What’s more fun than a fiesta party on a warm night? How about a fiesta and a concert? I styled this event for one of my favorite clients this past summer and had so much fun making this fiesta over the top! I used classic Mexican fiesta elements like serape blankets, papel picado and piñatas as inspiration. To make it a little more modern, I added fun elements like paper flowers, hand-painted signs, oversized crepe paper streamers and a strolling table. Top that off with a live concert from Robert Randolph and the Family Band and some amazing Mexican street food from Simply Delicious Caterings, and you’ve got one caliente fiesta!

Vendors:

The post Party Like There’s No Mañana at This Backyard Fiesta appeared first on Evite.

My husband and I wanted to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary in a way that included our children and showed them how committed we still were to each other and our family. We decided to have a small vow renewal ceremony at a local park we frequent with the kids and a dear friend who was our officiate. Our two daughters were the flower girls and our son walked me down the aisle to my husband, who was waiting for me in a small circle of 200 paper hearts that I had hand-punched, affixed to wooden dowels and placed in the ground with the help of the whole family. With our kids sitting at our feet and the sun shining down on us, my husband and I read our handwritten vows and recommitted ourselves to one other.

For our reception, we hosted a casual rustic-style backyard BBQ for a small group of friends. We cooked all the food ourselves, my husband built the dessert bar, and my mom sewed the lace bunting we hung across the food table. It was truly a family affair!

Vendors

Styling/Props: SJP Weddings & Events
Photos: Hello Blue Photography
Desserts: Jenny Wenny Cakes
Cookies: Sweets by Gigi
Bouquet: Julep Bloom Design
Bouts & Pinwheels: PaperWeeds
Live Music: Jeff Ban

Start planning your own vow renewal ceremony and reception with this free Evite invitation, or check out more designs in our wedding invitation gallery or anniversary invitation gallery.

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The post Feel the Love (Again) at This I Do BBQ Renew appeared first on Evite.

If you’re looking for a fun theme for your next party, consider going back to the past with a totally awesome ’80s party. You can make it as crazy and over-the-top as you want by using bright neon colors and pop art or tap into your inner “Dynasty” diva for an upscale ’80s affair featuring rhinestones, feathers and eye-popping evening gowns.

Set the Scene with ’80s Decor

’80s party decor is so fun and colorful that you really can have it all. Whether you’re aiming for an upscale affair featuring black furniture and neon accents or a house party with vintage video games and hard rock posters, you’ll have as much fun decorating as your guests will have partying. This awesome ’80s party was planned by Soiree Wedding & Events.

Neon colors were basically invented in the ’80s so they used them everywhere, in the table linens, plates and napkins and overhead with streamers and pretty paper lanterns. For an elegant evening look, they were paired with black and silver accents.

’80s slang totally rocks! And it makes great pop art. The party planners created their own “I Want Candy” banner and hung it on the dessert table. They also created unique photo booth props by cutting out a handful of large speech bubble shapes from black card stock then using white paint to write phrases such as”Totally!”, “Rad!” and “Sussudio.”  You can download a free printable set of ’80s Phrases for your walls and photo booth.

Serve Totally Awesome Food and Drinks

Menu items were named after popular 80s catchphrases, like “Gag Me with a Spoon Jello Shooters” and “Like Totally Rad Cake Pops.” Appetizers were displayed on vintage vinyl records and the too-cute-to-eat cake pops were inspired by classic arcade characters for dessert.

Pretty pink drinks featured a twist on a classic cosmopolitan by combining 2 ounces chilled raspberry vodka, 1/2 ounce triple sec, juice from 1/2 of a lime and 1 1/2 ounces cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Try it for your next ’80s party or any event that involves ladies who love pink, such as a bridal shower, bachelorette party or even a girls night in.

Send Guests Home with Radical Party Favors

The ’80s were a little over-the-top, so your party favors should be equally as fun. Look for totally tubular toys, treats and accessories like ’80s-style sunglasses and rubber bracelets, which now come in bright neon colors and glitter designs. We recommend handing them out at the beginning of the party so guests can use them all night long.

Rubik’s cubes are still popular — and just as addictive — today. Consider handing out classic cubes, mini cubes and key chains in addition to offering other classic ’80s toys, like everyone’s favorite crazy-haired troll dolls. Light-up accessories are also great for an evening event! You can buy glow sticks that guests can fashion into jewelry for a “make your own” gift, or choose LED bracelets, necklaces, rings, ties and hats. Let guests deck themselves out and brighten the party. Or, offer classic candy like candy dots and giant ring pops, all of which you can still find online. Gather your favorites for goody bags, or set out an assortment and let guests choose their own. For the perfect finishing touch, download our free printable favor tags and tie them with a neon or rainbow ribbon.

Vendors

Party photos: Cristina G. Photography
Favor photos: Sparkler
Photo styling: Soirée Weddings & Events

Find more ’80s party ideas here.

Start rounding up the gang for your own rad ’80s party with the free Evite invitation below, or browse more ’80s party designs.

NEXT: Check out more real parties!

The post Party Like It’s 1989 at This Totally Tubular ’80s Party appeared first on Evite.

I began asking my son months in advance what kind of party he wanted for his 12th birthday. We were just a few weeks away when I finally told him that if he didn’t decide on a theme, I was going to pick it for him, to which he replied, “Okay Mom, whatever you want” — any party planning mama’s dream! I thought to myself, “Pretty soon, he’s going to be too cool for Mom to throw his birthday parties. This might be my last chance to really celebrate with him.”

So I wanted to do something special. I wanted a theme that was young and fun and would fill our house with loads of laughter. I wanted a theme that would allow him to run amok with his friends without a care in the world, and so “Camp Run-A-Muck” came to life — a camping birthday party. We pitched tents in the backyard for the boys to sleep in and set up a fire pit for cooking hot dogs and making s’mores. We also set up a nerf gun shooting range and ate chili dogs until our stomachs hurt. My son’s only request was a chocolate birthday cake, and I made sure not to disappoint. At the end of the day, I was one tired mama but I fell asleep to the sound of his laughter coming from the backyard, so I was also one happy camper!

Vendors

Styling/Props: Sweet Jelly Parties
Photos: Megan Long Photography
Printables: Just A Little Sparkle
Cookies: Sunshine Bakes
Cupcakes: Sweet & Saucy Shop

To view the full party gallery, visit the party post on Sweet Jelly Parties.

Start planning your own camping party by sending out this Premium Evite invitation, or browse more designs in our birthday for kids invitation gallery.

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The post Go Wild at This “Camp Run-a-Muck” Birthday Party appeared first on Evite.

Give classic red velvets a festive twist just in time for St. Patrick’s Day by baking these green velvet cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese frosting. Then decorate with these free St. Patrick’s Day printables, featuring cupcake liners, cupcake toppers, thank-you tags and more.

Not a fan of cupcakes? Repurpose the recipe for cake or whoopie pies.

The post Just Your Luck: Green Velvet Cupcakes! appeared first on Evite.

Easter is such a fun time of the year when you have young ones. Now that my kids are old enough to actually enjoy a party, I wanted to throw one for them and a few of their friends. I knew I wanted it to be a little different so I came up with a “Hip Hop Hooray” party based off of my favorite ’90s rap song. Disco balls and Easter eggs — how much fun could that be?

To help set the tone, I started the design process with the paper products. I knew my hip hop bunny had to be cool, so I went with a modern design, incorporating sunglasses and a border of black dots. I set up a nibbling station to house all the snacks and treats, like turkey wraps (“Rabbit Raps”) and 24 karat gold cookies. I also styled a carrot patch featuring snack cups filled with crushed Oreos for dirt and strawberries dipped in orange melting chocolate. The kids loved them. I finished off my table design with some grass mats, a white furry blanket for my backdrop and, of course, some disco balls. The kids got their hip hop on by dressing up in bunny-themed props like ears and glasses. They danced their little hearts out then nibbled on their treats at the “Bunny Break” table. When everyone was hip hopped out, I sent them home with some “Peeps for my Peeps.” The kids had so much fun, and I can’t wait to try something new next year. Happy Easter!

Vendors

Styling/Props: Sweet Jelly Parties
Photography: Hello Blue Photo
Cupcakes: Garden Cakes
Cookies: Creative Little Cookie
Printables: Just a Little Sparkle
Stool Covers/Bunting: Busy B’s Loft

Start inviting the kids over for your own Easter party with this free Evite invitation, or browse our Easter invitation gallery for more designs.

NEXT: Get inspired by more real parties!

The post Get Hip Hoppin’ at This Kids’ Easter Party appeared first on Evite.

This “Wine and Words” party was created for a friend of mine to celebrate her upcoming wedding. One of her favorite things to do on a Friday night is drink wine and play word games, so I decided to create a fun party with all her favorite things designed around board game pieces. I took inspiration from a traditional word game board in designing the tags, favors and desserts. The showstopper installations for this party were the bar height pallet tables. I found three solid pallets, screwed in four table legs and lined them up across my yard to resemble three tile-shaped game pieces. I lined the center of the table with taper candles in empty wine bottles (yes, we were collecting wine bottles from everyone we knew to pull off this look!). The guests circled the tables trying everything — bread, olive oils, olives, figs, dates, dessert shots, cheeses, salami, crackers and fruits of all kinds. Everyone pretty much ate and drank themselves silly. To this day, this remains one of my favorite parties.

Start planning your own “Wine and Words” night with this free Evite invitation, or another invitation from our Engagement Party gallery.

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The post Triple Points for This Wine and Words Engagement Party appeared first on Evite.

Ten years into their marriage, this lovely couple hit the sandy shores of Aruba for a destination vow renewal — as they always promised they would. In front of their family and friends, they renewed their vows at the dream beach ceremony they were unable to afford the first time when they were younger.

The color scheme was inspired by the beautiful blue water and white sandy beaches. The wife created a photo board of their love “story” and lined frames marking off each year at the bottom of each chair. She also made her own bouquet by hand using silk flowers.

The wife highly recommended working with a wedding planner for destination events. “Even if it’s just for little details, […] have a local person be your eyes and ears,” she said. “It made everything go much smoother. I wish we had her for the entire day after the ceremony. If I could have done it differently, I would have done that.”

The couple also performed a sand ceremony with their two kids as a keepsake for the day. The wife’s brother spoke as a witness to the growth and commitment of the family, and the Mr. and Mrs. also wrote their own vows. After the ceremony, the vows were tucked into a glass bottle and thrown into the ocean.

“The best part about doing a destination vow renewal was having all of our friends and family stay in one big house. It made it less expensive for everyone and was a lot of fun,” the wife said. “The celebration started the moment we arrived and went on the entire week. I would recommend giving yourself a few days to arrive and work out any final details before the ceremony day.”

Vendors

The post Celebrate I Do Take 2 at This Aruba Vow Renewal appeared first on Evite.

Indians everywhere are gearing up for Holi, the wonderful, vibrant festival of colors celebrated on March 23rd this year. It is my favorite of all Indian festivals (and we have quite a few), simply because it’s the most fun!

For the uninitiated, Holi signifies the arrival of spring, as well as the victory of good over evil (I know, this is a recurring theme in many Hindu festivals). It is a day when everyone, young and old, comes out on the streets to celebrate the carnival of colors. It starts mildly with friends and family applying dry color on each other’s cheeks. As the day progresses, spray guns (pichkari) and water-filled balloons come out and everyone is fair game. Buckets of water are dumped on unsuspecting strangers, passers-by are dunked into fountains… all is forgiven on this day. After all, Holi hai (it is Holi)!

The merriment continues at least until lunchtime. Then people start making their way home, faces barely recognizable even by their loved ones, and try their best to clean all the color from their bodies, hair and orifices… no easy task and not always successful! And then everyone sits down for a sumptuous and generally vegetarian homemade feast, featuring malpua, rabdi, gujiya, puri, and of course, thandai!

Thandai is a chilled and gorgeously spiced drink made from milk and almonds flavored with saffron, peppercorns, fennel seeds and cardamom. It is like nothing you have ever tasted before and nutritious and cooling to boot.

That’s the G-rated version of thandai, though. The R-rated version is made by spiking the regular thandai with bhang — a beverage made from cannabis, a form of marijuana. Intoxicating, you say? Oh yes! It helps get rid of your inhibitions while you participate in such a public festival, I guess. But I stick to the regular version, thank you!

This time, I decided to shake things up with thandai by adding a splash of Baileys Irish Cream. It is less intoxicating than bhang, but it definitely has a kick and is so delicious!

Here’s my recipe below.

The post Smell the Roses in This Gorgeous Thandai Recipe for Holi appeared first on Evite.

Holi, the two-day spring harvest festival celebrated all throughout the world by South Asians, is one of the things i look forward to most about spring!

Also known as “The Festival of Colors,” Holi begins with lighting bonfires on the eve of the festival. The second day festivities, which take place on March 23rd this year, continue with people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other (think The Color Run times 10!), to celebrate leaving the cold, barren months behind. It’s a joyous and festive occasion that welcomes the warmer months and brightness in one’s life. People of all ages get together at huge parties and fill the parks, enjoying spicy snacks and thandai, a sweet, creamy milk drink flavored with nuts and spices.

A married couple’s first Holi and a baby’s first Holi are celebrated with much grandeur, since they signify a new generation and the start of a new life. For our daughter’s first Holi, I made homemade edible finger paints, since she was just under one year old and still in the putting-everything-in-her-mouth stage. We set up a backdrop and canvas with simple white tablecloths for easy clean up. Meanwhile, my husband and I enjoyed chilled thandai after our at-home Holi session.

Celebrating cultural holidays can be stress-free and enjoyable when you adapt traditions to fit your lifestyle. This mess-free Holi was perfect for our family as we still continued with tradition but in a manner that kept our little one safe. Wishing you and yours a colorful and festive Holi!

See here for more photos of this first Holi celebration. For more ideas on how to celebrate South Asian festivals and celebrations, check out Love Laugh Mirch.

Invite family and friends to join you during Holi with this free Evite invitation, or browse our full invitation gallery for more designs.

NEXT: Check out more real parties!

The post This Too-Cute First Holi Celebration Colors Our World appeared first on Evite.

When you and your gals are prepping to hit the town together (and be sure to check out our pre-girls’-night party), some beauty 911s are sure to pop up. Be prepared to boost the confidence of any damsel in beauty distress with the easy fixes below.

The 911: Static-y hair.
The Fix: A dryer sheet. If your strands are straying towards walls or clinging to your neck and clothes, grab a sheet of fabric softener and rub it on your hair. The same compounds that remove static cling from clothes will help neutralize the static electricity in your locks.

The 911: Unruly eyebrows.
The Fix: Hairspray. We’re not suggesting that you aim the nozzle at your eyes and spray, ladies. Simply pump a single dose into your palm, dip your fingertips, and then smooth your untamed brows. Finish by gently lifting your brows up and to the sides with your fingers and then bearing down against your fingertips for a 10-second count to achieve an epic arch.

The 911: Ghostly, vein-y, or bruised-up legs.
The Fix: Leg makeup. Yes, leg makeup, which is way less risky to apply than self tanner, hides a multitude of sins, adds color, and won’t rub off on clothes or furniture. Just wash it off when the night is over with soap and water.

The 911: Streaky self- or spray-on tanner.
The Fix: Crème bleach. The trouble with tanner is that if you mess it up or it starts to fade, you can’t just wash it off. Luckily, you can remove it completely with the same crème bleach used for lightening facial hair. Just mix up a triple batch (follow the package instructions) and apply it to your offending tan. Keep in mind the bleach will lift the tanner completely, so you’ll need to commit to un-tanning all visible skin or be prepared to darken the freshly whitened limb(s) with body makeup (see above) to match the rest of you.

The 911: Deflated cleavage.
The Fix: Bronzer. After you put your bra on, tuck some tissue paper around the cups to protect the fabric and then use a large, fluffy brush to apply bronzing powder down the center of your chest, blending upward and outward to create a V-shape along your natural curves. The shadowing will give the illusion of deeper cleavage.

Start inviting your girlfriends to your next get-together with the free Evite invitation below or choose another one of our girls’ night out invitations.

NEXT: Check out all our girls’ night ideas!

The post Brilliant Beauty Fixes for Every Girls’ Night 911 appeared first on Evite.

Gift your guy something he'll love! Check out our top picks from this gift guide.

The post 10 of Our Favorite Gifts for Your Favorite Guys appeared first on Evite.

Can’t figure out what gift to get her? Check out our list of spot-on gifts she’s sure to adore.

The post These Top Gifts Will Be Her New Faves appeared first on Evite.

For those who are new to the Indian festival, Holi is the most colorful day on Earth. Imagine a pool party with paints and colored powders, only millions of people are playing across a nation simultaneously.

As a kid, I looked forward to Holi. It was the one day our parents turned surprisingly daring, forgiving and fun. Not only did they dress in beautiful whites, but they even looked forward to getting drenched.

During Holi, most houses and streets replicated the colorful scenes from traditional Indian Madhubani paintings. Although Holi has a strong religious connotation, I personally feel we celebrate the blooming of the flowers — the red, white and yellow colors all around us. You can go fully natural by using colors made from rose, marigold, nasturtium flower petals instead of artificial colors.

Here is my guide to creating your own homemade dry or wet colors. You can use them as dry powder or mix them in water. Some of the following methods will even give your skin a healthy makeover! And most of these ingredients are easy to find in your kitchen or at ethnic food stores.

Orange: Mix orange-colored sindoor (vermilion) with flour.

Green: Mix Henna powder with flour. Or, for a wet version, boil neem leaves in water and leave the mixture overnight to find a beautiful, deep green color in the morning. Plus, neem leaves are very beneficial for your skin!

Yellow: Imagine a color that will leave you glowing! Add Haldi (turmeric) to a pile of besan (gram flour) or plain flour.

Red and Pink: Add red-colored sindoor (vermilion) powder to flour and paint the town red. For a pretty pink color, use a little less of the red-colored sindoor.

Or, for a wet color, add 1 tablespoon of red sandalwood powder to a liter of water and boil, then dilute with more water if necessary. You can also boil pomegranate peels in water to get a deep red shade.

Magenta: Rejuvenate your skin while playing Holi with magenta powder made from beet root. Grate the skin of one beet root into 1 liter of room temperature water for a pretty magenta shade. Boil it if you want a deeper, darker shade.

Invite family and friends over to mix up homemade Holi colors for your own celebration using this free invitation, or browse our full invitation gallery for more designs.

NEXT: Check out more DIYs!

The post Your Skin Will Thank You for These Homemade Holi Colors appeared first on Evite.

This Bellini is named after my grandmother, Bunny (how fitting for Easter!), who mixed up batches of these delicious libations for family and friends every spring.

The post Get Guests Bouncin’ with a Bunny Bellini appeared first on Evite.

Punch is like a party in a bowl — and ideal when you’re having a crowd. Set this fruity springtime sipper out with glasses and let guests serve themselves!

The post Breeze Through Hosting with This Springtime Sipper appeared first on Evite.

This year, mix up your menu with these easy Easter brunch recipes, sure to satisfy all your peeps.

Easter Brunch Drinks

For a fresh spin on this boozy brunch staple, swap OJ for ruby red grapefruit juice in this mimosa makeover.

Or impress guests with this new take on a bellini, starring passionfruit nectar.

For a nonalcoholic option, nothing beats old-fashioned lemonade — and this 3-ingredient recipe beats the powdered-mix version hands down.

Expecting a crowd? Try this even-better-than-you-remember nonalcoholic sherbet punch.

Easter Brunch Food

Keep yourself out of the kitchen and let guests build their own breakfast by setting up a parfait bar complete with fresh fruit, yogurt and granola.

Update classic quiche by baking single-serve spinach frittatas using ingredients you may already have on hand.

Or go retro with an all-time Easter classic, deviled eggs.

End Easter on a sweet note by slicing up this sour cream almond coffee cake topped with cinnamon sugar.

Start planning your own Easter brunch by sending the free Evite invitation below or another one of our Easter invitations.

NEXT: Get more Easter party ideas and brunch recipes.

The post Chick Out These Eggcellent Easter Brunch Recipes appeared first on Evite.

This free bright pink and yellow peeps invitation from Evite inspired a party that was perfect for my four-year-old little girl Parker and her three favorite peeps! The colors totally POP, and I was able to stick to a budget of $35 for table decor (for four guests) and still include sweet edibles, a custom table runner, fresh flower centerpieces and party favors. See how I put it all together at my blog, from shopping by color theme at my favorite discount retailers and our local supermarket as well as a bit of creative, DIY decorating that you can do at home. There’s even a shopping list to get you started!

Plan your own Easter party with the free Evite invitation that inspired this one, or another invitation from our Easter invitation gallery.

NEXT: Check out the next party idea in our Easter Blog Hop from Fizzy Party!

The post Party with Your Peeps at This Kids’ Easter Celebration appeared first on Evite.

The cake is the centerpiece of any good party. I was inspired by Easter grass to make this cake that looks like it’s covered in delicious edible coconut grass. It’s so easy to DIY at home and your guests will be so impressed. Give your kids a chance to help you create this fun Easter cake. Click here to see the full recipe!

Plan your own Easter party with the free Evite invitation that inspired this cake, or another invitation from our Easter invitation gallery.

NEXT: Check out the next party idea in our Easter Blog Hop from Emily Miller!

The post This Easter Egg Cake Will Make You Green with Envy appeared first on Evite.

The Evite invitation that inspired this party was the bright pink and yellow “Let’s Get Together” design. I accomplished this party challenge of $35 by keeping the decor minimal and keeping the focus on time with friends. I served inexpensive brunch foods and decorated with flowers from the yard and items I already owned. I love to send my guests home with a party favor and this party was no exception. I made sure to budget for a small favor. Click here to see the full party!

Plan your own Easter party with the free Evite invitation that inspired this party, or another invitation from our Easter invitation gallery.

NEXT: Check out the next party idea in our Easter Blog Hop from Positively Stacey.

The post Step Into Spring with This Pretty Pink Easter Brunch appeared first on Evite.