How to Throw an Oscar Theme Party During the Academy Awards

Glittery dresses and the red carpet conjure up the glamour of Oscar night. Planning an Oscar theme party is not difficult and is a welcome break from the humdrum of winter. I recommend hosting the party prior to Oscar night. Most folks could care less about the actual awards ceremony and for true fans like yourself, it is annoying to have people talking during awards presentation.

Send out your invitations along with an Oscar ballot. You shall definitely sponsor a contest, however the winner will be announced after the actual Oscar event. Again, if you were hosting the party on Oscar night it is far too difficult and aggravating to keep score. After attending one such event, I vowed to never subject myself to such torture again. Keep the entry fee low and encourage everyone to enter, even if they are guessing on every category.

In an Oscar theme party, preparations require a red carpet. You can use rolls of red plastic to pave the way to your door. Strobe lights flashing give the impression of paparazzi as your guests arrive. Upon arrival, offer champagne or other bubbly drinks. Your lighting should be low. Candles and plenty of gold or silver items should reflect over the table. Have everyone write the name of his favorite movie, or favorite actor/actress on a nametag to wear. This prompts movie conversation and debate.

A true movie fan hosting this event has movie or Hollywood books to put on display. Folks will browse and comment on stars or favorite flicks. Have some old movies running in loop on various televisions in your house. As people stroll around, they will recite favorite lines from memory or conjure up their own soundtrack as they watch.

Have spare Oscar ballots available for those folks who lost theirs or decided to participate after all. Movie trivia is a possible game to play depending on the flow of the evening and the interest of the crowd. Games are tricky. They can enhance party atmosphere or bring it to a dead creeping crawl, with folks clamoring for their coats to leave. You know your friends and it is up to the host to keep their guests amused.

Have the champagne or sparkling wines flowing and the buffet table full. This event requires some style and more than bowls of chip and dip. Serve pork tenderloin sliced as the main course. Fondue offers some rich sauce choices for dipping breads or vegetables. Shrimp displayed on ice along with cocktail and remoulade sauces are popular. Crab puff pastries and small quiches are a welcome addition to the table. Even if you are on a budget, give the illusion of richness. Use real dishware and cloth napkins, not paper plates and plastic silverware.

Chocolate is required on the dessert table. Whether it is rich fudge cake, chocolate for dipping strawberries, or chocolate truffles, make the dessert one to remember. White chocolate cheesecake with a raspberry sauce is wonderful. An Oscar party deserves largess, so do not skimp on the dessert choices. Also offer your guests a choice of coffee or tea, along with liqueurs such as Baileys, schnapps, or Kahlua.

As the evening winds down, be sure to give your guests an Oscar gift bag as they leave. This was an important step in your Oscar theme party planning. Now you do not need to give them electronics or spa weekends, like those offered the stars, but the gift bag is a classy touch to your Oscar theme party. Fancy chocolates or a compiled CD are just a few of the tokens you can offer, and this will leave your guests with an indelible memory of a red-carpeted evening.

When Oscar night arrives, you can watch in peace and quiet. You have your party memories, maybe a piece of leftover chocolate cake, and a load of ballots to mark. Declare yourself the winner first for a successful Oscar theme party weekend.