6 Tips on How to Throw an Awards Show Party

Hey party people!
A couple weeks ago, my friend Allison hosted an awesome Oscar party at her gorgeous home. Last summer, I started a girls networking group for some of my friends that are actresses/hosts. We get together once a month to catch up, encourage each other, and laugh. 
It was only fitting that we plan a get together to celebrate the Oscars. One thing we discovered…the Oscars, or any awards show for that matter, is 100 times better watching with a fun group of people. 
The Oscar party turned out beautifully and was budget-friendly.
If you’re planning an Oscar party (or any other award), here are 6 tips on how to throw an awards show party.

The first tip is to look for free printables online. Search “Free Oscar Party Printable” and you will find great, inexpensive resources. Do the same for a Grammy, SAG, or Emmy award party. 
These were really useful and cute ballots Allison found online.

 

We all know alcohol can get really expensive. One of the best ways to keep the cost down is to stick with just one signature drink. 

The drink for our Oscar party was simply champagne and a blackberry. It looked beautiful and tasted incredible. 
Whether it’s a pre-made mixed drink or made to order, stick with a few simple ingredients to create a signature drink. Your wallet will be grateful and it will save you from spending the whole night mixing drinks.

If you’ve ever hosted a party, chances are you’ve heard these words, “What can I bring?” The problem is many people ask this question and you’re not prepared with an answer. That’s how parties end up with 20 desserts and hummus. Not that I’m knocking desserts. 
One of the greatest ways to save your budget and your sanity is by allowing guests to contribute. Whether you solicit their contribution or they simply ask, create a checklist the moment you plan your party. The list doesn’t have to be complicated – Appetizers, Desserts, Drinks. As guests ask you what they can bring, assign them one of those, then jot their name beside it. That way, you have an evenly distributed menu. 
Most of the time, I know my guests fairly well and that helps with suggestions. For people that aren’t a fan of cooking or baking, I’ll ask them to bring a bottle of wine. For people that have a tighter budget, a bag of tortilla chips or crackers is an affordable suggestion. 
No matter what people bring, I always provide 1-2 of each (appetizer, dessert, & a signature drink). It’s always helpful to have a great base, like this simple deli meat, cheese, and bread spread. 

 

Allison deserves mad props on these stunning desserts she served at our Oscar party. Aren’t they gorgeous? And soo easy to create. 

Layered Dessert: 

Bottom – Crushed Oreos

Middle – Diced Strawberries

Top – Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Garnish – Gold Sugar

Presenting simple desserts in a stunning way makes the most inexpensive desserts look pricey. Layered desserts are one way, but simply topping bite-sized brownies with a dollop of icing and caramelized sugar swirls (click on the link to see a video of how to do this) is another way. Have fun being creative and use things you already have in your pantry to create a jaw-dropping (but inexpensive) dessert. 

When I say choose 1 main decor item, I mean choose one inexpensive decor piece that you can use throughout the entire party setup. 

For the Oscar party, Allison bought a packet of large gold stars. I cut out some smaller stars using my Sizzix machine and  we also added some gold star confetti to the mix. Allison spread them out on every table and it created a fun, easy, and inexpensive touch. 

Stars would work for most award shows, but here are some other ideas as well – 

* Gold/Silver Fringe – line the tables, use as a backdrop, even wrap sections of it around popcorn holders or dessert cups. 

* Awards – Create mini awards (like the one below) to label food, stick in flower arrangements, and as wall decor. 

Another fun part about throwing an awards show party is seeing who can guess the correct winners. If you’re handing out prizes, the cost can add up quickly. Here are a few budget friendly prizes or awards – 

– Golden Champagne Bottle: Spray paint a champagne bottle gold, maybe even add some gold glitter, and hand out the Golden Champagne Award for the winner. 

– Groupon: Check out Groupon or Living Social for deals on sweet prizes. I’ve gotten great restaurant gift cards, spa certificates, and movie passes for great deals through Groupon. They make really nice prizes, but save you some moola. 

– iTunes Gift Card: Get a gift card for $10 with a list of the top nominated songs is a perfect Grammy award prize.

– Previous Award Winning Movies: The current award winners may be a little pricey. Find the Best Picture winner DVD from a decade ago or even two as a fun prize.

Those are just a few tips to help you create a memorable and budget-friendly award show party. Do you have any tips to add? 

Most award shows are a great excuse to dress up, but for our party, we told everyone to wear their pjs. Here are a few more pictures from our Oscar party…

Kate & Allison serving up some drinks

A bonus dessert made by Allison

Here are my little edible Oscar men. Find the Oscar Statue tutorial here. 

Jennifer filling out her ballot.

Beth enjoying one of Allison’s delicious desserts.

Allison did such an AWESOME job setting up this popcorn bar! I brought my tabletop popcorn maker and Allison provided delicious toppings. Some of my other photos of this didn’t turn out and I hate that because it looked so great! 

Like this photo. At least it kind of gives you an idea of her adorable set-up.

I think we are missing about 3 0r 4 girls. I always regret not taking more pictures at parties. At least you can get the idea from these that a fun time was had by all…Allison’s wedding picture even made it into to one on the left. 

Hope this inspires you to throw your own Awards Show Party! I promise it will be fun. 

Party On!