The fall season is a time of year that we love to get
together. Whether you’re the known
hostess in the group or you’re new to looking for ideas to get a gathering
started, kicking a party off with a fitting theme is a great place to start.
“Fall in Love” can be a theme on its own that you can take
in multiple directions. It would make a
cute heading on an invitation for a dinner party for couples. Or if you have some singles in your circle,
you could play matchmaker and host a mixer to generate some first
meetings. Or it could simply be a nod to
your love of the season when you center a party around what you love most about
fall.
Tailgating indoors or out falls right in line with all the
football games currently entertaining fans.
Invite your chosen spectators to feast on game day favorites like chili,
layered dip and chips, wings, and brownies while you’re all gathered around the
big screen. Keep it simple with paper
goods and iced drinks and forgo the formality for tailgating fun.
A Harvest Day theme could include a hosted meal of seasonal
staples that focus on fresh fare dishes like corn, varieties of squash, baked
bread, and other garden goodies. Or it
could be an organized potluck that brings friends together to share their
signature casseroles, veggies, and main dishes.
A Campfire themed party can bring a little summer into the
fall when you roast marshmallows over a backyard fire pit alongside a tray of
graham crackers and chocolate bars for s’mores.
Roast some hotdogs, and serve popcorn in slim paper bags with glass
bottled sodas. Get the conversation
headed in the direction of fireside stories, with maybe even a little scariness
after dark.
Invite guests to an Autumn Apples dessert party and get them
involved when they dip their own candy or caramel apples and add extra taste
and texture with nuts, sprinkles, or a chocolate drizzle. You could serve apple pie with ice cream or
apples and toffee dip. Serve hot apple
cider in small cored out apples with cinnamon sticks for garnish.
Use a fun theme as a
good excuse to invite friends and family over and spend some time together this
season before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season warms up. Whether it’s around the table, the fire, or
the TV, time with good company is time well spent.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star October 19th.
