Theme parties are all the rage, here’s how to throw a memorable one

A good theme party consists of hosts that set the scene with decor and music, and guests that come committed to the theme with costumes: (Left to right) Rachel Brownlee, Vicky Moore and Seth Karall enjoy a Spotify-themed party. Photo courtesy of Bella Gerencser 

It all started in 2019 when rhinestone makeup, pink and purple iridescent decor and metallic solo cups were taking students by storm as "Euphoria" parties started popping up in dorm rooms across college campuses. 

Since then, most parties at Chapman University, specifically those thrown by film students, have come with a theme, according to junior screenwriting major Bella Gerencser.

“Theme parties have been blowing up recently,” Gerencser said. “Everyone's been theming their parties, and it's so beneficial because it just makes them so much more fun.”

It’s hard to live up to the iconic "Euphoria" aesthetic when throwing theme parties nowadays. However, The Panther asked Chapman students what makes theme parties exceptional and they delivered all the juicy details of what took a party from a basic and drab frat rager to a euphoric and escapist event. 

Theme

When starting to plan a party, senior screenwriting major Grant Chauncey said the most important starting point is coming up with an iconic theme that is sure to cater to you and your guests' passions.

“You have to balance how niche the theme is with your audience," Chauncey said. “If you do something that's way too niche, it's going to alienate a lot of people." 

Kylie Shapiro, a senior creative producing major, threw a vamp-rave this month and was able to capture a large crowd because everyone knows vampires through various outlets of pop culture and can put their own spin on it. However, she told The Panther it was more niche than a typical Halloween party in October.  

“I wanted to do a Halloween party and I was like, ‘What if we made it vampire themed,’ because being a vampire for Halloween is basic but if everyone's a vampire for a party then it’s not,” Shapiro said. 

Don't stray away from intellectual and complex themes, though. For Chauncey’s 22nd birthday party he threw a "Back to the Future," futuristic birthday party where people dressed up as what people in the ‘80s would think the future would be like. 

“There were people that dressed up as communists, like if Russia took over because in the ‘80s,” Chauncey said. “There were things like the Cold War, like, 'We're gonna get taken over.’ And I was more cyberpunk."

To make a party more interactive, there is also the possibility of making the party centered around a game or activity. Although these parties are fun, Chauncey recommends having less than 40 people at parties that include games or it will just be a mess. One of his favorite activity parties was a bartering party.  

“You would bring two items and by the end of the night, you'd collect some stuff, or you'd try to make some deals, but it was so much fun because there's just people running around bringing some crazy stuff,” Chauncey said. “There were some very interesting things being bartered such as katanas and skateboards and album jewelry — just a lot of fun stuff."

Charlotte Loesch, a junior screenwriting major, said she is going to have a graffiti themed birthday party, where people can draw on each other. 

“Everyone's going to show up wearing white shirts," Loesch said. "And then I'm going to have a bunch of markers and everyone can draw on each other's white shirts."

Costumes

When asked what made a themed party one to remember, all the interviewees had one common answer: the costumes. Shapiro said grand commitment to the themed outfits is what made the party feel like a collective experience. 

"If people aren't coming to the party and actually doing the theme, why are you coming?” Shapiro said. 

Gerencser went to a “dress as your top Spotify artist” birthday party and everyone dressed as their most listened to artist, with her costume being lo-fi R&B singer Grimes. Gerencser said being surrounded by so many different people dressed up as their favorite artists really got the party going and made for a lavish event. 

“It was so interesting to see what everyone's top Spotify artists were because I feel like you kind of would guess but no one knew until they showed up,” Gerencser said. ”The girl whose birthday party it was was just supposed to be Phoebe Bridgers. So she wore a really blonde wig and had a full suit skeleton.”

Shapiro said she even put on her vamp-rave invitation that if people did not come dressed up, they would get blood splashed on them and get a hat labeled “food.” 

Decor

Chauncey is no stranger to a stand out aesthetic since one of his roommates is a production design major and the other is an art major. For his Halloween party this year, he went all out with spooky decor, which he had at home. 

“The backyard was covered in spider webs," Chauncey said. "We had little graveyards and tombstones we built. In the hallway the ceilings have chains and grass. The whole back wall is full of black skeletons hanging on chains. (For) my room… I peaked open my door and put two TVs that were just running static.” 

For Loesch's birthday she is decorating by hanging graffiti art everywhere to tie in with the theme. 

“I’m thinking of getting posters and getting spray paint and just spray painting stuff onto it and hanging it around,” Loesch said.

Music

With the decor and costumes set in place, the last thing to do is put on some “get-up and dance music” so everyone can hit the dance floor. 

“The music that's played is also a huge factor,” Gerencser said. “If you go to a rave themed party and they're not playing electronic music, (the theme) is not going to land as well.” 

If the party does not have a specific music theme, it’s best to stick with classic songs everyone knows. Shapiro is a DJ and said that you can never go wrong with an EDM remix of a popular song because it gets everyone up and dancing. 

“Everybody loves an EDM remix of a song that they know,” Shapiro said. “I love the Toxic Britney Spears EDM remix. The girls love to sing it.” 

Bust out that on-theme music to accompany your coordinating costumes and decor at your next birthday or halloween party this season. It’s sure to enhance any bland party and boost it up to a memorable occasion.