An item that seems to be a frequent hang up when planning an event is what theme to use.  Although coming up with a theme can feel like an obstacle, once you’ve created one, it can help dictate the rest of your party planning from the menu to activities to colors and actually make the process easier.

Don’t be overwhelmed by choosing a theme!

Color:  A theme can be as simple as using a color or two for unity, like this Hello Yellow summer birthday party by Kojo Designs, featured on Hostess with the Mostess.  Bright yellows are used for food, decor and drinks and make an easy unity for the entire event.  Colors can work well for a bridal shower by using one of the wedding colors with a different accent color.  This will create unity to the main event and you’re guaranteed the bride will like it.

Holiday:  Sometimes the most obvious theme is the holiday you are celebrating!  This 4th of July party by Anders Ruff shows how well this can be pulled off by focusing on elements key to the holiday – sparklers, pinwheels and of course Red, White and Blue!  For Christmas, this could be an event with lots of green and red, reindeer and stocking or blue and white with snowflakes and icicles.  For Valentine’s Day, red, pink and white with hearts and candies.  Sticking to a few key elements will keep your theme feeling focused and intentional.

A favorite of the guest of honor:  For a birthday, shower, or almost any event, choosing a “favorite” of the guest of honor is sure to be a hit.  This could be their favorite activity, animal, book, song, or just about anything you know that they love.  This Peter Rabbit birthday party from Posh Tot Events, featured on Pizzazzerie, shows how a storybook can be used as inspiration for the decor and food.  This party featured bunnies from a petting zoo as well!

Or this “science” themed bridal shower by Bunch Studio and photographed by Alders Photography and featured on Style Me Pretty.  So cute!

Clever/Unique:  As a former English major, my favorite themes incorporate a play on words or phrases used in unusual ways.  This graduation party from Your Homebased Mom, featured on Love the Day, was love at first sight (which would be a cute bridal shower theme…)!  They took the phrase “One Smart Cookie” and turned it into a cookie dessert table based graduation party.

Nearly anything can be turned into a party theme – just keep to a few central elements and repeat them throughout the event for continuity and the overall effect will come through.

What party themes have you used?