Kids Halloween Party on a Budget

Inspiration

• Since I was throwing a party on a budget of only $500, I went to Target for some inspiration. I found everything from Halloween candy to Jones Candy Corn Soda and the best part is that I only spent $150!
• I found Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix and frosting with cupcake holders, Happy Halloween popcorn cups, orange paper beverage napkins, acrylic Halloween tumblers, Halloween straws and mini pumpkin metal pails (that are great décor to use for candy.) 
• All of that Target shopping was the inspiration for the party.  Then I went home and decided to really “CREATE THE CONCEPT” for the party.  

Chic Tip: Pottery Barn Kids has a lot of great costumes!


Theme

• An inexpensive Halloween Party for babies ages 2-18 months.

Budget

• I set a budget of $500, but you can decide what amount is best for your party.

Number of Guests

• 10 to 12 adult guests and their children.

Where

• My backyard.

When

•  A very casual Sunday afternoon lunch at noon.

Guest List

• Figure out who you want to invite and how many guests you will have.
• Type a guest list with names, phone numbers, addresses, and e-mail addresses.
• Invite more people than you actually want to attend.

Invitations

• I realized that since this was Baby Lucas' First Halloween Party, invitations were a must.
• Buy a box set of 20 invitations, write out the copy and scan them into the computer.

Adult Menu

• I recommend ordering from the California Pizza Kitchen if you don’t want to cook for the party, since the food is Diner Chic and easy to eat, serve and plate. Usually I order from them but my friend Anne, who is an amazing chef and caterer, offered to do the food for this party. 
• Use popcorn as a substitute for nuts. You can call The Popcorn Factory ahead of time and have it delivered directly to your home.
  

Chic Tip: The orange and black Halloween Kettle Corn is great décor in a glass bowl or even the cool Halloween tin it arrived in!

• Think about what food you plan to supply for your guests and then decide what dishes you want to serve them in. Write down a list of what you are going to serve, and pull all of your dishes and do a dry run.

Desserts

• Fairytale brownies: my favorite, since people love them at parties.  There are various assortments and they are bite-sized. 
• Pillsbury Halloween Cupcakes: I made these the morning of the party. Everyone always loves a good cupcake and they are a Target inspiration!
•  Sambazon organic juice: the perfect drink to go along with these desserts. 

Drinks

• Jones Candy Corn Mini Soda Cans are great because they add to the festive Halloween décor.

• Hand out Fiji water bottles on trays, which eliminates having to use water glasses.

• Serve Signature Cocktails made ahead of time: Grey Goose Buonasola, Grey Goose Clement Couler, and Il Sole Veuve Clicquot Bellini (One of my favorite hot spots in LA!)

• Ask a friend with beautiful handwriting to write the names of the guests in bright orange ink on each bag by using a Sharpie.  
• Purchase white bags that are monogrammed with each child’s name and fill them with bubbles, bats, Halloween bath toys or other thrifty treats. You can also put stickers on the bags to add a fun touch.
• Hire a photographer or play one for the day and send your guests pictures from the party in a framed card as a remembrance.

INVITATIONS:

Paper Source: 1.888.PAPER.11

FOOD:

Caterer Anne Jantzen: 310-866-1252

David's Cookies & Brownies: Cookie jar

The Popcorn Factory: 1-888-216-0235  Halloween Kettlecorn

 
Fairytale Brownies: 602-489-5140
Halloween Morsel 24
Fairytale Cocoa, Halloween Sprite Dozen & Cashew Combo
Fall Wishes Medley

DRINKS:
Sambazon Organic Juice: 877-726-2296
Fiji Water  2 4x6 multipacks of 500mL bottles
Grey Goose Vodka Orange Grey Goose
Veuve Clicquot
Il Sole (Bellini): 310-657-1182, 8741 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069 
DECOR
Party America  Amscam wall decorations
Target
Shaky Cup, $1.99
Wilton Wacky Webs Party Pack
Boo & Co Popcorn Cups,  $2.99
Orange napkins

COSTUMES
One Step Ahead
Pottery Barn Kids

GIFT BAGS

Oriental Trading Company
Halloween character bubble
Mini pumpkin magic springs
Halloween rubber duckies
Halloween finger puppets

The Popcorn Factory: 1-888-216-0235  Halloween Kettlecorn
CVS: 888.607.4287
Halloween Stickers
Sharpie marker
ULINE: 800.958.5463  White shopping bags

Calligrapher Gilliam Yee-Pham, 310.200.6887

GAMES AND BEST COSTUME CONTEST

Costume Contest Best Costume, Rock Star Baby prize
Photographer Amy Graves

 

1. Invitations from Paper Source -- $20.00
2. Stamps --   $5.00
3. Popcorn from The Popcorn Factory -- $37.99
4. Other Food Items -- $200.00
5. Case of Fiji Water -- $37.50
6. Signature Cocktail -- $40.00
7. Jones Candy Corn Soda -- $4.00
8. Halloween Candy from Target -- $10.00
9. Brownies from Fairytale Brownies -- $29.95
10. Bags from U Line -- $10.00
11. Stickers from CVS -- $1.99
12. Slinky, Bats and Bath Toys from Oriental Trading Co.             $25.00
13. Wall Decorations from Party America -- $17.99
14. Pottery Barn Décor -- $30.00
15. Target Miscellaneous -- $30.00    

 

TOTAL: $440.43

   

• Remember: for any costume party, the guests are always part of the décor

• Use dishes, goods, and decorations that are orange, white and black to go along with the Halloween theme.

• Make your home party-friendly by moving anything breakable to another room that guests won’t be in. If you have daybeds, bring them outside to create an outside vignette.

• Purchase Amscam wall decorations from Party America. Use double-sided tape to stick them up to avoid making holes in the walls. They are simple and easy to cut out; it is a kid’s party after all!

• Set up a buffet for the party with black, orange, and white dishes. The Pottery Barn Kids Catalog has some adorable ghost placemats and spider web acrylic plates.

• Potted orchids work well for this party if you want to decorate with flowers.
  

• Contest and prize for the best costume.
• Pumpkin carving.
• Storytelling (I recommend Who Said Boo from Pottery Barn Kids.)