How to throw an ⚡epic⚡ theme party

Plus: the Halloween bash my friends can't stop talking about

View this email online Meredith Miotke for NPR Friends,  My favorite part of Halloween, hands down, is the costume parties. I find it so satisfying to get creative with a homemade getup -- then get that big reaction from my friends as I walk through the door of the soirée.  Last year, I threw a Halloween bash and dressed up as Lord Farquaad from the Shrek movies, accompanied by my husband as perhaps the world’s largest gingerbread man. We leaned into the theme by making a spooky witch’s brew punch and hosting a costume contest. Our friends still talk about the party to this day.    Courtesy of Andee Tagle That’s the power of a great theme party, says food and lifestyle journalist and TV host Brandi Milloy. These events thoughtfully engage guests, reflect the personality of the host and bring in elements of surprise and creativity.  But hosting a themed gathering can be daunting. How do you choose the right motif? And how do you get guests excited for it?  Milloy and Natasha Miller, CEO of event planning company Entire Productions, share a goodie bag full of ideas with Life Kit. For one, choose a theme that "your guests will be delighted by and understand," says Miller. Classic motifs like a costume party for Halloween, The Great Gatsby for New Year's or a casino night for a 21st birthday party, for example, are familiar enough for people to get behind without too much explanation on your part. And give people extra time to make room for your party on their social calendars. "If you're expecting guests to have a costume or bring a white elephant gift, you should give them at least six weeks" of advance notice, says Milloy. Listen to the full episode for more tips, then keep scrolling for expert advice on how to make any party memorable. (No RSVP required!) Listen to the episode Newsletter continues after sponsor message More great party tips from Life Kit 🎵Our party planning experts agree music is a must-have to set the tone for any soiree. NPR Music's Bobby Carter says to create a successful playlist, structure it like an airplane flight.  🥂A toast is the wildcard for every big event. Learn how to give a good one with the simple (and convenient) acronym: T-O-A-S-T.  💘Looking to chat up the cutie by the party punchbowl? The key to flirting is to not make it about you. 💌To host a good gathering, keep in mind that the more isn't always the merrier, says Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering. She shares how to create an effective guest list. 🗣️Good parties begin with good conversations. Listen to this episode with author and chitchat expert Celeste Headlee for tips on how to be a better conversationalist.  Have fun this weekend, all. Creep it real and give ‘em pumpkin to talk about! 👻 –Andee Tagle, Life Kit reporter-producer Access Sponsor-Free Episodes Want to support our show? Try a subscription to Life Kit+ and get all the tips and tricks you love sponsor-free! Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit.  Learn More Your turn: Tell us about your best theme party Did you throw a great theme party recently? Tell us about it. What made it successful? What tips do you have for others? Email us at lifekit@npr.org with the subject line “Theme party” with a couple of photos, your response and your name and location by Wednesday, November 9, and we may feature it on NPR.org.  Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy