"Please don't interrupt me whilst I am soliliquizing"
This was the first party I've hosted since my housewarming 7 years ago, and my first Halloween party in almost 20 years. The intention was for this to be a small "dry run" for a bigger party in future years... but I think this kind and size of party is exactly our speed. Next year, I hope to have more elaborate decorations, including an outdoor display, but this year was just too complicated, what with job changes (John), surgeries and hospitalizations (my dad) and just general stress.
I feel like the party went well. No one there knew that they missed out on anything, since I hadn't shared my plans. We had fun mocking bad movies, chatting, eating, and just hanging out. Now I have a whole year to plan next year's party.
The pre-invitations, or "Save the Dates"
(STDs)
We mailed a pre-invitation in August, asking everyone to "save
this date" and sent a detailed invite in mid-September (because I couldn't
wait). The pre-invite was taken from this
site. I printed out the coffins and the occupants onto white card stock,
using a color laser printer (color inkjet would also work), and cut out and
assembled the coffins. I printed out a short "save the date" note
onto parchment paper, cut out and rolled up each note, then gluing one end near
the hands of the "occupant." For mailing, I would have preferred a
great mailing tube, but had to settle for a rolled-up piece of thin cardboard
for protection and a standard padded envelope. These got a bigger response than
the Poe-themed invitations, and I believe a few of the guests still have their
little coffins! I already have next year's STD and invitation planned, so if
you weren't at last year's party and want the details, email me.
The invitations
I
never thought to take pictures of the ones we sent out, but here are all the
components. I modified an idea found in the book
A Halloween How-to (some text examples here).
I located some decent raven clipart, and added the opening section of Edgar
Allen Poe's The Raven on the front cover. On the inside of the card,
I continued with "Could it be you and nothing more? Well, you and a dish
to pass," then continued with the rest of the party specs and asked the
guests to please send their "Nevermores" by a certain date. On the
back of the invitation, I gave directions, and then some particulars. It was
my first party in many years and I felt the need to explain some things. I printed
the invitations on parchment paper and inserted them into cream greeting card-size
envelopes. Finally, I stamped a raven ("Lenore") and the word Nevermore
on the envelope and addressed the invitations in walnut ink using an antique
dip pen (messy and since my penmanship isn't fancy, I probably wouldn't do it
again...). Fonts: Blackadder & Creature. Both stamps from Gorey
Details.
The guests
The guest list was very limited. There are several people I wish I
could have invited, but there simply wasn't room (it was crowded with the 8
people that came (10 total)). I didn't photograph the guests. Duh. Actually,
they probably appreciated it, since it was "wear comfy clothes" night
and most people took me at my word. I know I did, with lounge pants
and a ratty sweater. Next year, I think the theme will be "cartoon slippers,"
and I'll at least get a picture of everyone's feet. This whole no costume, wear
your pajamas (not literally, although it would have been fine) idea was very
popular.
The menu
Simple and filling. Never needed to make the popcorn we got to go along with
the movie -- everyone was too full! John made chili, with roast stewed in bourbon
for the meat. We asked people to bring something to share along with it, and
between us we had cheese, crackers, fritos, cornbread, croissants and cheese/garlic
biscuits (John told me I'd be the only geek eating Fritos with the chili, but
I had to fill the bowl twice, so...). One guest brought a great assortment of
veggies and dip, another brought chips and dip, and several guests brought dessert.
We laid in an assortment of soda (note: the Pitch Black Mountain Dew was very
popular). It was "BYOB" but only one persn did, and actually no alcohol
was consumed. I can't think of one more thing we needed!
The theme/entertainment
John & I love movies, and we have quite a collection to show for it. Included
in this collection are several really bad movies. So, we hosted a very
casual, laid-back "bad movie night" party. Featured: Plan
9 From Outer Space and House
of the Long Shadows. The quote at the head of the page is from the latter
film, spoken by the immortal Vincent Price. Most of the guests hadn't seen Plan
9, so that was quite a hoot, and I was the only one who had seen House
of the Long Shadows. We had a blast mocking these terrible films.
The pictures (with more exposition) -- click to
see larger pic:
see all the pictures here
 This is "Fred," a new addition to the family. He doesn't eat much. Because of the risk of theft, he'll always be featured inside. |
 Another shot of Fred, this time from inside. |
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 All the guests took home a favor bag featuring some retro toys/candy: crayons, wax lips, taffy "lipstick," cinnamon toothpicks and a tiny bag of spiderwebbing. |
 The portrait gallery... featuring a Haunted Memories portrait, creepy portraits of John & I (plus extras of my dad and grandmother). |
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 "Aunt Sarah" protrait from another angle... now you know why it's called a "haunted" portrait! |
Dessert Table, just below the haunted portrait gallery. |
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 Close-up of the dessert table. So many people brought desserts, though, that it had to be rearranged later. |
 Candy eyeballs in the candy dishes. My dream is to get a few glass eyeballs! |
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 The "ghost wall." We plan on expanding this, with more images -- hopefully larger. John and I (mostly John) created these from photos we took. |
 Below the ghost pictures...the snack back-up bowl. Just wanted to show off my favorite wood bowl... All the partial and unopened bags of snacks were kept here. |
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 The Spread. Finally got to put my collection of wood tableware to good use! |
 Another view of the spread. |
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