Get Your Ghoul On: How To Host A Halloween Party
Tips from Summer House's Parties & Catering Team
Looking for your own Halloween party inspo? Then it’s time to “get your ghoul on” with Niki Beringer and Jamie Betz of the Summer House Santa Monica Parties & Catering team, who have pro tips and tricks (and treats!) for hosting a monster of a Halloween party.
Get Your Guests in the Spirit
Niki’s first recommendation is to create some excitement for your event with a fun, themed invitation! The invite is your guests’ first impression of your party, so set expectations high with an engaging, inventive save-the-date. Even if it’s simply a message to the group chat, she says to “make sure to draft up a catchy and fun text to get people excited!” No matter how you’re getting the word out, lean heavily into Halloween with spooky verbiage and design.
Scare Up Some Themed Décor & Details
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According to the Summer House events team, “people love a theme,” so it’s time to go all out and incorporate your theme into every aspect of the event. For example, Summer House – Lincoln Park hosted a “Spooky Spirits & Sweets” themed Halloween bash featuring interactive cookie, caramel apple, and candy decorating stations, and frightfully fun cocktails with themed names like the Who Shot Tom Collins and the Nightmare on M Street Margarita.
Set the Vibe
“Ambience is everything,” according to Niki. Summer House – Lincoln Park has transformed its All-Seasons Courtyard into a chic haunted hideaway for Halloween parties, with music and lighting setting the vibe and tone throughout the entirety of the event. To nail Halloween lighting, bring in “lots of moody candles and smoke.” For music, the Summer House party pros suggest curating a customized playlist on Spotify or Apple Music that sets exactly the tone you want.
Jamie Betz and the events team at Summer House on the Lake in Orlando’s Disney Springs are celebrating their first Halloween in Florida. To bring an autumnal spirit to even the most coastal of settings, Jamie says to utilize hollow pumpkin gourds or spooky décor to serve dips and charcuterie. For a more understated, sophisticated vibe, Jamie says to use whole cinnamon sticks as accents on a dessert table or bar to bring in a cozy fall aesthetic and aroma, and incorporate seasonal ingredients into your party menu.
Everyone Loves a Little Healthy Competition
A Costume Contest is a no-brainer for any Halloween party, and the promise of prizes is sometimes all it takes to get everyone excited to dress up! For partygoers who aren’t game for getting decked out, however, the Summer House team recommends offering other activities and games that include prizes or take-home favors to create fun for everyone.
Check out Lettuce’s interactive events guide for more inspiration.
Your party calls for all the treats – no tricks! The Summer House Parties team ensures that “our guests never leave empty handed – we always include giveaways to thank our guests for joining us.” May we recommend stopping by The Cookie Bar at your nearest Summer House location to snag some gourd-geous Halloween-themed treats like Pumpkin Sugar Cookies and ‘Count Chocula’ Crispy Treats?
Check out all the Halloween happenings at Lettuce!
Be the Hostess with the Mostess
Your role doesn’t end when the party begins, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be missing out on the fun! Niki explains that “hosting for us is just as fun as attending.” To check in on guests, the team experience the event right alongside them and live by the motto, “no glass should be left empty.” Make every guest feel like the most important person in the room with simple actions like replenishing their food and beverage and thanking them at the end of the night with a party favor.
Looking for the perfect space for your next event? Check out venues near you.
