Category: Theme Party Ideas

Planning an Island theme party? Come Sail Away with Me! Here are some song selections I was thinking…

ISLAND THEME COCKTAIL HOUR MUSIC LIST

The Tide Is High – Blondie
Toes, Island Song — Zac Brown Band
Escape (Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Homes
Pontoon – Little Big Town
Bad Day At the Beach — Jim Hoehn
Margaritaville, A Pirate Looks At, Havana Daydreamin, Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season, Volcano, Sunshine In the Music , Knees Of My Heart, Tin Cup Chalice — Jimmy Buffett
Coconut Telegraph — Jimmy Buffett

I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
Somewhere over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems — Kenny Chesney
When the Sun Goes Down — Kenny Chesney, Uncle Kracker
Soak Up the Sun – Sheryl Crow
Follow Me — Uncle Kracker
Here I Am (Come and Take Me) – UB40
Higher Ground – UB40
Cinnamon Bay — Gene Mitchell
Tropical Island — Adam Green
Kokomo — Adam Green, Ben Kweller
Kokomo – The Beach Boys
(Put The Lime In The) Coconut — The Hit Crew
Girl From Ipanema — Getz/Gilberto
Broken, Good People, Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Buffalo Soldier, Redemption Song, Is This Love, One Love, No Woman No Cry, Get up Stand Up, etc… – Bob Marley
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Feet – Paul Simon
Dodo – dave matthews
Dreamgirl – Dave Matthews Band
Flake – Jack Johnson
Girls In Their Summer Clothes – Bruce Springsteen
Good Situation -UB40
Graceland – Paul Simon
I Can See Clearly Now – Jimmy Cliff
Into The Mystic – Van Morrison
Keep On Movin’ – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Leaving on a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul and Mary
Me and Julio Down By the School Yard – Paul Simon
Missing Pieces – O.A.R.
No Woman, No Cry — Club Trini (vocals: Jimmy Buffett)
Rude – Magic!
Reggae Vibes – Shaggy
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay – Dennis Brown
Sundown – Gordon Lightfoot
Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
Tomorrow People – Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
Wild World – Maxi Priest
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Jimmy Cliff
Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong – Spin Doctors
Sunday Morning and Beautiful Goodbye – Maroon Five
The sound of sunshine – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Bill Withers – Lovely Day
Down Under – Men At Work
Hey Hey Hey – Michael Franti & Spearhead
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Don’t worry, Be happy – Bobby Mcferrin

If you like this list, visit our Beach Song List and our Beach Theme Party Planning Blog here.

…

Hockey Theme Wedding DJ 

I’ve actually done a few Hockey Theme Weddings recently and have pictures to share with you below, in case you are thinking about the same type of thing for your special day.

Michelle & Tim got married in Latham on March 29, 2014 and we had the pleasure of providing our services for this happy day. The couple had their ceremony and reception at The Holiday Inn Banquet Hall in Latham, NY.

Since the happy couple met at a Rangers game, it only made sense to make the wedding theme match their passion: HOCKEY !!!

They followed the original theme great! They had ice statues, hockey puck place cards, red and blue uplights to match their team’s color, and more! There was a hockey jersey used as a guest book, for all guests to sign when they came in. They used the Rangers Goal Theme song for their entrance song. The had hockey sticks all over the walls, as well as banners and uniform pieces as decorations. They had a hockey theme slideshow and video presentation. And the centerpieces were hockey, too!

Great time had by all!

Hockey Theme Wedding DJ Pictures (Latham, NY) Below

Pictures from another hockey theme wedding (Altamont, NY) below

I also did another pretty cool Hockey Theme Wedding in the summer of 2015. This bride and groom also loved Hockey and went with a hocky theme for their special day. They had a Hockey Jersey Guest book, a hockey place cards seating chart, and a really cool hockey theme centerpiece. Here are some pictures:

As I always say to my clients, if you have the guts to go with a wedding theme, then it really makes the night better. As you can see, both weddings above did just that. I hope the pictures help you with your planning!

READY TO REALLY ENCHANT YOUR PARTY WITH AN UNDER THE SEA THEME?  HERE ARE SOME IDEAS AND PICTURES TO HELP!

Thinking about having a theme for your party or wedding? Themes do make it better and I strongly suggest doing it if you have the guts! So why not host a party that makes a splash? For those of you Back To The Future fans out there planning a party, maybe you remember the scene where Marty McFly had to get his future dad back online to dance with his future mom.

His success in doing so would mean that he would be born in the future, after messing things up in the past. Your success too can come from a tropical adventure party beginning with a few simple party supplies; balloons, fishing line and sandbag weights.  Recently, I was the party DJ for a Senior Prom in the Albany NY area for Averill Park High School that took place at Birch Hill Catering in Kinderhook, NY. Talk about nailing the theme?

The good people on the Averill Park High School party planning committee were NOT OUT TO SEA on this event by any means.

They did an absolutely great job decorating for their “Under The Sea” One of the coolest party decoration accessories they had that I hadn’t seen before was a very simple thing.

BUBBLE BALLOONS ON FISHING LINES WITH SANDBAGS!

This idea is inexpensive and had a great effect. The bubble balloon lines were basically a string of different sized clear latex balloons, sandbagged down to look like bubbles floating upwards. AT the top of the helium-filled balloon strip, there was a large colorless balloon. Beneath that, the next balloon was a little smaller. The next one under that was even smaller and the one below that was very small. This decoration gave the effect that you often see in a fish tank with a stream of air bubble flowing upwards to the surface.

With countless strips sandbagged all over the dance floor as well as other places throughout the venue, it really felt like the guests were under water. Add some blue and green uplights and the fact that the hall has an interesting flowing curtained ceiling and the picture really came together.

MORE DEEP SEA DECORATION IDEAS…

Setting the scene with the bubble balloons, the tables also came into play laced the sea plates, napkins, and cups. Featuring marine-blue tableware with matching under the sea decorations. This ocean-themed decoration construct conjures up a feeling of romantic tropical seas, a cool sea breeze, and cool running waves on tropical murmuring shores. The hall was transformed into a virtual aquarium with colorful cut-out fish decoration and sea life assortments, elegant giant foil fish, seahorses, dolphins and starfish balloons which too, are relatively  inexpensive. These drifting in the air party decorations really added to the under-water feel of desired theme.

DECORATIONS THAT ALSO ENTERTAIN THE GUESTS…

Each table also had a goldfish bowl in the center with a small LED light inside the bowl for an awesome keepsake. For birthday parties, the guests can be entertained with party games that double as decorations like shark pinatas, fish pinatas, and the like. Here are some more pictures o give you an idea of what you can do with a few balloons and your imagination.

Need Princess Theme Birthday Ideas ?

Here is a 10-year-old “Princess Theme Birthday” that we were the DJ for at Saratoga Springs, NY’s Museum of Dance. They had a princess dress up booth/photo booth, colorful uplights, a great twisty balloon maker (Balloon Girl Jenny

) and also our DJ set up!

SOME PRINCESS BIRTHDAY IDEAS

• “Princess Parade” – Have all the girls come in costume as their favorite princess. Then have them line up outside the room and come into a big parade. I used IZ’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” as the music backdrop.
• Group Photo Opp – Have all of the kids and parents line up in a horseshoe formation with the birthday girl in the middle. Take a number of fun shots!
• Coloring Contest – Photocopy a number of different princess-related pages out of Disney coloring books for a great table pastime.

• 

  Lip Sync – We had the girls sing into inflatable microphone (much like the inflatable guitars) along to the new Frozen movie.

• Limbo – You can never go wrong with the limbo!

Twisty Balloons – New twisty balloon sculptures are like never before! Check out this “Little Mermaid” ballon. It really puts a twist on the idea of old ballon twisting and it is also a work of art!

The Hoedown Throw-down – Country Western Theme Party – Cowboy & Indian Theme Party – Western Corporate Event – Old West Theme – Old West Theme Wedding – Wild West Theme Wedding

Howdy, partner. I recon you are thinking about throwing a hoedown as a Country-Western theme party. Yeah, you can slap on a cowboy hat and put some straw in ‘yer teeth, but that and a mason jar of moonshine may not be enough!

If you really want to stike gold and find true success in your theme party, you really have to go all the way; close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. If you don’t look at the whole picture, by the end of the night, there may be no one left but tumbleweed.

This comprehensive list of party invitations, decorations, table settings, centerpieces, and fun ideas can help make your shindig be one that no one will forget.

COUNTRY WESTERN RSVP INVITATIONS

At the get-go, round up your western theme party guests with something that screams country. Statistics have shown that the more time you spend on paying attention to fine details on your invitations, the better your turn out will be. Rustle up your people in the country spirit.

WANTED SIGN INVITATIONS – I am sure you have seen the old “wanted posters” from the old west movies where a villian is out there and a reward is being offered on their head, dead or alive.  How about this format for your invitiation on parchment?   If you don’t have the money for the fancy paper stock, dip it in coffee to age it or burn the sides. Roll the poster up with all of the party details on the inside, and tie it with some cheap twine, or maybe a bandana.

COME IN COSTUME – Before thinking about what decorations to choose, make sure to instruct your buckaroos to dress like the old west.  This way, pictures of the night will look right in key with the tone of the theme. Tell them you are dressing  the role and hope for the same. List out ideas for the uncreative and lazy guests suggesting such country fashion staples  including: western bolo ties, leather fringed vests, spurs,  cowboy hats, bandanas, cowboy boots, holsters, toy guns, toy horses, or whatever they can rustle up that fits the bill.

COUNTRY WESTERN PARTY ATMOSPHERE SETTING

Location is everything. If you hold your party in a place that already lends something to the country-western theme, then you are half way there. Let’s say you were holding the party in a very modern place. The fixtures and decor that is already set will work against you. However, a rented barn like The Pruyn House in Latham, NY, or the or ranch, this would be a great setting for all your favorite  to gather at. If you can pull this off for your venue, you have a lot of your must-have decorations already built in.

SHUTTER DOORS – These are a “must-have” decoration to set up the old western bar shutter doors wherever you can. This will make your guests enter in style.
TOWN BANNER – Welcome your guests with a long banner at the entrance to the party that says something like “Company Hoedown” or some other creative title that follows the theme. This should look like what you would see in the movies when the town was celebrating something, with the Sheriff or town Mayor on a stage.
HAY – Set the stage for your event with real hay bales outside the entrance. You can also put bales of hay around in the corners, and if possible, put handfuls of hay all over the place! If your venue will allow, cover the floor!!! This really sets the tone, when possible!
ROCKING HORSE – Set these up for photo ops! People of all ages will have a blast rocking out!
HOBBY HORSES – Get those cheaper horse heads on a stick and lay them around for fun!
VARMINTS – Place rubber rattle snakes all around the ground, but fear not, your cowboys and cowgirls will surely be able to handle them.
CACTUS – Get some real cactus plants for decorations. If it isn’t in the budget, try cactus cutouts.
TUMBLEWEEDS – A number of large tumbleweed balls to kick around would really be a mood setter.
SADDLES – Borrow or rent a horse saddle and put it somewhere like on top of one of the bales of hay.
WASHBOARDS & WAGON WHEELS – These are also a great touch!
COWBOY BOOTS – Western boot danglers are an easy and fun party decoration. Use them all over the room or highlight a special area, like the buffet. Either use real boots from a thrift store, perhaps, or cutout paper ones.
WANTED POSTERS – Hang up silly wanted posters all over the walls with funny crimes listed under the mug shot. You can personalize the posters with the host/hostesses pictures or even ones of key guests.
LABELS – Mark “Cowboys” and “Cowgirls” signs on your bathroom doors.
LASSOS – Make giant lassos as wall decorations.
XXX BOTTLES – Make ‘em think they are drinking that moonshine!
NOOSES – While this may not be great at a children’s party, a properly tied noose may be a great conversation piece in a sick and twisted way!  They are also great in case you need an impromptu hanging of a guest who had one to many drinks and is acting ornery.
BAGS OF GOLD – Make prop bags of gold so people can stage shoot outs for photo ops, as well!
INDIAN STUFF – Focusing on the cowboy stuff sometimes makes us forget… Don’t forget the Indian decorations. Hatches, head dresses, teepees, buffalos, war paint… this avenue opens up even more fun!

3) TABLE PLACE CARDS
There are many ways to show your guests to the chow line and still stay within the theme. One way to do this is with the selection of country western themed table place cards.

CUSTOM COWBELLS – Make a ringing impression with customized cowbells. Buy cowbells, paint the name of each guest on the outside and attach the seating details to the ringer inside. Country Western Cowbells can be found in bulk at novelty and craft stores, or discount mass merchandisers online.
BANDANAS – Roll up and ribbon-tie a cowboy bandanna for each person as a seating card. Tie off the seating card with their name and table number and you have a party favor, too.
HORSESHOES – Another idea for seating cards is plastic toy horseshoes. Print the name and table number of your guests on each one.
GUEST ACCESORY TABLE – Set up a table by your place cards with a baskets chock full of bandanas and cowboy hats, Marshall and deputy badges, and bolo ties. Make sure this is near the front door so your guests can fill out any gaps in their costumes, or lack-there-of costumes. Putting your guests in the garb will allow them have the full country western theme party experience.

4) TABLE DECORATIONS
When it comes to rustle up some grub for the guests, make your theme hit the dinner table. While you don’t have to go too crazy, you should at least have something that barbeque sauce and cornbread goes well with. But what about the décor?

TABLE CLOTH / LINEN – Use checkered toppers over red linens for great looking tables, for a little more pizzazz. Denim table covers are another way to go, too.
NAPKINS – Use solid red and solid white napkins, alternating for every other place setting. Another fun idea is to use metal sheriff’s badges as napkin rings, by pinning the middle of each napkin. If a badge is too costly, buy cheap twine and tie each napkin in the center.
WESTERN THEME CONFETTI – Don’t forget to sprinkle western confetti around. Look this up online. They make all different shapes like cactus plants, cowboy hats, guns, sheriff badges and more. It’s a great finishing touch!
COWBOY HAT NACHOS / CHIP AND DIP HOLDER – You can use a real cowboy hat, turned upside down and line with a check napkin or bandana to hold chips. You can place bowls inside the hats, too, if you are hesitant about napkins.

5) CENTERPIECE IDEAS
CACTUS – A real cactus will really drive the point home with your guests. To brighten up your centerpiece, tie red and blue bandanas around the clay pots that the cactus plants are in. You can also accessorize the soil by sticking mini-spurs in the plant soil, or maybe a cap gun.
ANTIQUITIES – Re-create a “western setting” in the middle of the table using antiques. For a really creative centerpiece, use an old metal coffeepot, an old style colored bottle, a bandana-lined basket (that you can fill with just about anything), some old-style metal coffee cups, and/or several bottles of fancy barbecue sauce. Just arrange these all together in the center of the table.
STRAW BALE – A mini bale of straw might be the way to go, accessorized just right!
For kids’ tables, try a cowboy play set as the centerpiece. Not only will it look inviting to them, but also they can entertain themselves as they sit and eat.
POKER CARDS – Throw them around randomly, like a game just went wrong and the players are in the road engaged in gun slinging!

6) ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT
MECHANICAL BULL RIDE – While this can be really costly, if it’s in your budget, this is the greatest thing you could add to your party’s entertainment factor!
WESTERN BOOT PIñATA – Rustle up your guests all together and try to break the western boot piñata. Fill the piñata with candy and fun toys that go with the western theme.
MUSICAL HATS – Play “musical hats” to keep everyone entertained. Make sure to buy authentic cowboy hats and American Indian headdresses though, or the game won’t be nearly as much fun.
LINE DANCING LESSONS – Bring in a local dance instructor to teach line dancing. Then later on during the dance part of the party, have the guests show off their new learned steps! You can also hire a professional “line dance caller” to entertain you with authentic square dancing emcee.
CARD GAME TABLES – Texas Hold ‘Em, Poker, or Black Jack tables would be great! Set up chips that you can cash in for fun prizes!
HORSESHOES – games / tournament with a prize to the winner(s)!

7) MUSIC IDEAS
DINNER MUSIC – During this time, set the mood and use the legitimate country music that you can’t really dance to. Have real Country Western playing. You might also play other classic country artists like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, June Carter Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings.
COUNTRY MUSIC – Not everyone loves country music, but there are a lot of mainstream faster tracks out there today to keep the playlist somewhat in the theme. Check out artisits like Brooks And Dunn, Taylor Swift, Trace Atkins, Carrie Underwood, and Eric Church for starters.
WESTERN THEME POP MUSIC – Do not be afraid to mix up the playlist. All country music tracks may kill a party where people don’t really like it. While typical country music isn’t the best for fast dancing, there are some alternatives you can add to the mix to keep with the theme. Here is a list of non-country music songs that follow the western cowboy theme:

Wild Wild West – Will Smith
Wild Wild West – Kool Moe Dee
Apache – Sugar Hill Gang
Cotton Eyed Joe – Rednex
Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi
Where Have All The Cowboys Gone – Paula Cole
I Wanna Be A Cowboy – Boys Don’t Cry
Hoedown Throwdown – Miley Cyrus
The Wild Wild West – Escape Club
Rawhide – Blues Brothers
The Good The Bad & The Ugly Theme
Kid Rock – Cowboy
Rhinestone Cowboy – Glenn Cambell
Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks
Back In The saddle again – Aerosmith
Rhapsody – Cowboy Lover

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. It has been another one of Kenny Casanova’s “Massive Theme Party Checklist Editions”, much like his our 80’s Theme Party Blog, where we painstakingly share at great length the  many things we have seen go well at certain types of parties. While you do not need to accomplish everything you see above, the more you can afford, the better.

…And it goes without saying, book an experienced DJ for your event, partner!  And everything will turn out great. 🙂

Chinese & Japanese Wedding Theme DJ

Recently at the Holiday Inn in Albany, I was the disc jockey for a real fun, high-end, Asian-fusion-themed Sweet Sixteen Party. The party was formal, and also much like an Japanese-American themed Wedding I did recently, so I thought I would throw down some ideas to help others who are thinking about a theme for their special event.

It’s okay to be different. The birthday girl at the party I did was an African-American. If you love sushi and/or Chinese food and have a huge passion for the East, who says that you can’t have an Asian-themed wedding? If you are thinking of changing things up a bit for your wedding, it doesn’t matter if the bride or groom has Oriental roots or not, it really doesn’t matter. America is about diversity. How many theme parties have you been to where the hosts actually fit the mold in their daily lives, anyhow?

Anyhow, it could be difficult and limiting to isolate your event to just Chinese or Japanese culture, since they themselves draw from so many inspirations. The modern Japanese writing system itself uses three main scripts, and one of them, Kanji, is basically made up entirely from Chinese characters/letters. Since here in the west, we often group eastern ideas and cultures together, it may be interesting to have an Asian-Fusion Theme, so you can incorporate all the fun.

WEDDING CEREMONY – For the actually wedding ceremony, there are many different eastern traditions that can easily be researched. One interesting one has the bride and groom entering the room from opposite sides and symbolically walking together. Guests then wave paper streamers over the couple’s heads for purification to keep evil spirits at away. After exchanging vows, the bride and groom each drink a symbolic glass of sake. Finally, they trade glasses nine times to symbolize their new bond.

BRIDE DRESS- Typically, a bride in Japan wears a white silk kimono that can cost over $20,000, but you can get something much cheaper here in the states, or even have something made. The fun part for the bride in Japan is that she gets to act like Lady Gaga at an award ceremony all night. Normally, the Japanese bride changes into up to five different kimonos throughout the wedding day.

Japanese brides often wear a traditional Japanese wig as part of their regalia. These wigs are very fancy and decorated in golden barrettes, pearls, and beautiful artificial flowers,

GROOM CLOTHING- On the other side of the ying yang, a Japanese groom wears all black. A “haori” on the top and a “hakama” on the bottom are the official terms of the traditional matrimonial garb.

DRESS CODE – The wedding party also dresses in kimonos, usually in a color chosen by the bride. Depending on the atmosphere you are looking for, you may want to encourage fun eastern attire from the guests as well. Warning… be forewarned that Uncle Charlie could probably show up as a ninja.

The reception is where you can really pull in the Asian-Fusion theme. There are so many options with this that there is no excuse if you fall short.

ARRIVAL – Though I will admit I have not seen this, coming in pulled on a hand-pulled rikshaw would kick some major bonsai!

DECORATIONS – There are so many options. Bonsai Tree centerpieces, Shoji paper lanterns with Japanese script, Chinese paper parasols, Lucky bamboo plants, Fancy sushi trays and dipping dishes, Cherry Blossoms, paper wall room dividers, hanging oil lanterns. Mini Sandy Zen gardens with tiny rakes. Polished river stones can act as paperweights for napkins.

PRINTING – For the invitations, print custom invitations on Japanese Fine artisan papers and make sure to include some Chinese or Japanese letters. You could also print programs on paper fans!

FAVORS –  In Japan, a nickel is a beautiful cheap coin that has a hole in it. It is said to be good luck to wear this coin as a charm on a necklace. Therefore, why not give out Good Luck Japanese Nickel Necklaces? Also, every place setting could have a Lucky Red Takeout Box & Japanese Chopsticks, and Origami. You could also go with a keepsake Porcelain Chinese Takeout Box , Longevity Chopsticks in Silk Pouches, or even Personalized Japanese Wood Chopsticks. Also, fortune cookie with pre-printed fortunes, customized by the bride and groom would be a great hit!

DRINKS –  Bowls of edamame beans at the bar,  Sake, Wasabe Brew, green tea, or mango sodas.

APPETISERS – Sushi, sashimi, a full raw bar spread, dim sum, shrimp tempura, spring rolls, teriyaki or yakimore sticks and noodles dishes.

MAIN COURSE – Don’t even get me started.

No matter what you do, a theme wedding is the way to go. No one will forget! …And do not be afraid to play Carl Douglas’ “Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting” and The Vapors song “I’m Turning Japanese.”  You know you want to!

(PAPER LANTERN PICTURE: http://www.myweddingplanningtips.com )
(WEDDING PHOTO CREDIT: http://www.scarlettrose.com/wedding.html )
(WEDDING KIMONO PICTURE: http://www.freewebs.com/asianartistries/japaneseclothing.htm )
(RICKSHAW SHOT CREDIT: http://www.phototravels.net/japan/pcd1663/rickshaw-84.3.jpg )