Throw a Drop Dead Gorgeous Halloween Party

When it comes to throwing a Halloween party, we go for festive without falling short of sophistication, using decor that we can transition into the holidays. Our color palette uses the traditional Halloween colors but with a modern spin; think black crocodile, gold foil, and deep purple, combined with classic metals and Autumnal florals to create a drop dead gorgeous Halloween party. Paired with the perfect menu, creepy cocktails and dark, dim lighting, this is how we do Halloween the Table + Dine way.

FRIGHTFULLY CHIC DECOR.

Dramatic decor, black candlesticks, and dramatic linens are a Halloween staple in our staple. The best part is that they can be re-used for any occasion. Make a trip to Target or Michaels for little plastic spiders, faux webs and of course, Halloween candy to decorate your tables and fill your candy bowls.

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DECORATING WITH PUMPKINS

These jaw dropping pumpkins are easy, affordable and don't require making a major mess. The ladies of Design Love Fest & Bash, Please joined forces to create this chic table setting below for a Haunted Halloween. All you need are some slate / chalkboard trays, dark candles (silver or gold work too), and white & gray pumpkins to stack and lean to create a chic bar or buffet table. The knife is a key component for the haunted effect, don't forget the knife.

THE FINISHING TOUCHES

It's the little things that turn your pad festive without being kitschy. Dress up the mantel like Kim from On Purpose Home by using chalkboard bunting to spell the variety of haunted Halloween phrases. Throw some DIY spiderwebs and lanterns on the shelves to transform your haunted house like Centsational Girl who also gives us a DIY tutorial on creating spiderwebs at home. We're loving how easy and awesome these copper spray painted feathers are from Plaza Interior, seriously considering just having these year-round.

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS INVITATIONS

As always, we love everything Paperless Post has to offer in the world of Halloween evites. Anything with gold foil is a winner in our book:  

PICK YOUR POISON.

Craft some creepy cocktails to get your guests in the Halloween spirit. Certain ingredients, like blackberries, cranberries and dry ice are perfect for darkening the mood and taking a Halloween spin on the common cocktail. 

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

  1. The Black Widow Cocktail by Tomkat Studio is a vodka soda with blackberry juice, a sugared rim and striped straws.
  2. The Piña Ghoulada by Tomkat Studio keeps your drinks tropical while keeping them a mysterious milky color. Don't forget the free printable drink labels to top off your bar. 
  3. Decorate your decanters with free printable skull & cross bone labels by A Beautiful Mess.
  4. Create a mad science drink lab with dry ice and a beaker decanter like The Glitter Guide did for their spooky craft workshop.
  5. Dress up the traditional Moscow Mule, pumpkin style with free decals from Sugar & Cloth.
  6. Get frisky with Whiskey and vanilla beans, this recipe from A Beautiful Mess tastes like Fall. 

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A HALLOWEEN DINNER PARTY

Ok, so we are not the type to get all cutesy with our dinner menu, we like good food regardless if the color of side dishes matches our table runner. We do however like to mix in Fall Festive ingredients because we only get two months of the year to get our pumpkin fix. We like the Halloween dinner table to have dark linens, gold accents, and an abundance of candlelight to give our dinner party that dark, Halloween vibe. Click any of the images below to get the recipe or see more from these gorgeous settings.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

  1. Pretty much salivating as I type: Pumpkin Bruschetta by Sweet Paul. Get the recipe here.
  2. The look we're going for, this lavish gold tablescape from Caitlin Clare of A Little Dash of Darling uses Rosanna's gold la cite collection, kate spade new york striped melamine dinner plates and faceted vases similar to these to create an Autumnal gathering. Get the recipe for her Grand Marniere Broiled Grapefruit here, because that blood orange color fits our theme a little too perfectly. 
  3. The Mummy Baked Brie from Babble is as cheeky as we're gonna go! And it's mainly because baked brie is one of our staple hors d'oeuvres for many Fall/Winter occasions. This one is just wrapped like a Mummy and it's pretty awesome. Get the recipe here.
  4. Combined with the look and feel of Caitlin's tablescape above, we love The Jungalow's dark, dramatic table setting that uses a black tablecloth, slate dinner plates, black candlesticks, gold tapers and vibrant Autumnal florals. 
  5. Butternut Squash Carbonara with Fried Sage & Carmelized Onions from Katie at The Kitchen Door. Um, YUM. Definitely a front runner for the main course since it's easy to adjust the portions for any size dinner party. Pair it with some warm baked bread on the side for the perfect Fall meal.
  6. These Chalkboard Painted Pumpkins by Better Recipes to display your dinner menu is all around awesome for Halloween and Thanksgiving. 
  7. Because dinner isn't complete without a green, we're thinking the roasted broccolini with wine soaked mushroom by Sweet Paul will pair nicely with our pasta. Get the recipe here.
  8. We love a good Halloween DIY and these little black bats from Stylizmo were printed on craft paper and scattered around the table for some Halloween eye candy.
  9. The Spiced Pumpkin Seed Brittle by Honestly Yum is for sure happening. We're a huge fan of brittle, it's easy to make in larger batches and by the end of the night - everyone always wants just a little something sweet.
  10. For something dark chocolate on a cool Fall evening, you've got to try the Brooklyn Blackout Dark Chocolate Cupcakes by Domu, because they are to die for, pun not intended and then became intended after we LOL'd. 

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HalloweenAllie Wandnerhalloween, recipes, party decorComment