Your 6 Step Guide to Planning A Hollywood Themed Party

Ever wanted to feel like a movie megastar? Experience the sparkle of Tinseltown, without the pesky paparazzi and harsh headlines, by throwing a Hollywood themed party.

Whether you’re dreaming of creating your very own Hollywood gala with champagne and canapés or drawing inspiration from your favourite Hollywood blockbuster (Titanic, anyone?), you can make it happen with a little help from us.

There are dozens of ways you can transform your birthday, engagement or retirement celebrations into a soirée fit for Lalaland. From rolling out a literal red carpet to handing out awards at your very own glittering awards ceremony, the sky is the limit.

As with all our party planning guides, we’ll take you through the things you need to consider and give you plenty of inspiration along the way. From food and décor to the most important thing of all: music!

We think the venue is always a good place to start when party planning. Once you know what you’re working with you’ll be able to decide on how you want the party to look. For example, you could set up different zones for food, drinks, dancing and perhaps a little movie themed surprise!

Most importantly, you’ll also get an idea of how many guests you can invite. Remember, bigger doesn’t always mean better so don’t sweat it if you’re hosting at home or in a smaller venue. There are plenty of ways to inject a little Hollywood into any celebration, which brings us on to…

When it comes to Hollywood themed parties, there is no one size fits all plan. In fact, there are so many areas of the Hollywood theme to draw inspiration from. Here are some of our favourite ideas:

• Choose to focus on one particular blockbuster movie and have guests dress accordingly, for example suits and cocktail dresses for a James Bond inspired Hollywood party.

• Ask guests to come dressed as their favourite Hollywood star, past or present, and have everyone guess who is who.

• Take guests back in time to the golden era of Hollywood and set a dress code of red-carpet glamour. Serve champagne and fancy finger food.

• If you’re thinking of something a little more laidback, why not create a popcorn stand and serve up cinema style snacks? You could host a showing of your favourite Hollywood movie and follow it up with some drinks and dancing.

• Host your very own award ceremony with fake Oscars, a photobooth for guests to get snapped in their finery and your very own Hollywood walk of fame. Create stars for your guests of honour and make up your very own awards – the funnier the better!

If you ask us, a winning soundtrack can make or break a movie, and the same can certainly be said for a party. A party band can make your Hollywood bash feel like an exclusive afterparty hosted by Tinseltown’s coolest stars, while an acoustic singer can transport guests to the set of a mushy romance.

If you’d like to theme your party around a specific Hollywood film, consider hiring a band or musician to help set the scene. An 80s band will make guests feel as though they’ve hopped into the DeLorean and stepped onto the set of Back to the Future.

For those wishing to recreate the sophisticated glamour of old Hollywood, opt for a vintage band. Old Hollywood is widely considered to refer to the golden age of American film which lasted from the 1920s to the late 1950s and you’ll find plenty of bands covering these decades.

A Hollywood theme is the ideal opportunity for the fashionistas among your guests to rock some of the most iconic looks of all time. For one night only you and your guests can don silks and satins, feathers and sequins and emulate the Hollywood elite.

A simple black floor-length gown paired with pearls and satin gloves instantly brings Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn to mind. A white halter neck teamed with red lipstick is a fast track to Marilyn Monroe styling. You don’t need to channel anyone in particular, though, a floor length gown or dapper suit accessorised in the right way will give off Hollywood vibes.

Try scouring the local charity shops for cast-off prom dresses and tuxedos and have a go at customising them yourself. Check out Pinterest boards dedicated to Old Hollywood fashion and the red-carpet images from the 2021 old Hollywood themed Met Gala for inspiration.

Our thoughts immediately go to champagne when thinking of what to greet guests with at a Hollywood themed party. We can just imagine clinking glasses with Marilyn and Audrey lookalikes as we take to the dance floor while a vintage band plays! Whether it’s champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine, we think fizz is the way forward.

A cocktail hour would also add a sophisticated touch and there are plenty of ways to add a little blockbuster magic. Why not serve up cocktails themed around your favourite movies? In Casino Royale, Bond sips on a vesper martini and in Sex and the City, Carrie famously enjoys a Cosmopolitan.

If you’d like to create something a little more unique, consider hiring a mixologist and having them create some custom Lalaland inspired tipples.

A party wouldn’t be a party without some nibbles. If you’re picturing a Hollywood gala or award ceremony vibe, we think bowl or finger food is a good option. You want to serve up something guests can grab and nibble on as they mingle on the red carpet. Think mini Yorkshire puds with roast beef, salmon blinis, halloumi skewers, arancini balls and mini spring rolls.

If you’re planning a more casual affair, why not offer up movie themed snacks? Popcorn, mini hot dogs and burgers and sweets will all go down a treat with cinema lovers.

Add a few of these to your shopping cart to nail the Hollywood theme

If you’re planning a larger scale soirée, we think these glittering movie inspired table numbers are both practical and pretty.

Let everyone know they’ve arrived on location with this Hollywood walk of fame welcome sign.

Cover the ceiling of your venue in a canopy of cameras and clapperboards to add a little movie magic.

Something about black and gold décor screams luxury which seems pretty appropriate for a Hollywood themed party. Frame the entrance to your gathering with this majestic balloon arch.

Create an authentic vintage movie going experience for your guests with this set of popcorn bags, paper straws and tickets. Perfect for a laidback Hollywood themed gathering.

They don’t call it Tinseltown for nothing, it’s all about injecting a little sparkle. Add the golden touch with this shining star garland.

Let guests know they’re in the VIP area with these gold glitter table runners. They’ll add an instant touch of glamour to your tables.

Pop a faux fur wrap over your gown to really dial up the glamour and channel those Hollywood stars of a bygone era.

Pair your party dress with pearls for an ensemble reminiscent of one of Audrey Hepburn’s most famous looks. The screen starlet’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s look is one of the most iconic outfits in fashion, don’t miss your chance to recreate it!

Gents, we haven’t forgotten about you. Give your suit a little old school twist with a bow tie and pocket square. We think this velvet duo looks luxurious and classic, ideal for channelling the Hollywood heartthrobs of old.

Imagine how fancy you’ll feel swigging champagne (or prosecco!) from these vintage style Champagne coupes. Buy a dozen and create a champagne tower for an ultra-decadent vibe.

A Hollywood themed party is the perfect opportunity to dish out some awards to friends and family. If someone’s really helped you out, why not surprise them with a (Oscar style) speech? Or keep it light and hand out joke awards? It’s a great way to keep guests entertained! We love these star awards.