Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back!

Welcome Them Home with a Surprise

You’ve already said a tear-filled goodbye to your soldier, so what better way to welcome them home than with a surprise welcome home party?  Your soldier has probably seen enough camouflage to last him or her awhile, so switch to a patriotic theme.  Rather than an all-out stars-and-stripes pattern for every part of your welcome home party, gather red place settings, white place settings, and blue place settings.  Decorate your tables with white table covers and red and blue table runners.  Add a sparkly centerpiece or even some confetti as an eye-catcher that everyone at the welcome home party will love.

All-American Backyard Barbecue

If you sent your soldier off to a foreign country, why not welcome your American hero home with a longstanding American tradition—a cookout?  Sure, serve the standard burgers and hot dogs that everyone loves, but then treat your returning hero to something special, something just for them, like a huge steak.  To the side of the welcome home party space, create a photo corner.  All it takes are a few props—one or two columns for your photographer to position his picture subjects near.  Add some flags, streamers, and a welcome home banner for a little more flare.  Then, as favors for all your guests, why not send them customized coasters commemorating the welcome home party?

A Classier Welcome Home Party

Sometimes welcome home parties are better kept inside.  Also, it’s a good idea to have a backup for your backyard barbecue in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.  So if you choose to have the welcome home party indoors, you have a few more options as far as decorations.  If your party is indoors, you could add a balloon arch or other balloon decorations that could get destroyed outdoors.  You could also add other centerpieces, make each table different.  Vary the table decorations, too.  Alternate main colors versus runners:

• A red table cover with white and blue table runners
• A blue table cover with red and white table runners
• A white table cover with blue and red table runners

One more difference between a backyard barbecue versus an indoor welcome home party is the type of dessert that is served.  While it’s still a good idea to use paper or plastic plates, you could create a dessert station with patriotic-patterned tableware.

Goodbye, My Hero, and Be Safe

A Military Bon Voyage Party with Class

Americans are always focused on and excited to welcome home their heroes.  While no one wants to think about saying goodbye to these soldiers, why not create a fun, lighthearted, goodbye party?  All of the friends and family of your special soldier will appreciate receiving an invitation to a great sendoff party for their favorite man or woman in uniform.  Guests will appreciate having one more chance to hug their soldier and thank him or her.  Goodbye parties are often filled with emotion and tears, but by picking the right decorations, you’ll be able to create a supportive atmosphere that reminds partygoers to stay positive and celebrate the person they’re sending away.

Simple Military Goodbye Party Decorations

Offer a buffet not only filled with their favorite home-cooked foods, but also stocked with a wide array of camouflage plates, napkins, and cups.  If you don’t want to use a typical military party camouflage pattern, you can always pull some of the individual colors (brown, tan, black, white, and various greens) and either mix them, organize them by table, or even set up food stations.  One color will represent salads, one for entrees, and one for desserts.  Another wonderful goodbye party color set to consider is, of course, the tried-and-true red, white, and blue.  Either color choice would be wonderful with a casual backyard barbecue sendoff.

Navy Bon Voyage Ideas

If you’re sending a man or woman off to the Navy, in particular, don’t throw the typical “goodbye, soldier” party.  Throw a fun bon voyage party.  With anchor-shaped balloons in every corner, your Navy man or woman will feel your support.  There are several options for decorations, it just depends on how detailed you want to be.  Hang bon voyage decorations from the ceiling—streamers, balloons, ceiling whirls, etc. Your options are open.

Whether they’re heading to a deployment or to basic training, remind your soldiers that you love them.  Gather all their friends and family for a well-decorated military goodbye party that they’re sure to remember for a long time.

Celebrate Old Glory With A Flag Day Party

Flag Day Party Centerpiece

Flag Day falls on June 14th this year, which means in about one week it’s going to be time to hang out that star-spangled banner. This year make the holiday extra special by hosting a fabulous Flag Day party!

Get all your friends psyched to celebrate by sending out a creative invitation. You’ll definitely want something with stars and stripes on it. In fact, why not let the whole neighborhood know you’re partying by hanging out a red, white and blue banner?

Inside your home you’ll want to go all out with balloons in our nation’s colors. You can even set up an archway or giant star made out of balloons for your guests to pose under for a patriotic photo.

For a delectable treat, bake a cake in the shape of a flag to serve to all of your guests. Of course, you’ll want to dish it out on red, white and blue paper plates.

At the end of the event, don’t let your fellow patriots leave empty handed. Pass out some dog tags adorned with a flag. Or get your hands on personalized chocolate bars for your friends to munch on as they head home.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to throw a military themed party for Shiloh

Military Themed Party Supplies

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are gearing up to throw a fantastic bash for their daughter Shiloh’s fourth birthday party, and it’s going to be completely soldier themed, according In Touch magazine.

The celebrity couple’s older son, Maddox, had a similarly themed party last year, and little Shiloh wants to follow in her brother’s footsteps. Shiloh is a tomboy, so she’s trading in the tiaras and ponies for camo gear this year.

“She wants boys’ toys, since she’s such a little tomboy. Brad also bought Shiloh a jeep that is safe for kids, and he’s thinking of getting her a toy ATV that she can drive around the property,” a source told the news provider.

It’s important to remember when planning a party that little boys and girls have different tastes. When you are getting ready to host a shindig for a youngster, focus on what their hobbies and interests are.

If you have a daughter who loves sports, go ahead and decorate your home with memorabilia from her favorite games. If your son loves to play dress up, throw him a costume party. He’ll be thrilled to see all his friends donning their best party clothes to celebrate his special day.

A White House Party: State dinner in the East Room

Create your own Personalized White House Banner

The White House will be hosting a major dinner in the East Room to honor Mexican president Felipe Calderon and First Lady Margarita Zavala. Chicago chef Rick Bayless will be serving up some fantastic treats for all of the guests, according to the Washington Post. The chef has been tweeting constantly about the upcoming event.

After party crashers slipped through security at the last state dinner, the entire White House is working to ensure that the event goes of without a hitch this time. Approximately 200 guests will attend the high profile event for a night of feasting and entertainment, the source reports.

While the dinner menu is a closely guarded secret, Bayless did reveal that he has got a Mexican treat prepared: a black mole sauce that involves over 20 ingredients! Holy mole!

Though it made be hard to gain access to a state dinner with out having some serious connections, you can throw your own White House-themed party. Turn your dining room into the East Room by encouraging guests to wear their most elegant gowns and suits. Decorate your home with red, white and blue balloons and streamers, and your friends and family will feel like they’re on Pennsylvania Avenue! Be sure to hang a personalized White House banner.

Honor Americans That Served With A Patriotic Party

Lighted Patriotic Celestial Arch

If you love the land of the free and the home of the brave, then show your patriotism to those that have defended our land with a red, white and blue bash this summer! Whether you’re celebrating Flag Day, the Fourth of July, a soldier returning home, or just getting into the spirit of America, there are a lot of decorations and novelties you can use to throw a truly patriotic party.

Choosing colors for your party decorations is easy! Hang up patriotic streamers – red, white and blue streamers and balloons. For extra decor, put up a banner with the American national bird, the bald eagle. Garlands in the colors of Old Glory will look great strung along your front porch or stoop.

If you’re celebrating the fourth of July, get your kids ready for your local parade by decorating their bikes or wagons with patriotic symbols. You can also write slogans like “Proud to be an American” or “God Bless the U.S.” on your automobile with car chalk!

During the parade, give your guests some fun American wearables to help them show off their pride. Red, white, and blue leis, hats, pompoms and temporary tattoos will really get your friends up and on their feet!