Charlotte Event Style: Boo-Tastic Tips!

Fall is here! With the beginning of Fall comes anticipation of the Holidays ahead. This month we will celebrate Halloween. As a kid you salivate over the giant bag of candy you will score, and as an adult you are planning the perfect costume for your favorite annual Halloween party. Now if you are hosting a Halloween party this year, you may be thinking more about the planning of the event than what you will wear. Maybe. See below for some fun ideas and decorations to make your party a great success!

For a spooky effect, be sure that your party begins after dark. Lit jack-o-lanterns just don't have the same effect in the afternoon sunlight. Have themed music or scary sounds playing as the guests arrive. A costume contest is always a hit. Tell your guests ahead of time so they will really put effort into their costumes. Have voting and great prizes to be won.

Carved pumpkins are a standard Halloween decoration. Get creative with your carvings! There are tons of patterns online that you can use. Check out this site on Better Homes and Gardens. Adding candles around your carved creations always add that extra bit of spooky lighting.

How about a scarecrow to greet your guests? Fill a plaid shirt and overalls or jeans with straw, and use a carved pumpkin as the head, or make a head with straw-filled burlap and draw a face. Put him in the yard, or at the door that guests will enter through.

For food and drink, offer themed items with fun names. Decorate with orange yellow and black wherever possible. If you decide to serve a signature drink, serve it in a cauldron, and add dry ice for a smoky effect.