How to Host a Spooktacular But Chic Halloween Party
For a creepy but classy shindig.
If bobbing for apples and 'trick or treating' aren't your thing anymore, then never fear! With Halloween lurking right around the corner, we can help you get into the spirit of things by planning a spooktacular but chic séance for you and your friends. Keep reading for our scarily simple tips on how to achieve a creepy but classy Halloween party.
Stick to a Halloween Colour Scheme
Halloween parties usually involve a lot of pumpkin orange and blood red, mixed in with some purple velvet and green gunge, but sticking with a monochrome theme is a foolproof way to ensure your look is more chic than 'eek'. If you want to add colour, choose subtle hints of orange for understated style.
Fake bats, battery-powered pumpkins and gruesome eyeballs are all good fun but they don't exactly scream 'chic'. For a more adult-friendly effect, go down the haunted house route with antique-look accents, moody lighting and metallic touches. Items such as black candle holders, ornate mirrors and trailing artificial plants can be used all year round while things like a skull-shaped ice bucket or a gargoyle statue provide just the right amount of eccentricity.
Feed hungry souls with something a little more appetising than the usual frightful finger foods with a warming autumnal feast. Dishes such as mushroom and brie bruschetta, butternut squash risotto and cinnamon-spiced apple pies bring comfort to your freaky affair. When it comes to desserts, why not try some spooky nibbles or if you really want to get the party started, some salted caramel and white chocolate popcorn ghosts?
One of the great things about being an adult at Halloween is you get to enjoy a creepy cocktail or two. Fill your cauldron with a Vampire's Kiss
(25ml blackberry syrup, 45ml vodka and 60ml cranberry juice), a Ghost (25ml gin, 25ml Cointreau, 25ml lemon juice and a dash of egg white) or a Poisoned Apple (50ml apple cider, 30ml pomegranate juice and 50ml tequila) for a devilishly good time.
Be sure to create a killer playlist in advance of the party, featuring a mix of songs you know your guests will love alongside top Halloween tunes like Radiohead's Creep, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Stevie Wonder's Superstition and (everyone's favourite) Bobby Pickett's Monster Mash. You could even put on a silent scary movie in the background for an eerie effect.
So, ghouls and boys, there you have it - everything you need to know to throw a monster of a Halloween bash. Feel free to add your own twists, whether they be stylish or spooky, and most importantly, have fun! Now let's go get our scare on.
Tip: Scared yet? Nope? Then take a look at these:
- 8 Outdoor Halloween Decoration Ideas
- DIY Day of the Dead Garland
- Try These Printable Halloween Glowing Eyes
