Put On An Extraordinary Halloween Party
Halloween isn't only about dressing up and eating candy. Pumpkins, spider webs and scarecrows are gracing millions of lawns, but the trend is moving away from witch hats and jack-o-lanterns and toward high fashion with black-and-white patterns, mixed metals, and skull and crossbones prints.
Since Halloween calls for major celebrations, event designer Bryan Rafanelli suggests reinventing everything from pumpkins and sweets to china, candleholders and fabrics — all inspired from paint colors and fabrics at the hardware store, as well as the newest prints and styles in Fifth Avenue store windows.
He showed how on The Early Show plaza on Halloween by throwing a very chic, festive party. He also offered pointers.
Backdrop
White canvas panel backdrops with black painted images served as a dramatic contrast to set the stage for the party. In this case, Rafanelli also created a stylish runway runner for a fashion show, using white printed images. The graphic prints on 3-foot-by-3-foot solid white paper were inserted into plexi dance floor tiles to create a connective touch.
Cocktail Area
High cocktail tables make an impact in any room and are a great way to mix up typical cocktail seating. Guests can sit on bar stools around the table or simply stand around them and mingle. Tables could be dressed half in white Astroturf and half in black vinyl, with three alternating tabletop options to add depth and variety to the party. They include decorated pumpkins and X-ray-wrapped cylinders serving as creative conversation points. And, to make a huge statement, 5-foot silver candelabras!
To create further interest, incorporate "moving" designs, which are elements that guests can move about with. They include masks and beverages as well as candy and sweets served from trays, all coordinating with a black and white color scheme.
Adult Dinner Table
Every detail of the table, from the water goblet to napkin rings, should tie into the sophisticated black and white Halloween theme. The table can be very sophisticated with chair covers that match the table linen, lacquer charger plates with skull and crow vinyl stickers, and devil references on the place cards, such as. "The DEVIL Wears Prada," "The DEVIL is in the Details," and "Who the DEVIL is sitting here?" Add "misfortune" cookies containing humorous messages like, "You have turned into your mother," "That's not a good color for you," and "Everyone saw you double-dip."
Kids' Sweets Table
Whether a Halloween party includes children or not, it can be worked into a chic theme and still be fun for kids. Consider a low children's table. To offer kids a place of their own, add 18-inch fabricated cubes. All candy, sweets and treats are black and white, and interactive.
Reinvent the most basic by creating an Oreo bar. Oreo bars are done best when set on square plates in piles of like-flavors and labeled with tent cards. The Halloween labels use names such as "Monstrous Mint" and "Count Chocolate" as a fun twist. Alongside the Oreos, serve shots of milk and chocolate milk. In clear glass bowls, hold single-colored candies in black and white, such as M&Ms and covered nuts. All sorts of other candy and desserts in black-and-white can be added to the table, such as Zebra cakes and white, chocolate-covered cookies. Simple white lunch bags can be decorated by stenciling images on them with black markers creating trick-or-treat bags.