Set the right mood, and your guests will experience a party to remember.
Drive-ins and sock hops, peace movements and flower power, the British invasion and go-go boots: cultural icons of the 1950's and 1960's that continue to remain in the American consciousness. With all the fads and fashion of those times, throwing an old-fashioned '50's and/or '60's party is relatively easy and certainly fun. With the right music, decor and food, you and your guests can experience a true blast to the past.
Instructions
If You Swank It, They Will Come
1. An invitation in the shape of a jukebox lets your guests know they can dance the night away.
Encourage guests to attend by sending out invitations they can't help but notice. For a '50's party, cut out and design card stock to look like a vinyl record, a jukebox, a milkshake or cars from that decade. Invitations that look like the lunar landing module or a tie-dyed shirt let your guests know they'll be attending a '60's themed party. For a party that combines both decades, send out cards in the shape of martini glasses.
2. Have fun with your theme.
Create the perfect look for your soiree by placing themed decorations throughout the party area. Be sure to match the decor to the guest list -- tie-dyed sheets for sofa covers and strings of beads are great for a family-friendly party, while an open bar with retro highball glasses works better for adults.
3. Give a prize to the best-costumed guest.
Set the mood with music based on the top Billboard hits from that era. A well-rounded song list should include artists from the appropriate decade(s). Examples: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, the Four Tops, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix.
Encourage guests to show up ready to dance to themed music by providing a list of suggested outfits or accessories. Suggestions include poodle skirts, bobby socks and saddle shoes, leather jackets, beatnik black, go-go boots, Nehru jackets, tapered slacks, suits with wide lapels, bell-bottom jeans, tie-dyed T-shirts, headbands, love beads, and sandals.
Keep The Party Going
4. Choose food that be prepared ahead of time to minimize party day stress.
Offer a buffet featuring hors d'oeuvres, sweets and drinks from the '50's and '60's. Great finger food choices include shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, Swedish meatballs, mini-hamburgers and cheese fondue. For a sit-down dinner, Steak Diane or leg of lamb are impressive main dishes.
5. Serve Tom Collins, Vodka Gimlets, martinis or Brandy Alexanders to the adults and milkshakes or lemonade to the younger set or anyone who prefers a nonalcoholic option. Another possibility is to set up a soda fountain-themed table with vanilla ice cream, toppings and root beer. Guests can make their own sundaes or floats. Use retro style soda glasses for added effect.
6. Bowls of old-fashioned candy are like a trip down memory lane.
Set up a dessert table with chocolate fondue, bundt cake and candies popular during those decades. Tootsie Rolls, Red Hots, Sugar Daddies and Sweet Tarts are affordable, tasty and easy to find.
Remember the most important thing about any party is having fun. You've done the work. Now enjoy your own party!
