How to Create a Hollywood Ambiance at Your Party

Invite guests to take pictures of celebrity look-alikes.

Everyone wants to host a party that is so awesome people talk about it for weeks afterward, and those who miss it vow not to miss your next one. One way to make people fight to make your invitation list is to give your party some Hollywood ambiance and treat your guests as celebrities on the red carpet. Your preparations may take a little longer to complete, but the extra effort will serve to move you to the top of the best party-host list.

Things You'll Need

• Invitations
• Floral arch
• Artificial flowers and greenery
• Ribbon and bow (optional)
• Camera
• Red carpet
• Glue dots
• Lawn or Christmas lights
• Movie and celebrity posters
• Tacky picture strips
• Tulle curtains
• Movie theme songs
• Sound system
• Tablecloths
• Table props
• Food
• Party plates, cups, utensils and napkins

Instructions

1. Send out invitations asking your guests to wear their sharpest fashions and come for a red carpet party at your home or a banquet hall. Specify formal to semiformal attire with a conservative Hollywood theme. Invite the guests to come dressed as their favorite film star wearing recent fashions similar to those worn on the red carpet. Alternatively, guests could come dressed as their favorite Hollywood film character wearing fashions similar to those worn in a recent movie.

2. Decorate a floral arch with beautiful flowers and lush greenery. Use large, artificial flowers and wrap the wire stems around the lattice in the arch. Weave green ivy garlands around and behind each flower, pushing the flower out to display its glory. Fill in all the spaces on the arch with greenery and baby’s breath until you can’t see any of the arch through the flowers. Drape a large, gold ribbon banner or bow across the top of the arch and place the arch in front of your door. Have someone take pictures of your guests under the arch as they arrive at the party.

3. Place a red carpet out on your sidewalk and leading through your front door. Secure the carpet to the sidewalk with large tacky glue dots so it won’t bunch up and trip one of your guests. Light the way up your sidewalk with solar lawn lights or strings of white Christmas lights so your guests can find you and see to walk up to the door.

4. Hang movie posters or pictures of movie celebrities along the walls with tacky strips to make the hanging and removal easier. Drape gold tulle or glittering fabric across the doorways and pull the sides back with ribbon like gleaming curtains. Play movie theme songs on your sound system. Invite the crowd to dance to their favorite movie tunes.

5. Use gold lame tablecloths on your refreshment table and add Hollywood paraphernalia. Options include small script bundles, Oscar statues, movie ticket stubs, decorative film cans, framed movie reviews and movie props. Serve elegant dishes such as watercress sandwiches, hors d’oeuvre, canapes, wine and cheese. Use gold paper plates and clear plastic cups with gold colored rims. Provide gold-colored plastic utensils and gold napkins.