The 89th Annual Academy Awards air this Sunday, and if you’re anything like us, you can’t wait to tune in and see if your favorite filmmakers and actors take home a gold statue. Why not share that excitement with your friends and gather them for a viewing party?
1. DIY Decor
A little creativity – and some glitter – can go a long way, especially if you’re working off a tight budget. With just a few basic arts supplies, you can create an array of elegant DIY party decorations, such as these gorgeous star garlands.
Image by Green Wedding Shoes
Choose a color scheme that’s easy to follow and add some pop using tinsel, glitter, and dangly lights. Fill up some ornate-looking bowls with your favorite movie candies and place them around your home, along with some freshly cut flowers, balloons, and strategically placed movie props. Last but not least, put on a playlist featuring the Best Original Scores and Best Original Songs of all time to complete your movie magic ambiance.
2. Dressing up (or down)
Invite your friends to dress to the nines wearing their finest cubic zirconia and old bridesmaid dresses and tuxes. For the more laid-back crowd, consider throwing a PJ party – because nothing says glamour quite like eating popcorn and drinking sparkling sangria in your PJs. As any great host will tell you, knowing your audience is key – so be sure to pick a theme everyone can enjoy.
3. Keep em’ entertained
For many, the red carpet fashion show IS the main event; but guessing who will take home the gold comes a close second. That’s why we made this super awesome nominee ballot just for you and your party guests!
Have a prize ready for whoever gets the most right on their ballot! And in case you’re worried about running out of games, we've created a shortlist:
• Acceptance Speech Mad Libs: This is a fun game to play during commercial breaks. Pass out printouts of a famous acceptance speech, removing some key nouns and adjectives, and see what your guests come up with.
• Movie Poster Trivia: Try these printable movie posters without text to hang on your walls and test your friends’ movie knowledge http://bit.ly/1PzFth3
• Academy Awards Bingo: This game can be played throughout the show. Every time someone thanks The Weinstein Company or J-Law does something adorably clumsy, you can add a star over the box http://bit.ly/2kUhcWV
4. Walk of Fame
Make your guests feel like they’re on the A-list by rolling out some red carpet (or fabric) and setting up a photo booth complete with glittery backdrop and movie props. If this setup creates some logistical issues in your tiny apartment, then ask one of your photo-savvy friends to wear a press badge and walk around snapping photos of everyone. As a bonus, print out a few of these photos before the night is through and write a nice message to send home with your friends.
5. And here are the noms….
Small bites are the way to go for this year’s noms. Ask your friends to bring their own award-winning dishes or host a Best Dessert competition. A potluck style meal is the perfect way to bring your friends together, as well as take some of the pressure off you in the kitchen. To pay a proper homage to cinema’s most iconic treat, set up a sweet and savory popcorn bar with single-serving baggies and a variety of toppings such as parmesan, rosemary, cinnamon sugar and candy.
And here are this year’s nominees for Best Desserts:
Bakerella’s Statuette Sugar Cookies: http://bit.ly/2lZG2pb
Star-studded Red Velvet Cupcakes: http://bit.ly/2kF5tjb
Image by Connecticut in Style
6. Audience Awards
Instead of handing out mini statuettes this year, pass out balloons with handwritten superlatives, such as Best Dressed or Best Sylvester Stallone Impression. Your friends will appreciate these hilariously improvised accolades. Here’s a fun tutorial written by DIY Studio via Balloontime.com http://bit.ly/2m56vSB.
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That’s it for tips on throwing this year’s Best Academy Awards Viewing Party! It’s time for the orchestra music. Feel free to share with us some of your own creative party ideas in the comments section below!
