A birthday party set in a winter wonderland? Yes, please!
When done properly, a winter party can really make all the guests feel like they’ve been teleported to a magical fairyland. It’s all about creating that perfect ambiance, finding the balance between cozy and festive. Here are the most important tricks to get you started on setting up the birthday party that everyone will remember.
Colors and materials
This is your base, the absolute number one thing to start with. You have your theme, so you need to choose colors and materials accordingly. A winter theme requires cool tones and predominant whites. Use white for larger pieces of furniture and décor (tablecloths, curtains, rugs, etc.) and introduce accessories in shades of blue and grey. Add pops of silver wherever you can, but don’t overdo it or your theme will accidentally slide into glam.
Next, this cool feeling needs to be countered with some warmth in order to create a cozy winter atmosphere. Expose wooden elements for that rustic cabin feel (tables, chairs, shelves, coasters, and details) and have at hand some soft, cushy pillows and rugs.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the best tools when planning an atmospheric party. Don’t use any bright lights or ceiling lights – you’ll be going for soft, atmospheric lighting set in various places. Hang some Christmas tree lights in warm hues across the walls and curtains. You can also stuff these string lights in glass jars to create your own lamp. Have some candles around as well, in order to enhance the festive mood. Just make sure they’re in safe places where they’re not likely to be knocked over by someone.
Decorations
You can get everything ready for the party if you prefer it that way, but it would be pretty fun to make decorations with your guests once they arrive. You can make snowflakes with just scissors and paper and hang them in garlands with some string, or make snowball garlands using Christmas ornaments. Throw some pinecones in the lot as well (you can paint them silver). And don’t forget glitter! The twinkling of glitter will create a magical atmosphere that resembles snow-covered fairyland at night. Fill balloons with glitter and hang them from the ceiling, fill small jars with it to get table centerpieces, and sprinkle it wherever you wish for a touch of magic!
Photo Center
Don’t forget to snap a lot of pictures to cherish the memory of your fairytale birthday. You can rent a booth with a fun winter theme to get silly in front of with your guests. It’s good to have a separate place designated for photos because the light is dimmed at parties, so most candids fail and you just end up with numerous photos of flash-struck guests in the half-dark. Find a nook in your home to set up a backdrop and bring your guests there for a little birthday photo session.
Party food
Your food is also a part of the decoration, as it should be delicious and festive-looking. This part gets really fun when it comes to winter parties because you get to play around with desserts to get some really cute results. Decorate cookies and gingerbread men, make decorative and delicious winter cupcakes and place some cool swirly lollipops on the table.
Lastly, surprise your guests with some cool-looking winter cocktails and you’re all ready for a memorable time. Remember that it’s your day, so don’t fret about making everything perfect, but rather enjoy the process of decorating and theming. Then, sit back in the fairytale that you’ve created and enjoyed the attention!
Author: Nina Simons
