Fun and Games: 

On The Night:

How to Plan and Host a successful Costume Party:

• Music is critical, make sure you have enough tracks so they are not repeated more than three times.
  

• Keeping everyone entertained may be as simple as cranking up the music and pouring the cocktails, but plan a few games such as a treasure hunt or a trivia competition just in case. Of course, nothing gets a party started (and keeps it going long into the night) like karaoke.
  

• Don't forget to take lots of photos and print a few to share while the party is in full swing. Remind your guests to email their photos in for the monthly Best Dressed competition, they might appear in our Gallery of Stars!
  
  
  Go HERE to see our top party themes with ideas for decorations, food & drink, fun & games including 1920's, Pirates, Movies, 1980's, Wild West...

• No matter what you do, there will always be some guests who are reluctant to join in the fun - and there's nothing worse for everyone who has gone to a lot of trouble with their costume than seeing other guests arriving in their civvies. So have some options on hand to offer them, even just a hat, jacket or mask so they can get into the spirit. Offer a prize for Best Dressed as an incentive - movie tickets or something nice to eat or drink is usually a popular choice.
  

• Plan ahead, your guests will feel more comfortable if you're relaxed and having a good time instead of running around trying to do everything at the last minute.
  

• Set the scene: your decorations will create the WOW factor to get everyone in the mood. Consider placing a mannequin in costume to greet your guests at the door and create different environments within your venue - for example a Pirates Party could have a ships deck, a tropical island and a treasure cave.
  

• Food & Drink: choose one feature cocktail such as Martini for Movies or Rum Punch for Pirates and have a self-serve bar for all other drinks. Keep food small and bite size, avoid greasy and sticky food that could ruin an expensive costume. 
  

• Don't wait to the last minute to change into your costume, you want to be looking your best when the first guests start to arrive.

If you've ever been to a really great costume party, you already know how much fun it can be. If you haven't, isn't it time to host your own?

Here at Costume Factory, we have over 30 years experience of the good, the bad and the ugly in costume hire. These are our top tips for hosting a fantastic costume event that everyone will remember - the party starts here!

Planning:

• Choose a great theme. You can have general fancy dress party, but a theme will inspire creativity and make it easier for your guests to choose a costume. Make your theme broad and suitable for people of all ages. Avoid anything potentially offensive like war or politics, or a theme with limited costume options such as a desert island or a particular TV show.
  

• Clearly explain the theme in your invitations, for example; at your "S & M" party you're expecting to see costumes beginning with S & M.
  

• Tell all your guests about our website - www.costumefactory.com.au -  where they can get plenty of costume ideas and receive a 10% discount on their costume hire at any Costume Factory store.
  

• Costumes can be booked up to three weeks ahead of the event, make your booking early to be sure of getting the costume you really want!