When anything under the sun can be a party theme, how on earth do you decide which one is THE ONE for you and your set of guests? Here are our tips to help you decide on a party theme that will thrill & excite both you and attendees.

Congratulations on picking a party theme. That means you’re planning a party that goes to the next level to wow the crowd.

A party theme creates the ambiance, the illusion that you’ve stepped into a magical world for a while. It’s reflected in every aspect of the party, making your decisions easier.

venue
decorations
food
entertainment
apparel

If the party is for your child, ask them what theme they’d like for their birthday party and be ready with suggestions that you’re willing to do as well. (A generic theme is usually cheaper and best for a party where all genders attend.)

Before you proceed with your fantastic theme, think about if for one more moment. Is it going to be a blast or are the participants going to whine and complain about the party theme you’ve chosen? What excites you might not work so well when you bring a group together.

For instance, if your child wants a craft party and invites kids who hate arts & crafts, it doesn’t matter how much you spend on the craft supplies – the party will bomb because they’ll be done in 30 seconds, asking for a game. If you want to have a karoake party and invite people who hate to sing, the party will end early. Or they’ll all stand around talking so loudly you can’t hear the one singing. It’s happened.

There are so many themes available. The goal is to choose the perfect one for your group. (See our Ultimate List of Party Theme Ideas for inspiration.)

There are times when:

you have a limited budget
you have no time or energy to prepare
or you want to go BIG for an extra special occasion

Every party theme allows you to make choices according to your needs. Don’t feel constrained when deciding the theme. How you implement the theme will depend on your resources. The sky’s the limit!

Why are you having this party?

The first thing to consider when choosing a party theme is the reason for the party.

a birthday party where the guest of honor needs to be consulted on the theme
a calendar holiday (Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day)
a milestone like an anniversary, years in a career, or a specific age
a celebration like an engagement, wedding, bon voyage, new home, or baby shower
or a “just because” you want to get your friends together

The reason for the party helps narrow down the choices, but there are still a million Christmas or birthday party themes. And this is a good thing! It means you can plan a party that’s uniquely yours.

What style of party do you, the guest of honor, and your guests prefer?

When you’re planning a party, it’s tempting to go big & elegant, but if the people attending feel uncomfortable in those surroundings, it’s not going to work.

Be realistic.

What style does the guest of honor prefer? This dictates the choices. If your mother-in-law is chic, don’t plan a backyard cookout for her birthday party just because it’s the easiest. The party style should reflect her.
What style do you prefer? If there’s no guest of honor, the party style should reflect you and how you’re feeling at the moment.
What style would be best for the people on your guest list? This is where the rubber meets the road. If you choose a party theme that doesn’t excite the guests – or worse, doesn’t interest them – there will be a lot of no-shows. If the guests who do come aren’t really into it, they won’t be impressed enough to share photos on social media, participate in games or entertainment, and will probably leave early. If the guests don’t have a relationship already and you’re depending on casual conversation for the party’s success, that’s not going to happen either.

When we say “style”, what do we mean?

elegant & chic vs casual
active vs sit-down
fun & energetic vs more staid
games vs discussion
indoor vs outdoors

None of the styles is “bad” or “wrong”. You need to know the people at the party and what is fun to them.

I went to a party once planned by someone new at my church, designed to get to know everyone better. It was a Christmas party in her home, and she worked very hard planning awesome themed food, pen & paper games with prizes, and beautiful decorations. But one guest declared, “We don’t play games.” This guest took over the party and turned it into a discussion period by asking life questions and going around the circle for answers.

As it turned out, the goal of the party was successful. Everyone went home knowing each other a little better and bonding the group. BUT the woman who was the hostess was deeply hurt. So much so that she stopped spending time with the group of ladies, and a month later, moved to another city to “be close to family”.

There are so many lessons learned, too late, in this instance.

What is your goal for the party?

make the guest of honor happy & feel celebrated
celebrate a holiday
get your best friends together for fun or relaxation
for a change of pace in your life
introduce two groups of friends (college buddies & co-workers)
learn something new or create something with people you know well

This decision helps narrow your choice of theme and party style. (You’re not going to plan a thrilling fiesta theme when you really need a spa day to relax. And vice versa.)

The Big Question: What is the takeaway for the guest of honor & party guests?

What is your goal for the guests besides enjoying your party?

feel closer to the guest of honor
bond with the other guests they already knew
know more about a certain topic
connect with new people
create fantastic memories that will last a lifetime
have a creative experience writing, painting, baking, or making a craft

When you plan the other areas of your party, keep this ultimate goal in mind.

If your goal is for them to feel closer to other people, sitting and watching a movie together probably isn’t going to accomplish that goal unless you make it interactive in some way. But playing team games is a great idea, whether it’s Pictionary or capture the flag.

The best party theme reflects:

The reason for the party
The preferred style of the guests
And the goal for the party

Now that you’ve laid the foundation, it’s time to brainstorm.

Make a free-flow list answering these questions and then cross items off later.

Think about the guest of honor (or your) favorite things: colors, pastimes, books, movies, sports, food, or animals. (What does the guest of honor talk about?)
Reflect on a time period that would be interesting to the guests: 50s, 70s, 90s, futuristic. Would they love to dance or dress up from that era?
What would they love to wear: costumes, suits & fancy dresses, plush animal onesies, themed t-shirts like Sesame Street or superheroes, or something totally outlandish?
What has been happening in the news, trends, and new TV shows or films that could be a party theme?
Is there a cause that everyone is concerned about: save the earth, famine, children in other countries, or animal shelters.
Are there places that you’ve visited or would love to visit: not just specific countries, but a cabin in the woods, a waterfall, or museum?
If the guests are all family or friends who know each other well, recreate a time or a place that you all loved. Christmas can be celebrated anytime!

Want more ideas?

Yes, check out Pinterest for ideas for sure! (See our Pinterest – over 200 boards.)
See our ultimate list of party theme ideas & write down whatever sounds like something your group of guests would be excited to attend.

Test your party theme ideas.

A great idea is only great if it can be implemented. Can you really carry this party theme off? Time for a little research.

Can you find decorations for this theme? At a reasonable price?
If you’re planning on costumes, is it something that people could readily do without great cost?
Are the necessary venues available?
Search for themed menu ideas that you can make yourself, unless you’re hiring a caterer.
Does the entertainment required fall within your budget?
Can you find games and music that fit the theme?

If the answer is no to any of these questions, it’s time to rethink your choice of party theme.

Pre-event events:

If you can’t decide between a couple of party themes, invite your closest friends to a mini-party that showcases your ideas for the themes and get their input.

Pump up the excitement for the party using social media. Keep your goal for the party in mind as you choose keywords and hastags.

How to Decide on a Party Theme

Why are you having this party?