Event Guide: 5 Ghoulish Decoration Ideas for Your Halloween Event

It all started on All Hallow’s Eve night. The rain was heavy and thunder crashed from above. Witches flew on their broomsticks, and zombies crawled through the fields. In the distance, werewolves could be heard howling as if they were calling out to their former soul. Cauldrons bubbled and potions brewed.

Phew! OK, although I feel like we’re forgetting one scary group, I’m pretty sure we covered our bases on every potential spooky story told this week. We just wanted to prepare you for what’s to come when Halloween arrives on Saturday. Speaking of Halloween, how are you designing your next event? It doesn’t matter if it’s a wedding or a neighborhood party, decorations are key to making your event the spookiest. And the best part, you don’t even have to spend a fortune to create the perfect scene. We have five ghoulish decoration ideas for the scariest Halloween party! Don’t be too frightened—we promise to keep the vampire teeth from biting.

Candy Corn Flowers

Forget the sand, water, or rocks—it’s candy corn time! Candy corn is the one treat everyone associates with Halloween. Our idea for this candy though is not to eat or use it in place of bubbles at the end of a wedding reception. We’re thinking more of using it in flower arrangements.

Candy corn arrangements are easy to create. Fill glass vases with the candy and then add your flowers. For the perfect flower combinations, your options are wide open. We suggest adding twigs and branches to give base to your arrangement. And so far, gerber daisies are our favorite flowers for these centerpieces.

Mummy in the Bathroom

One of the most neglected places in an event space are the bathrooms. Here’s an area almost every guest visits, but it’s one we all forget to decorate. So we’re here to fix that! Even if you just add flower arrangements to the area, it can really bring your event full circle. But for your Halloween event, why not add a mummy to the bathroom? Toilet paper decorations and designs are cheap, making it perfect for decorating multiple spaces.

Vampire Teeth Napkin Rings

Instead of the traditional paper napkin ring, why not try something with a bit more bite? Vampire teeth are the perfect fit to a hold a napkin and utensils. These little gift bag souvenirs are available at almost every party store, and are reasonably priced too. All you have to do is slip the wrapped napkin through the teeth, and there you go, vampire teeth napkin rings.

Chemistry Beverage Set

Be the coolest mad scientist by having all of your drink mixes line your shelf in beakers and graduated cylinders. If you have a bar area set up in your event space, add colored lights behind your chemistry set to let the glasses light up and the spookiness take effect. We suggest adding labels to the back of your mixing containers; it can eliminate the confusion when everything looks the same.

Pumpkin Drink Holders

Everyone knows pumpkins are great for carving and creating Jack-O-Lanterns. But did you know they also make excellent drink holders? The idea for a pumpkin drink holder came to me when my brother-in-law sent me pictures of my niece in a pumpkin.  Loving the picture, I thought “What else can you put in a pumpkin?” And the idea for a drink holder came to life. Making this little craft is pretty simple: get a pumpkin, cut it in half, add ice and drinks, and you’re done! And since you can find this oversized gourd anywhere, this decorating tip won’t break the budget. 

Well I think that’s about it from us on this event guide. We hope you’re not too spooked to give these ideas a try at your next ghoulish event. Do you have a favorite Halloween decoration? Share your pictures or tips with us in the comment section below. Oh—that’s who we forgot: the vampires! And no, we don’t mean the ones that sparkle.

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The Event Guide: Outdoor Events in Autumn

Happy October!

As we make our way through the autumn season, the weather gives us a whirlwind of emotions. From rain and breezy 60°F forecasts, to hot and humid afternoons, we never know what’s in store for us. For event professionals, planning around weather conditions can be tricky, especially when it decides to throw curveballs. Don’t live in fear of the weather, though! We have some tips on how to create beautiful fall events, even with the wildly unpredictable fall weather.

Inclement Weather

We know it happens, and sometimes it can come out of nowhere! So don’t let inclement weather catch you off guard or surprise you—plan for it! Suggest to your client that renting a tent, canopy, or a shelter/pavilion is a great way to help fight the elements. Whenever I helped coordinate events, we always planned to have a covering for the guests, as well as for the food and entertainment—trust me, no one wants soggy food or a ruined sound system.

As for your decorations, the wind is a horrible beast to slay, unless you have your own personal stash of pixie dust, also known as sand. Weigh down your vases and ensure that your swags are securely fastened. The wind can even knock over speakers or signs, so make sure to have them weighted down as well.

Comfortability Factor

Your clients waited until Fall to host their event because they didn’t want their guests sitting in 90°F heat. But now, they’re facing the unpredictable autumn temperatures. However, there are ways to prepare. For cooler temperatures, you can use outdoor space heaters, start a bonfire, or provide throw blankets to keep people warm. If the weather looks warm, consider these items:

• Fans
• Misting machines
• Insect repellant
• Sunscreen
• Plenty of water

Oh, and we almost forgot to mention the dreaded nighttime, light-attracted bug: the moth. To keep these little dust-covered animals to a minimum during your evening event, use yellow or softer lighting as opposed to bright white lights.  

Decorations

Now for the best part of all—Fall decor! This event season is all about the color combos, cozy beverages, roaring bonfires, and decorations that complement the beautiful rust-colored leaves that cover the ground. 

• Color Combos

You might be worried that the Fall season seems a little dreary and drab. But with the perfect color combo you’ll have a warm, fall-appropriate, and elegant event. The 2015 color of the year is Marsala, which is a member of the red-brown family. Try pairing it with glamorous shades of gold and metallic to really make it pop. 

• Fall Accents

Now, we’re not suggesting that you break out the orange pumpkins, but you can decorate your tables with more fall foliage to capture the autumnal effect. You can paint gourds with dashes of metallic colors, or use pine cones, twigs, and red leaves to surround some rustic candles. And did we mention mums, dark roses, and coleus for the flower arrangements? Make sure to stay tuned for more details on fall-appropriate flowers in our next edition of the event guide.

Autumn, with all of its beautiful colors, is a perfect time to host an event. Just remember to make your guests comfortable, plan for the weather, and take advantage of the beautiful autumn world around you. Happy Fall planning!

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