Every good party needs a theme

You may think that party themes are for children but that simply isn't true. Every good party has a theme whether is it centered around the occasion (Christmas, Mother's Day, Easter) or a color (White wedding, pastels) or something more exciting (Marie Antoinette, Mad Men, Modern Moroccan). Themes anchor a party and give your party direction. Having that direction makes planning easier as you can use your theme to customize every facet of your party from the venue, to the invitations, the menu, and more. I really really discourage picking separate color palates and themes as they can conflict. For instance, a metallic color theme is difficult to work into a Easter party but could be ideal for a New Year's party, black and red works for a dramatic formal wedding but might clash with a casual outdoor ceremony. Some things to take into consideration when picking a theme: will it work with the time of year (a winter wonderland wedding in May), will your guests enjoy themselves (redneck theme could be offensive), and will it work with the party (a Pirates and Princesses party works great for kids birthdays and Halloween but doesn't lend itself to a wedding). If you are having difficulty picking a theme then think about your favorite things and colors, things that are easy to work with and envision. Do some internetting and find what looks appealing and repeatable. My favorite blog hostesswiththemostess.com because it has specific themes with table-scapes, recipes, cocktails, and a great blog. I will be posting on all of the above parties in the future (I accidentally listed my favorite party themes as examples) but until then use your imagination, you can turn almost anything into a great party theme.
~Adrianna