Nautical Theme Ideas
The sea and sailing are two of the most evocative things in any culture. There is something about setting sail on the open sea that really lifts the spirits and energizes the mind. Few people will ever feel the true excitement of being a sailor, but a nautical theme party can capture some of that excitement. Does this Spark an idea?
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Boats
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No nautical party is complete without at least one boat. There are many ways to bring boats to a nautical party. You can buy toy boats to place around the house and outside party area. This is perfect for a children's nautical party. You may also want to invest in at a cheap boat for a dramatic outdoor decoration. There are many inexpensive rowboats available as well as mock-ups of boats. Once you have your boat, decorate it. Drape some fishnets on the boat as well as throughout the house and yard. Put a little sand and seashells in the bottom of the boat as well as throughout the yard. The whole outdoor space should feel like the beach. If you get more than one boat, you can use them for many different things: At a children's party they can be used as places to play; for an adult's party, they can be used to store beverages or food; if the party is near a lake, a boat can even be used to take rides on the water.
Sailing Costumes
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Wearing sailing costumes immediately inspires a nautical mood. Find some costumes at your local party store to distribute amongst your guests. If this is too expensive, you can either sew them yourself or ask guests to bring their own. Elaborate costumes would work best, but if there isn't time for this or if they are too expensive, you can buy accessories to hand out, such as sailor hats, eye patches, a fake wooden leg or a wooden pipe. Wearing a costume at your party shouldn't be a requirement, since that will alienate people who are uncomfortable with wearing costumes, but most people will want to wear costumes to get into the mood. For extra decoration, you can use blue and white napkins, plates and silverware. Blue and white are two of the most common colors associated with the sea and they will make any nautical party feel more authentic.
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Undersea Creatures
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The sea holds a wide variety of fascinating creatures--use them to decorate your party. Find pictures of sharks, fish, crabs and whales online to print out and put on your walls. Find stuffed versions of these creatures and place them around your house. Though stuffed creatures are most appropriate at a children's party, an adult party can be enlivened by them too. Serve seafood like fish, shrimp, octopus and clams.
Undersea Games
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Though games are more appropriate for a children's party, most adults enjoy party games. Making nautical-themed party games is simple. Set up small children's pool and fill it with envelopes. Inside each envelope is a piece of paper with a prize written on it. In each envelope is also a piece of metal. Tie a magnet to a string and then tie the string to a ruler or yard stick. The guests will use this "fishing pole" to fish for envelopes (one per person) to see what they win. The prizes can be gifts you have bought, candy or even a booby prize (for example, one of the prize papers can read "You get to kiss the dog!") Other games can include pin the tail on the parrot and different forms of tag.
Sailing Music
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Good party music can help set the mood for any party. The music for a nautical-themed party is important. If you just put typical party music on, it won't enhance the atmosphere of your party. There are many CDs available of nautical music. For example, the Popeye theme is available on CD (it is also known as the Sailor's Hornpipe). You can also find music from the TV show SpongeBob Squarepants, or use a mood CD that features sounds of the sea. If you are having a hard time finding sailing music, you can play surfing music. The Beach Boys greatest hits would be an excellent soundtrack to your nautical party. The song "Sailing" by Christopher Cross would also make an excellent addition. Dick Dale's daring instrument surf guitar tunes will enliven any nautical party. Loading your songs onto an iPod will make them easier to access.
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