• Choose from an endless variety of party themes for your next gathering.party cup ctreamers and party banners image by Warren Millar from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  Theme parties are a great way to get people excited about your next birthday, anniversary or holiday event. Having a defined theme for dress and decor helps soften some of the anxiety your guests might feel about deciding what to wear and what to expect. Coming up with a good theme that your guests will enjoy and that will be feasible is a big decision. Consider the type of party, your budget, the age of the guests and the time of year when choosing a theme for your next party.
  
  

Hawaiian

• A Hawaiian-themed party is especially effective during winter when people need a good dose of the islands to warm them up. For this party, think about creating an island atmosphere that takes people away to that special, tropical paradise of their dreams. Details such as tiki torches, plastic palm trees, hibiscus flowers and beach balls help to create that kind of atmosphere. Be sure to greet guests with a traditional Hawaiian lei flower necklace and a friendly "aloha." Focus on tropical drinks such as Sex on the Beach and Tequila Sunrise. If it's a dinner party, consider serving rotisserie-style pork with grilled pineapple, fresh seafood or even Spam. Tell guests to wear Hawaiian shirts, and choose some fun island music with ukuleles and pan drums.
  
  

Black and White

• Black and white parties are great for all kinds of formal events, though they can also be quite casual. The key is to decorate your house with as many black and white items as possible. Head to your local party supply store and buy everything from black and white streamers and balloons to black and white retro party sunglasses. Black and white roses can be expensive, so consider making your own out of tissue paper. Fill candy jars with black and white M&Ms if you can find them. Purchase some black and white bed sheets from your local secondhand clothing store and drape them along the walls for an interesting effect. Serving exclusively black and white food can be a challenge, but vanilla and dark chocolate desserts are one place to start. Dress shouldn't be a problem, as most guests will have the required tuxedo or jacket with white shirt and tie combination (men) or black and white dress (women).
  
  

Mexican Fiesta

• The Mexican fiesta theme gives you a chance to serve those delicious nachos, enchiladas, tacos and burritos you've been perfecting. These foods are fairly easy to prepare in bulk and make for tasty, fun party food. As far as the decor goes, think pinatas, sombreros, balloons with the colors of the Mexican flag (green, white and red), maracas and inflatable cacti. If you can afford it, hire a live mariachi or salsa band to play at the party. Of course, no Mexican fiesta is complete without delicious, chilled margaritas. You'll need to have someone making margaritas throughout the party, because if you make one big batch in the beginning they might get too watered down as the ice melts. Consider a traditional Dia del Muerte (Day of the Dead) party on November 2. It's similar to Halloween but has a very specific brightly colored aesthetic with lots of skeletons. Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is another popular time for a Mexican fiesta.