Don't be an Inglorious Bastard by leaving your party planning Up In The Air. If the prospect of hosting a Red Carpet evening with family and friends has you muttering, "It's Complicated", check out these tips for An Education in event planning. Then step Up to the podium and show your guests how Precious their company really is.
Get the ball rolling by sending out a glitzy invite. Evite has a great selection of Hollywood inspired invitations.
The Red Carpet oozes glitz and glam, so make your party pop by decorating to the Nines. You can order supplies online or check out party supply stores in your area for glamtastic accessories that will put your party on the best dressed list.
Let your guests strut their stuff on the red carpet. Many event companies rent red carpets, but it's pricey at $100 per day. So unless you've been featured on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, a carpet runner ($8.00 at www.amazingpartystore.com) will do the trick. Enlist a few friends to pose as paparazzi. Have them snap pictures and interview each guest as they arrive. Don't forget the video. For an added touch, compile footage into a mini-movie. Upload to youtube and email the link to guests as a party keepsake. Who knows, maybe your movie will go viral and James Cameron will take notice and whisk you away to Hollywood and Brad Pitt will spot you across the MGM lot and fall for you instantly and take you in his arms and... what? It could happen.
The Main Attraction: Food and Drink
The most important element of any awards night is the food. Keep it simple and accessible. Finger foods are perfect. Glam up regular movie house hot dogs by serving turkey and veggie dogs. Don't forget the gourmet condiment station. Greasy, cardboard pizza gets two thumbs down. It's red carpet glam baby, so splurge for the good stuff. Place bowls of movie house candy around the room and of course, no movie night is complete without plenty of popcorn.
Glamour-tini
Shake 1 ½ oz. Absolut Mandrin, ½ oz. Grand Marnier, 1 oz. cranberry juice and 1 oz. fresh lime juice over ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a slice of Starfruit.
Velvet Rope Fizz
½ oz. Triple Sec, ½ oz. raspberry cocktail or pomegranate juice. Top with sparkling wine. Serve in champagne flute. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Dressed as a favourite character or movie (i.e. dress in white from head to toe and top with a paper boat hat with a hole ripped in the side=Titanic), lounging in comfy PJs or decked out in formal black and white attire; It's not important “Who are you wearing.” The point is to encourage guests to participate in the theme. Games are always a great way to stir up excitement and promote mingling. An easy and popular game is “Who Am I Anyway?” As each guest steps off the red carpet, stick a label on their back. The label should name a former winner. Your guests ask “yes or no” questions throughout the night (during commercials is preferable) to determine who they are. The first to discover their identity wins a prize. The last person standing must help with post party clean up!
Set up a podium near the t.v. and provide a microphone. Allow guests to make speeches during commercial breaks. Your guests' silly rants will probably be as entertaining as George Clooney's acceptance speech. Ok, maybe not George's. That man can entertain me by clipping his toenails while doing his taxes.
Provide each guest with an Ballot sheet. There are a number of websites that provide these to download. The female guest with the most correct winners, wins a prize (perhaps a female statuette). Do the same for the best guessing male. Statuettes can be ordered online and make great prizes or decorations. Allow the winners to gloat by giving a brief acceptance speech. Be sure to include this footage in your movie. You know, the movie that will most likely be nominated for best picture next year!
Happy Red Carpet night everyone!
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