vouch for me when I say that I know how to host a party, and this year, I’m considering my first Halloween house party.
To kick off my planning for the big Autumnal event, I’ve popped together my top 10 ideas for a spook-tacular Halloween party!
Come on, if you’re throwing a Halloween party you want to do it right, right?! Long gone are the days of paper invites and post, now is the era of Whatsapp Groups and Facebook event invites… How boring.
Treat your pals to something a little different and hand deliver an invite through their doors on your way home from work. Or, if you’re too far away, send them out via the internet. I personally love to send personalized cards via MoonPig.com to my friend’s offices – it’s quick, easy and affordable and receiving something physical really makes your friends feel special.
It’s kinda taken for granted that all Halloween parties are fancy dress. Of course, that’s the rules, right? But, how about this year you decide to set a certain theme for the party? Think: co-ordinated fancy dress, decorations, drinks and refreshments.
This appeals to me as I do love a good theme and personally I sometimes find the options of what to dress up for Halloween as slightly overwhelming! By setting a theme, you might help give your guests some ideas for their outfit and to ensure they won’t be left sticking out like a sore thumb in their elaborate zombie bride out.
Not exactly spooky, but I could see myself hosting a Great Gatsby style party. Art deco decorations, champagne and sequin flapper dresses – way more up my street than face paint.
Okay so I can’t promise that this will be happening at my modest 3 bed semi – perhaps one day in my future mansion! – but how cool would it be to have some good old fashioned funfair entertainment at your Halloween party? Proper old school fun.
Last year I went to a Christmas party at Tatton park where they had a marquee with candy floss and bumper cars in. It was just the best! Jumping in a cab with your friends and racing around the rink took me right back to childhood, and it’s not as inaccessible as you may think! In fact, there are plenty of places that have dodgems for hire if you want to bring a bit of sparkle to your party.
Paper decorations and bunting are so 2018 – this year it’s all about the balloons. Nothing is more instagrammable than a big bunch of helium balloons, or some quirky slogan in a scroll font to compliment your selfie. Think balloons that spell out ‘boo!’ in black.
They are easy to inflate, quick to pop and clean up and affordable to boot.
Every adult house party deserves a chic drinks trolley, so this Halloween make sure your party is complete with a spooky bar cart!
I’m thinking: a brass or copper bar cart, a selection of gins, rums and mixers, decorated with dry ice, spiders’ webs and pumpkin candles. The perfect location for your guests to help yourselves to a drink and get in the ghostly mood at the same time.
Sure, it might be cold, but October is generally dry and if the weather in Manchester is anything to go by this week, then it looks like this beautiful autumn climate is here to stay! Make your party memorable and take it outside with outdoor heaters, a marquee and a log burner to add warmth and atmosphere.
Being outside also opens up a whole variety of new options to play with! What about an outdoor BBQ or hog roast to fit a mediaeval theme? Sparklers and fireworks (if in a safe space, of course)? Or what about some action-packed outdoor fun? There’s plenty of local businesses that provide super cool outdoor party solutions, such as bungee trampoline hire, that could really make your Halloween Party 2019 memorable.
Halloween is obviously famous for all the sweets, chocolate and candy that you get as part of ‘trick or treating’. However, this doesn’t mean all your guests have a sweet tooth. Make sure you cater for everyone by not just serving ‘treats’ this Halloween.
Of course, a bit of pic ’n’ mix is a must, but keep things chic by putting on a spread of cheese and biscuits, homemade jams and hummus, and a few packets of ‘posh’ kettle crisps. We are adults now, after all!
Although black and orange are the traditional colours that come to mind when we think of Halloween, it doesn’t mean you have to stick to that colour way.
Shake things up this 2019 and inject an element of chic into your party by hosting a light and bright ‘all white’ party. It’s something a little different, more sophisticated and is super easy to decorate for.
After all, everything will be ‘all white on the night’!
Mix things up altogether and host a Halloween Brunch! Bottomless brunches are such a big deal in Manchester that there’s no reason they should be ignored for Halloween time, too.
Plus, with so many lovely autumnal flavours, such as pumpkin, cinnamon and cider, there is every reason to host a beautiful and boozy Halloween brunch.
Why should party bags have to end with kid’s parties? This year, I plan to bring back party bags by giving my guests a goodie bag of small ‘trick or treat’ themed favors to take home with them.
A mix of old school sweets, Halloween themed trinkets or even a polaroid photo of you guys together at the party makes a very sweet personal touch, meaning your spook-tacular Halloween party will stay memorable for years to come!
So, how will you be celebrating Halloween 2019 this year? What top tips do you have for hosting the ultimate Halloween party? Leave me a comment below and let me know!
Full time I'm an ambitious Head of Marketing and Communications in the luxury industry. Part time, I'm an enthusiastic British Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle blogger and YouTuber from Manchester, UK. This blog has been my outlet for the past 7+ years, and as a longstanding, Award-winning blogger I take the most enjoyment from creating content I truly love and believe in. All authentic. Always.