How to Plan and Throw the Perfect Teen Halloween Party

Planning the perfect Halloween party is a cinch with these handy tips!

The pressure, the planning and the judgment from others are just some of the reasons why many people prefer to attend a party rather than host one. But if this Halloween you're considering throwing a party to raise the dead, take a deep breath and remember that the more detail and thought you put into your party, the more your guests will appreciate what will surely be a spirited evening (pun intended). So to get you going with your planning, here's a guide on how to throw the perfect Halloween party!

Pick a theme

A party needs to be cohesive to run smoothly. Pick a theme, whether it be classic Halloween with everyone's favourite monsters and jack-o'-lanterns, a more fun theme like a Harry Potter gathering or take it to the edge a little with a horror-ble movie-night theme. Whatever you decide, make sure the idea will be easy to create and something your guests will be interested in.

Decorations

The front door is the first thing guests see as they enter the party. Do not go overboard on the entrance so that the decorations inside pale in comparison, but  don't completely leave the entrance blank because you do only get one chance to make a first impression. For the rest of the space, make it enticing, spooky and theme-appropriate. If the party is a simple Halloween celebration, then do not be stingy with the black-and-orange coloured streamers and make sure to stock up on fake spiders webs. For mood lighting, you can cover any lights with black cellophane, instantly creating considerably more ambiance. Also, try not to concentrate the décor to one room. Wherever there are partiers, there should be decorations to remind them of the fabulous festivities.

Choose a playlist

Music is key. Having a good playlist can really rev things up. A good beat that people can dance to and some cheesy lyrics related to the theme is perfect. Wizard rock is a good choice for a Potter party: The Ministry of Magic or Gred and Forge are sure to get even the most surly Muggles grooving. A mix of Top 40 and timeless songs like Thriller and The Monster Mash is fun as well. Buy recognizable horror movie theme songs and throw them in with the rest to get guest laughing and humming along.

Have fun with your treats

Creative presentation and icing made to look like blood can be, well, the icing on the cake. Serve punch in a cauldron or scatter plastic insects on the table. Putting a rubber snake under a cookie will either scare or amuse your guests. To really make your party stand out, and regardless of the theme, you should consider picking grabbing some recipes from The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook! It includes over 150 delicious and appropriately-named recipes from the actual Harry Potter novels, like pumpkin juice that can be found on the Hogwart Express. Investing in some brain Jell-O molds for the dessert is never a bad thing either. Whatever you serve, put creativity into the preparation and get everyone into the Halloween spirit.

Make it memorable

While every good party has food, decorations and music, great parties have a little something extra. Check if there are any haunted houses nearby and take your guests on a tour. Rent old horror films, the worse the effects the better. Try Attack of the Killer Tomatoes or The Blob. These movies might be lacking in the thrills and chills but they provide no shortage of laughs. Encourage partygoers to dress up and reward them with prizes at the end of the night for best costume, funniest costume, scariest costume, most creative, etc.

Most importantly, once the merrymaking has kicked off, do not stress about balloon placement or napkin quantities, enjoy yourself and your guests will too. Happy Halloween!