Hollywood Party ideas

Roll Out the Red Carpet

Make sure the scene is set for your guests when they arrive. As you know, there are almost no Hollywood events that go on without a red carpet unless the carpet instead matches the color of the sponsor or theme of the party. As your guests strut down the red carpet, have a backdrop in place for them to take pictures. Have the backdrop emblazoned with logos for your event. If it’s a corporate event, have your company logo, or for a prom, have the logo designed for dance. At the backdrop, book a photographer to be in place to take some pictures of your guests as they arrive. The photos can then be used as a party favors or you can let your guests purchase them later.

Once inside the venue, your guests should instantly get the Hollywood vibe. A good color theme inside could be black and gold. Feature the entryway with a black and gold balloon arch, and depending on the venue size you could also do balloon columns throughout the party. For wall decor, buy or rent a backdrop that features the Hollywood hills with the sign or for a formal event choose some elegant draperies. Other decor item possibilities are stars, movie reels, and cameras. Many party favor stores or companies will have hanging stars you can use to decorate with. If you are providing a meal, get creative and fun with the tabletop centerpieces. Going back to balloons, you could use balloon centerpieces, or simply some type of vertical or 3D star design. For a more formal event, get an event florist to create centerpieces that features appropriately colored flowers. Make sure you have appropriate linens and chair covers; they should match your color scheme. Also, instead of using table numbers, you can label the tables with names of people on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, such as, Marilyn Monroe, Kevin Bacon, and Joan Rivers.

Party Like the Stars With the Stars

Now to one of the more important aspects: entertainment. I mentioned the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier. One entertainment option is to hire some impersonators to mingle with the crowd, take pictures, and possibly perform. These impersonators could include Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Elvis, and Bette Midler. If you’re not using impersonators for performances, you’ll want to book other musical entertainment. Hire a cover band, tribute band, or jazz band to perform all the hits. If you don’t have the room for or don’t want book a band, choose a DJ instead. They have a wide selection of music and will quite often act as an emcee as well.

For the performances, be sure the venue can provide adequate light and sound. If they do not have the proper equipment, hire an outside A/V company to make sure your party goes off without a hitch. For a Hollywood party, you may want spotlights featuring certain people at designated times. At a more modern Hollywood party, find a laser light show company to provide lighting and entertain all at the same time. Lastly, if you bring in an out side sound tech, make sure they have time to work with the band to get everything set up. You don’t want any technical difficulties.

I’ll Take a Forrest Gump Please

Last up is food and drink. If you’re planning on having a sit-down dinner, hire a caterer to take care of the meal. If you’ve chosen to go with celebrities names as table designations, get creative with your waitstaff. Have the server at the “Marilyn Monroe Table" dress up as Marilyn Monroe, etc. Since most impersonators are professionals, they won’t want to be waiting on tables; however, if you put the request in with the waitstaff company well in advance, they may be able to accommodate as long as you cover costs for any costume purchase. For a less formal option, you could have waiters butler hors d’voures as your guests mingle throughout the party. An option that is in between is to have a buffet. For a formal meal, go with an entree buffet; for a more casual evening, choose an appetizer buffet.

You can’t have food without some beverages. Hire a bartender to keep the drinks flowing like a real Hollywood party. Instead of having a full bar, you can create a few specialty drinks that your guests have to choose from and name them after famous Hollywood stars or locations. For example make some drinks called, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, or The Forrest Gump.

Hopefully these tips can help you execute a fabulous Hollywood themed party! If it all seems like too much, hire an event planner to help you coordinate the details. Have fun and party like a star!