Are you thinking of throwing a themed party?  There's nothing like sitting back at the end of a well-planned party, watching your friends and family enjoy the fruits of your labor.   There's also nothing like the embarrassment of a hastily thrown together party that doesn't quite work out the way it should have.

I have created a sort of bare-bones guide to holding a themed party.  If you use your imagination, you too can host a one-of-a-kind get together and be the hit of the party season!

When & Where:  Make sure and look at a calendar before committing to a date.  Steer clear of dates that are too close to a holiday (unless you are hosting a holiday party, of course).  I typically ask my close friends if they have plans on an upcoming weekend.   If you plan on having the shindig during a hurricane/rainy season, make sure to  keep an eye on the weather as the day approaches.  If you are hosting the party outside, you might want to move it inside somewhere or reschedule to a better date.  (Or I suppose you could just change your theme to "Singing in the Rain" and play a Gene Kelly inspired soundtrack.)

Venue:  I generally host all of my parties at my home.  I live in on 2 acres of land in a very laid-back neighborhood.  I can have friends over into the wee hours of the morning without disturbing my neighbors.  This might not be your case.  An apartment could be the perfect location to host an intimate wine-tasting party but it wouldn't be the best place for a 100-guest Rock & Roll Extravaganza.  Take a look at hotels in the area.  After partying late into the evening in one of the banquet rooms, how easy (and safe) it would be for your guests to walk directly to their personal hotel rooms.  (Most hotels will give a price break on the sleeping rooms if you rent a banquet room.)  Also, take a look at convention centers, party rooms, banquet halls, themed restaurants, nightclubs, beachhouses, lakehouses, etc.  Make sure to find out the rules and regulations of the venue before signing on the bottom line.  You don't want to have to wrap up your party early because the location closes down at 8:30 pm.

Invitations:  Once you have a date and place, it is time to let your friends in on your plans!  I've used many different forms of invitations.  The last party I had, I used e-invitations (www.evite.com) and enjoyed the fact that I received so many RSVPs (all the recepient had to do was click on Yes or No).  A more personalized option, however, is the written invitation that is mailed to the invitees home.  You can allow your imagination to really run wild on this one.  (A bottle of sand with tiny seashells and a rolled up invitation for a beach party, a singing telegram invitation for a roaring 20s theme, an invitation inserted into a deck of cards for a Casino Night party).  Make sure that the invitations go out at least three weeks before the date of the party.

Decor:  Even if this is a party for adults, if you go wild with decor it will make for an exciting evening.  I tend to go overboard and it allows the partygoer (especially the males) to revert back to a simpler time where they can act like a kid (and still drink beer).  GO WILD WITH THIS ONE!  [Beach party - Make your own private beach.  Sand, umbrellas, lounge chairs, lifeguard stands]  [Luau - Tiki torches, leis, limbo stand, firepit]  [Mexican Fiesta - Pinata, sombreros, red/white/green table skirting, mexican blankets]  The only limit is your own creativity.  Remember, the first impression of a party's success or failure will be determined by the decor.  I always get my invitees into the mood by having them dress up for the event.

Activities:  Try and select activities that would appeal to the group you have invited.  If you have a pool at your venue, you could always play water volleyball, host a bathing suit contest, or hire a group of synchronized swimmers.  If you are having a beach party you could play frisbee golf, dance around a giant bonfire, organize a game of coconut bowling, or have a hula contest.  When I had my luau, I broke out a blow up pool, two slip-n-slides (we had races), a limbo contest and dug a huge bonfire pit.  I always had something to entertain my active guests with (and plenty of chairs to entertain my more lethargic acquaintances.)

Food:  Plan your food around the theme of the party.  Tropical fare would go perfect with a beach or luau theme.  Enchiladas and other south-of-the-border treats would fit wonderfully into a Fiesta.  A make-your-own-fajita station would be quick and easy.  Gyros, hummus and grape leaves would really make your toga-attired guests feel like they were in Athens.  During our luau, we roasted a pig underground like the natives do in Hawaii.  (I also added garlic and citrus-infused chicken to the dug out pit.)  What a hit!  Small details (like adding umbrellas to frozen drinks and making ice bowls to hold shrimp cocktail) really add a distinctive flair to any party.  You can find ideas online (Martha Stewart has some wild ones!)

Soundtrack:  Music is the key to a good party.  Plan your music around your theme.  (Flaminco for the fiestas, renaissance festival groups for the medieval parties, compilations for the 60's, 70's and 80s parties)  You will find almost any soundtrack you want online.  If you are able to spend a bit more money, live bands are great and put everyone into a dancing mood.  Make sure you ask around before hiring one and read any reviews that you can find.  It would be a shame to hire a Guns & Roses cover band and they end up sounding more like Oingo Boingo.

Lighting:  Now this is the part I love.  I use Christmas lights at all of my parties, no matter the season.  Tiki torches add a tropical sense and small tea lights provide an immediate intimacy.  Make sure you light all walkways, especially when you know the party will last long after the sun goes down.  I tried this idea at our last New Year's Eve party and it added instant ambiance.  I purchased 300 white paper lunch bags, filled them with approximately 1 cup of play sand, put a tea light in the middle of each one and placed them around the perimeter of my front and back yard.  When the sun went down, we felt like we were in our own little world.  Lighting can alter one's perception and so, for a few hours at least, your guests will forget about the stresses of everyday life and be transported into a world of relaxation that you have created.

Possible party themes:
Luau
Mexican Fiesta
Roaring Twenties
Pajama Party
Greek Toga (or Gods & Goddesses)
Beach
Superbowl
50's (Rock around the Clock)
Mardi Gras
Casino Night
County & Western
60's (Peace, Love, Flowerpower)
70's (Disco)
80's
Tailgate
Pirate/Wench
Pimps/Ladies of the Evening
Circus
Arabian Nights (Harem)
Bad Taste (Bad Style)
Chains & Leather
Cross Dressing
Glow in the Dark
Heaven & Hell
Titanic
Hollywood
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Masquerade
Viking
Medieval
Storybook
Renaissance
Moulin Rouge
Murder Mystery (never done one but I really want to)
Stone-age Party

No matter the theme, remember to relax!  The purpose is to have fun and get all of your friends together to catch up and de-stress.  Don't let the planning get the best of you!  If the host is having a good time, the guests will too.