How to Develop a Theme

Why develop a theme for a party in the first place?
Themes tend to improve your overall event for you and your guest. A theme will help focus attention on a main topic and provides a unifying factor which will pull the whole event together. The use of a theme will keep your affair from looking disjointed or like it was planned haphazardly. Incorporate your theme into all areas of the event - the invitations, the publicity, registration, food, decorations, entertainment to reinforce the overall effect.

Choosing a Theme:

An easy way to choose a theme is to shop for the paper plates and napkins first. Build a theme around the picture or print on the plates. This will always give your event a natural tie-in with the coordinating decorations.

There are so many sources from which to draw when choosing a theme. You may want to use an occupation, movie or cartoon character, hobby, special event, place, sports themes, a special song, poem, book or movie, historical eras, foreign countries, just to name a few.

Certain motifs may be more expected, especially if you choose to celebrate around the holidays. Choose themes where you can vary the motif. For example if you choose a Christmas theme, try using angels or bells, if you choose to use Valentine's Day, try using a cupids or animal prints.

If you use a nature theme incorporate the use of plants, flowers, trees and include a variety of colors and textures. The use of butterflies or birds brings a lovely touch of nature to a theme. Use geographic regions in nature to pull a theme together such as the beach, mountains, a lake, or an island.

If you have a special hobby or collection, you could bring items to use as centerpieces or just for display. Ask a friend or family member, with a unique collection, to share their items for a day. Many people have great collections of angels, snowmen, dolls, bells or other items related to a particular theme. The possibilities are endless.

Creative Elements:

Motif:
The motif is the visual representation of your theme, which is created by the use of objects or symbols. If you use the theme "Promises" you may want to incorporate the use of a rainbow or teacups to represent Friendship. This symbol may be repeated on your invitations, program, plates, or decorations. Sometimes the use of several different symbols will be used as components of the theme.

Scottish theme may suggest a family crest, bagpipes, kilts, and Celtic music...

Use of a favorite movie or comic character may suggest movie scripts, caricatures, directors chair, old movie posters or comedy and tragedy faces.

Develop your motif using a list of words related to the theme. Brainstorm a list to create your pool of ideas. This list is very important for generating ideas that can be applied to all areas of the event. For a Parisian theme you might come up with words like cafe, arches, artist, Eiffel Tower, springtime, April, showers,

Mood:
Decide on what atmosphere or mood you want to create. This is where you want to refer back to your list of words you brainstormed. Add words to the list that will portray your mood. If you choose a mediaeval theme you may include rich heavy brocade and velvet fabric, use Gothic lettering on your programs or invitations. Create a feel and a mood that is uniform throughout.

Color:
You'll want to select a color scheme that you will use throughout the theme. Two or three colors work well. Colors will make a big impact so be sure they are ones that will complement your theme. Pastels do well with spring, flowers, garden, or country themes. Mix one or two rich solid colors with a theme pattern for a dramatic effect. Mardi Gras would suggest the use of purple, green and gold. Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. Bold solid colors add to the carnival atmosphere of Fat Tuesday.

Texture:
Incorporating texture will make things look and feel interesting. Using textures will amplify the atmosphere you are creating. For a princess or medieval theme you could use silks, satins, velvet, pearls...nautical themes might be better suited to cottons & linen, beach sand and shells.

Mesh:
Use color, theme, mood to communicate the message....the emotions, the spirit of the event. Again apply the theme, mood, color, texture to mesh your theme throughout your overall event.