Decorating Ideas for a School Reunion

Planning a reunion is an involved task. It takes a great deal of time to locate all your old classmates who have scattered across the globe. Once everyone is assembled though, the hard work pays off. It is fun to reminisce about the old days and catch-up with one another.

Decorating for the big night doesn’t need to be too involved. Remember that everyone is back to see each other, not some decorations. Why not give the reunion team a reminder of the past?
Decorating Ideas:
• Have old pictures from the yearbook blown up to poster size. Mount them on cardboard or foam core and place them around the room. Many copy stores can blow-up black and white and color photos to 11″x17″.
• Take old pictures, sections of the senior pictures from the yearbook work well, and photo copy them. Laminate them and use them for placemats.
• Decorate the room similar to the decorations used at the Senior Prom. Although decorating for the prom probably took a lot of time and energy, for the reunion, scale it down. If your theme was Stairway to Heaven, rent a set of stairs, cover them in white, and place snow batting or clouds at the base. Post a large sign with the theme – Stairway to Heaven.
• Decorate the tables with products from the past. If it is your 20th reunion, select items popular when you were in school. Buttons from political elections, magazines, books, records, you name it, it will get people talking of the good old days.

Activity Ideas:
• If your class voted on each other during the senior year – review the votes and see how everyone faired. Look at Most Likely to Succeed, Most likely to have 20 Kids, etc. If you sense this would hurt someone’s feelings, leave certain votes out. The goal is to have fun, not to make someone feel self-conscious.
• Make charts of the places people have lived since school, the jobs they have held, or the number of children they have.
• Look up old teachers and find out what they are doing. Have guests guess what the teachers are doing now. How many years did they teach? How old are they now?

Decorations for a Baptism Party to Remember

A Baptism is a special time for your family and friends. Celebrate the big event with a party or get-together to recognize the milestone in your loved one’s life.

Start the party by sending out personalized invitations. These cards create a simple, elegant welcome to your event and make great keepsakes. For a baptism party we suggest classic designs like the Imperial Invitation. You can add your own custom wording to the monochrome invitation accented with gold or silver framing and curl of curling ribbon. Don’t forget formal RSVP cards and Thank You Notes.

Use personalized banners to welcome guests to the party or to congratulate the newly-baptized. These vinyl banners are printed on heavy-duty, weather-resistant vinyl and are available in seven different sizes to fit your decorating needs. For this party we suggest the Religious Personalized Banner. You can add your own text to the simple banner printed with a cross logo on it. A Personal Memories Mural is also a great idea for decorating. You can cover an entire wall with a photo from your loved one’s life and add your own wording too.

Decorations for you Baptism party don’t need to be anything extravagant, but some simply lovely decorations will make your party look like the special event it is. Dress up countertops, railings, and doorways with simple garland such as the ivy with roses garland or the pothos garland. For a more sparkling look, try holographic streamers or plastic star bead garland. Hang Streamin’ Swirls from the ceiling or chase lights for a soft glow.

If you’re looking for a bigger shindig, try focal points such as the Classic Fountain or a Premier Chandelier made from gossamer, balloons and twinkle lights. These simple, but large decorations create a stunning setting for your party that isn’t too over the top.

Don’t underestimate the decorating power of balloons. These classic party decorations are great for filling out your other décor. Plus, kids love them. Create balloon bunches of odd numbers and secure them with curling ribbon and balloon weights. Add them to tables, doorways and other areas.

Make your tables a beautiful place to share snacks or a meal with your guests. Use simple centerpieces such as a bronze candelabra or a gazebo candleholder and accent the table with stars and swirls confetti or silk rose petals. Serve your party snacks on plastic tableware in solid coordinating colors. There’s even matching cutlery. Finally, top it off with personalized napkins. You can add your own logo and wording embossed on luncheon or beverage napkins for a fantastic personal touch.

Tell us your Baptism party ideas!

Timetable for Planning a Fantastic Summer Fun Party

Stay organized and prepared with the planning timetable below! You can even print out the list and check off each item as you finish it.

3-4 Weeks Before The Party
• Set budget
• Rent tables and chairs
• Arrange for any special help
• Make a list of your basic supplies and needs
• Send out invitations
• Decide on theme and order decorations

2-3 Weeks Before The Party
• Plan your menu
• Prepare food ahead of time, if possible, and freeze
• Purchase favors and tableware
• Choose music
• Order any flowers
• Determine your event schedule for activities (games, mingling, food) - always have a few extra ideas in your bag

1 week Before The Party
• Finalize the headcount, but be flexible that it may change
• Purchase beverages
• Check camera equipment and purchase film

2-3 Days Before The Party
• Confirm all arrangements
• Purchase any fresh food
• Give helpers a specific task from your list
• Arrange your serving trays and dishes
• Arrange favors
• Decide on what you will wear!
1 Day Before The Party
• Decorate!
• Complete food preparation and pick up ordered food items
• Set tables
• Make room for coats and purses
• Purchase ice

The Day Of The Party
• Put out any outdoor decorations
• Set out bowls of candy and nuts
• Give last-minute instructions to helpers
• Set up the bar
• Prepare any last-minute food
• Put your camera out so you are sure to capture the memories
• Start the music, light candles, set the mood
• Get ready for the event – a bath, glass of wine, exercise – whatever gets you in the right mood
• Relax and enjoy the party!

 

Patriotic Fun for a Memorial Day BBQ

Memorial Day is the kick off of summer and a perfect reason to party! This year Memorial Day is May 26th. Celebrate with your friends and family with a Memorial Day barbeque with a patriotic flair.

Invite guests to the party with the festive invitations from the BBQ Party Tableware Ensemble. It features a cow dressed up as a BBQ chef and space for you to write in your own party details. Plus, it matches the plates, cups and two sizes of napkins included in the ensemble, perfect for serving all your Memorial Day grilling.

Welcome guests to your party with a personalized BBQ Memories Custom Banner or a Festive Flag Custom Banner. These banners can be personalized with your own wording and are made of heavy-duty, weather-resistant vinyl with or without metal grommets and come in seven different sizes to fit you decorating needs.

Decorate for your party with festive patriotic decorations—streamers, garland, cutouts, and flags! (Check out our Patriotic Party TipZ for tons of ideas). Create a fantastic focal point with a Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam standees. Large USA Patriotic Letters are also a fun way to spruce up your party room. For tons of fun, set up an Americana Photo Op Stand In. Guests can put their faces in the cutouts and take their picture like the famous American Gothic painting. It makes for fantastic keepsakes from the party.

Party wearables are a great way to brighten up the party and get guests in the fun-loving mood. For the patriotic, try American flag funtoos temporary tattoos, patriotic buttons and red white and blue star beads. Guests will crack up if you greet them at the door in a hamburger hat or giant chef hat.

Wearables make great favors but there’s other favors you can send guests home with so they’ll remember the fun of Memorial Day long after your party is over. For the BBQ theme, we suggest Beer Mug Candles or make-your-own aprons. For a more patriotic bent, try a jewel flag dog tag neckelace craft kit, patriotic bubbles, flag pins or patriotic votive candles.

Check out our Patriotic Party TipZ or BBQ Party TipZ for tons of ideas and have a Happy Memorial Day!