Resources for Creating the Perfect Fall Centerpiece

We've rounded up a great list of resources to help you find and create the perfect fall centerpiece for your table. Whether you're decorating for a formal Halloween gathering or a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends, we're sure you'll find the perfect centerpieces from our list of decorating resources.

Fall Centerpiece Resources

1. Glittering Fall Table Setting and Centerpiece Ideas: HGTV's designer Erinn Valencich gives readers tips for fall entertaining. Her more formal table setting ideas are gorgeous and perfect for a formal Thanksgiving dinner or a fall dinner party.


2. 5 Easy Fall Centerpiece Ideas: Woman's Day has some great decorating tips too. These finds are less formal, but every bit as charming. Incorporate paper pumpkins, fallen acorns, books, candles, pumpkins and more into a home-warming centerpiece for your fall table.


3. Rustic and Contemporary Centerpiece Ideas: This how-to article from Martha Stewart shows you how to make elegant table centerpieces for a rustic or a modern look. The best part is that you can use them with everyday items from your backyard garden including, vegetables, herbs, gourds, and fruits.


4. Fall Wedding Centerpieces: Brides.com has some stunning ideas for fall centerpieces for your wedding reception that include everything from colorful dahlias and willow branches to pumpkins and hydrangeas. There's even a simple but beautiful centerpiece made of nothing but wheat stalks and hand-tied ribbon.


5. Fall Centerpiece Idea and Centerpiece Wednesday: The Style Sisters have some truly unique ideas for decorating your fall table. They even have a new take on the pinwheels we love so much. They've used book pages to create them, and they're adorable. There are lots more fall table ideas to browse while you're visiting the blog too.

Fall Dinner Party Tips and Ideas

Fall is the perfect time to host a dinner party. As the evenings get cooler, it's nice to entertain indoors where things are warm and cozy. Here are some tips and ideas to inspire your next fall dinner party.

Bring the Outdoors In

A fall table setting can be brilliant and vivid when you incorporate pumpkins, gourds, and seasonal fruits and veggies into your arrangements. Autumn leaves are another way to bring striking colors to everything from your home decor to your centerpiece. Accents of twine or burlap work well with more rustic themes, while gold and ruby accents can dress things up a little.

Decorate or Carve Pumpkins

In lieu of those ghoulish jack-o-lanterns, go for more elegant pumpkin decorating ideas. We've seen some beautifully painted pumpkins as well as more intricate carvings that are simply stunning. You might want to browse some of Country Living's examples for out-of-the-box ideas.

Incorporate Harvest Foods in Your Menu

Pumpkin, squash, pears and apples are some obvious choices for seasonal dishes. But if you're looking for more ideas, we recommended checking out your local farmer's market for local harvest favorites. If you have your own garden, even better! For recipe ideas, click over to these great fall recipes from Taste of Home.

Don't Forget the Drinks

Mulled cider and cocoa are the perfect thing to take the chill off. Have some waiting for your guests when they arrive--perhaps with hors d'oeuvres--so that guests can mingle and snack while waiting for others to arrive to the dinner party.

Do you have fall dinner party tips to share? We want to hear them!

Halloween Party Planning for Kids

Halloween really is a great holiday for kids. I mean, what child doesn't love dressing up as a favorite superhero, a scary monster, or a beloved story character? Even better, it's actually acceptable to go door-to-door and beg the neighbors for candy.

But did you know it's possible to have even more Halloween fun with a party? Plus, when you host a halloween party your kids can wear that awesome costume for more than just a few hours on October 31.

We've got some tips for planning a halloween party--whether you're inviting a few close friends or the entire neighborhood.

We're skipping the obvious advice to get the good candy, because that's a given.

Plan Age-Appropriate Activities

Your middle schooler and your kindergartner aren't going to want to play the same games, but there's no rule that says you can't set up separate activities for different ages. Spoonful.com has lots of great printables and games for Halloween if you're looking for inspiration.

Hold a Costume Contest

Reward kids for their creativity and dedication to dressing up! The costume contest can be fun for everyone, and you can award as many or as few prizes as you want. To make sure more kids go home with prizes, just add additional categories. You can have winners for the scariest costume, the cutest costume, the most original costume, and on and on. Prizes don't have to be huge or break the bank. We recommend coloring or activity books for the younger children or a even king size candy bar. Yum!

Hayrides

Hayrides aren't feasible at every party, but if you've got the opportunity to run one? Jump on it! Safety is always the priority though, so check the local weather and make sure younger children have adult supervision during the trip. If you're really into Halloween and want your hayride to be over-the-top, invite others to set up haunted stations along the route.

What do your kids love best about Halloween parties?

Halloween Party Planning for Grown Ups

When it comes to Halloween, kids don't get to have all the fun. We've got some tips to help you plan a fun and memorable Halloween party, whether you intend to invite friends, family, or coworkers.

Pick a Theme

You might think that Halloween is a party theme in and of itself, but you could really be missing out. Some of the best parties we've attended have been Halloween parties with and additional costume theme. All those invited to the party must show up in a costume that's related to the theme. Here are some theme ideas:

• Famous couples
• Fictional characters
• 70s TV shows
• Monsters
• Famous villains

Plan Games

When it comes to party games, a Halloween favorite is the costume contest, but there are lots of other games you can play. You could try pumpkin decorating, Halloween themed Pictionary, or a scary movie trivia contest to keep things festive. Games are also good icebreakers if your guests aren't already acquainted.

Go Big with Halloween Decorations

If ever there were a time to go a little over the top with your party decor, Halloween is it! For some really extravagant Halloween decorations, check out the extreme decor in this article from TrendHunter.

What do you do to celebrate Halloween?

Top 5 Children's Birthday Party Tips

Most parents celebrate their children's birthdays with a party. From small family parties to elaborate celebrations, birthday parties can be lots of fun for everyone. They can be just as much fun to plan. Here are some tips for making your child's next birthday party the best one so far.

Let the Child Call Some of the Shots

Of course, kids love eating cake and opening presents, but many of them enjoy planning the event too. Unless you're planning a surprise party, you can ask your child to help select the theme, the party decorations, the invitations, the cake and the activities. It'll make the party a truly special event.

Keep the Guest List Manageable

If you're holding the party in your home, it's a good idea NOT to invite your child's entire 2nd grade class. Other venues can handle such a crowd, but for a home party you might want to stick to inviting family and/or some of the child's closest friends from school.

Plan Activities

It's a fact of life that kids get bored easily. Plan activities for the kids to keep them occupied, and remember to set a pick-up time for parents if kids are being dropped off for the birthday party. We're a big fan of games, and you can find a ton of helpful game ideas at MomsWhoThink.com.

Have a Back-Up Plan

If you're planning an outdoor party, it's especially important to have a Plan B for the day's events. Activity books and indoor games will be a must. You might also want to plan a few more activities that you think you'll get to. It's better to have planned activities you don't get to than to discover your games all ended more quickly than you anticipated and you're struggling to fill the leftover time.

Are you a kids' party planning wizard? What tips and trips do you recommend?

Party Planning Secrets

Pulling off a stress-free party usually means planning ahead and staying organized. But how, exactly, does a hostess manage all of that? With these party planning secrets, of course!

Use Lists

Photo Courtesy of Pinwhirls Customer Kathleen L.

Lists aren't just for shopping. Use multiple lists to manage your party through every step of the planning phase, and manage that with a master list. It might sound like overkill, but the bigger the party the more likely you are to forget something. Here are the kinds of lists you'll need:

• Master list for party planning chores and to-dos
• Shopping list for all of your party decor and supplies
• Invitation list
• RSVP list
• Gift & thank you list (used at birthday parties and bridal, wedding, or baby showers)

Offer DIY Drinks & Buffets

Skipping the bartender means guests can get those cocktails and soft drinks just the way they like them. Of course, it also means that guests can get those cocktails just the way they like them!  Plus buffets simplify meal service and make it easier for guests with dietary restrictions to create the perfect party menu for one.

Create a Kid-Friendly Space

If your event is family friendly, one of the best things you can do to keep the adults sane is offer a fun activity space for the kids. Simple crafts, coloring books, and other age-friendly games can entertain the kiddos and encourage them to socialize at the party.

Give Yourself Time

Save a little time an hour or two before the party to collect yourself and take a few deep breaths. If you're worked up into a frenzy as guests are arriving, it'll show -- and chances are you won't enjoy the event as much.

Planning a Family Reunion

We don't always think of family reunions as parties, but that's exactly what they can be if you plan them right. Here are a few tips to make your next reunion more festive and less stressful.

Pick a Theme
Instead of the same old family reunion year after year, give the event a theme. Luaus, costume parties, and pool parties are lots of fun. If your reunion is an annual event, make it a challenge to see how long you can go without repeating a theme.

Assign Committees
You can split up responsibilities by age groups or by families to make sure everyone has something fun to do. For example, you could put grandchildren in charge of picking out games and activities, aunts can be in charge of menu planning, uncles can be in charge of setup and grandparents can choose the venue and organize booking the shelter house, pool, cabin, or hall.

Send Reminders
Send out traditional invitations or e-vites so people can put the reunion on their calendars. If your family is spread out over several states, planning ahead is essential. Include all the important information including where and when the reunion will be held. If you're divvying up jobs, put a reminder on the cards so people know which aspects of planning they are responsible for.

Remember the Photos
Don't forget the cameras! You might want to plan ahead to have a professional photographer take a large group photo as well as take family and individual portraits. When you do this, sitting fees can be divided up among all the families. If having a professional photographer isn't feasible, be sure you pack your own digital camera.

What tips do you have for planning a fun family reunion?

Cocktail Party Tips

Cocktail parties are generally pretty classy gatherings. They're the perfect event when you're hosting the boss and colleagues during the evening, but they're also fun for receptions or for entertaining a group of close friends.

The formula for a cocktail party is pretty simple. Guests are served snacks and finger foods and a variety of alcoholic beverages. For obvious reasons, a cocktail party invitation will not include children. Most parties last about 2 or 3 hours and start anywhere from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tips for Hosting a Great Cocktail Party

1. The job of hostess is very important. You'll be expected to introduce friends and colleagues that may not know each other, and generally make sure that the conversation continues throughout the party. Of course, it will also be your job to make sure the food and drinks are replenished as necessary.

2. Don't forget the designated drivers. It probably goes without saying, but designated drivers are a must at any party where alcoholic beverages are served. It's probably a good idea to put a little reminder on your party invitations. Something simple like, "Don't forget to bring a DD!"

3. Plan the menu ahead. You should probably plan for 3-4 drinks for each guest you invite to the cocktail party. The food menu you should fairly simple and include snacks and appetizer dishes that are easy to eat while walking around and mingling.

4. Entertainment ideas. Cocktail parties can be budget-friendly affairs. A live band isn't necessary, because your guests will spend the majority of their time chatting with each other. For a little ambiance, you might want to play some light jazz or instrumental music in the background.

5. Go for simple but elegant party decor. No need to overdo the decorations a cocktail party. Some simple, elegant linens and nice glassware will do the trick. Finishing touches could include fresh flower arrangements and candlelight.

Cocktail parties are very easy to plan and can be a great way to introduce your friends and colleagues. What are some of your cocktail party planning tips?

Photo credit: turbidity

6 Fun Water Games for Your Next Pool Party

Photo credit: beglib from morguefile.com

There's no better way to celebrate summer birthdays than with a pool party! Whether you're lucky enough to have a pool in your own backyard, or you're meeting party guests at the local pool water games are always a hit. (Always play it safe in the pool and make sure children are supervised at all times.)

Pool Party Games

Noodle Jousting Tournament: In this game, two players at a time to sit on rafts with foam noodles. Each player tries to knock the other player in the water by jousting with the noodle. The person left standing takes on the next player, and the person still on the raft at the end of all the rounds is the winner. Set up a tournament bracket for serious fun.

T-Shirt Races: Divide the swimmers in two teams and provide an oversized T-shirt for each team. Swimmers must swim the length of the pool in the T-shirt and then hand it off to the next teammate in a relay-style race. This game is best for more advanced swimmers.

Scavenger Hunt: Place items that sink and float in the pool. Call out items to be found and the person who collects the most at the end of the game wins! To make it difficult, use riddles instead of calling out the item names. Use only one of each item, or a limited number of items to keep the game challenging.

Ping Pong Plunge: With a magic marker, write a different number on ping pong balls and then toss them all into the pool. The object is to be the one who collects the most ping pong balls with the highest value.

Marco Polo: This one is an old favorite. A version of tag for the water, Marco Polo is played by choosing someone to be "it." That person must close his or her eyes or be blindfolded while calling out "Marco." The rest of the players must reply "Polo." If the first player tags someone, they become "it" and the game continues as before.

Volleyball: If you have a pool net and a volleyball, this one is a lot of fun. But you can also play by roping off the pool and using a plain old beach ball.

What are some of your favorite water games?

We have some great summer themed papers for creating your pool party invites, banners and decorations. Visit our shop at Pinwhirls.com!

Office Party Planning Tips

We spend a lot of time at work and, consequently, we spend a lot of time with our coworkers. Lots of businesses like to offer their employees a chance to relax and shoot the breeze from time to time while also celebrating employees' accomplishments and other milestones. To this end, small businesses and corporations everywhere instituted the Party Planning Committee.

But what if you're new to party planning, or you've been doing it for a while and need some inspiration to shake up the workplace a little? Well, we've got a few tips to help you plan an office party that's a hit--whether it's for a promotion, a birthday, a holiday celebration or whatever!

Name the Big Event

Every party deserves a great name. It's a way to add a touch of humor or personality to the event, which will in turn generate more positive reactions and higher attendance. For example, instead of inviting employees to the "Don's Plumbing Christmas Party," send out invitations to the "Don's Plumbing Holiday Disco Extravaganza." Well, a disco might not be a draw for your event, but you get what we're driving at.

Pick the Right Date

If you're hosting a small office party during business hours, we recommend setting the date for a Friday afternoon. Fridays are just more festive, but they're also a little slower work-wise in a lot of companies. If you're planning an off-site event, you won't have much choice but to choose an evening or weekend. Do your employees a favor and host a party on a Friday or Saturday night if you're planning to serve any adult beverages.

Serve a Variety of Finger Foods

In most cases, the less stuffy the event, the more employees will enjoy it. Instead of a sit-down menu, go for a variety of appetizers and finger foods that guests can munch on as they mingle. The less structured the event, the better the party atmosphere. (Note: Your best bet is to offer vegetarian and non-vegetarian options to make sure there's a little something for everyone.)

Remember that office parties don't have to be a drag. Make sure everyone is included, and ask for suggestions if your party planning committee needs ideas that will be fun for the entire company.

Eco-Friendly Party Tips

Everywhere you turn, people are working hard to go green and reduce waste. There are plenty of ways you can encourage green party planning too! These eco-friendly party tips aren't just good for the planet, but they can also rescue your party planning budget.

Use Cloth Napkins and Real Dishes

You can cut way back on the amount of waste you produce at your party by using real linens and dishes. By eliminating the paper plates and napkins from the equation, you can also create a more elegant party atmosphere for your guests.

Buy Recycled Products

We know that sometimes real linens and dishes just aren't feasible. If paper plates and napkins and plastic utensils are a must, look for brands that contain recycled content.  Recycle any products you can and store leftover items for future use. Look for party invitations that can be recycled, printed on recycle papers, or that have been printed with earth-friendly inks.

Store & Reuse Party Decor

You can store party favors and decorations for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and more just as you would decorations for the holidays. When you do this, you have the opportunity to turn ordinary party decor into family heirlooms -- just like your favorite Christmas ornament or Halloween wreath. You might also want to create a community party chest where you and family and friends join forces in creating a huge stash of party favorites.

Make Your Party Favors Eco-Friendly

It's always a fun idea to send your guests home with party favors. Instead of disposable toys and trinkets, offer them something that can be used over and over. Glass jars can be filled with treats or snacks and decorated to fit with your party decor and reused for drinking glasses, dessert mix jars and more once your guests take them home.

Do have tips or suggestions for planning a more eco-friendly party? Share them in the comments!

Progressive Dinner Party Tips & Suggestions

If you're tired of the same old cookouts and dinner parties, you might want to try hosting a progressive dinner party with your friends.

What is a progressive dinner party?

At a progressive dinner, several different friends plan and host an entire meal. Each course of the meal is served at a different participant's house, and all the partygoers move from home to home during until the even concludes.

Progressive dinner parties can be a lot of fun, plus they break down party planning activities so everyone shares a little bit of the responsibilities for the party. You can include as many different courses as you like, but here are some suggested courses:

• hors d'oeuvres 
• cocktails
• appetizers
• soups
• salads
• entree or main course
• desserts
• after dinner drinks

Tips for Planning a Progressive Dinner

Four to five stops works best. Unless you're planning to go all-out, four to five different stops will be enough to fill up your evening. Remember that the more stops you add, the later your dinner party will last. 

Plan enough time for each stop. Each course will require a different amount of time to complete, but you can generally plan 45 to 90 minutes at each home for the different dinner courses. Don't forget to calculate travel time between homes.

Consider making it a monthly event. A monthly progressive dinner is great for groups of friends that want to keep in touch on a regular basis. With larger groups it's also a great way to divvy up the entertaining costs and prepping responsibilities.

Try a themed dinner. Try coordinating with all hosts to plan a themed menu. You could try themes by inspired by country's cuisine, a holiday, or even a movie. The possibilities are endless!

Have you ever hosted a progressive dinner? What tips do you have for first-timers?

Casual Party Planning Checklist

The easiest way to plan a party without a hitch is to use a checklist. While this checklist is a little to basic to get you through something like a wedding, it is great for smaller and more informal parties. You can use it for all kinds of events from graduations and birthday parties to wedding showers and baby showers.

Casual Party Planning Checklist

One Month Before the Party

• Create your guest list.
• Mail invitations or send e-vites.
• Choose a theme and select whatever party decorations, music, and games you might need; then start shopping for any items you'll need.
• Plan your party menu and hire a caterer, if you'll be using one.

Two to Three Weeks Before the Party

• Purchase disposable tablecloths, plates, and plastic utensils or launder linens and dishes for a more elegant party.
• Purchase non-perishable food items on your list.
• Prepare any items on the menu that can be frozen ahead of time.

One Week Before the Party

• Clean the house. 
• Remove clutter to create more space for guests.
• Rearrange or remove any furniture that you want to protect.
• Let neighbors know about the party if you expect it will affect parking on your street.

One to Two Days Before the Party

• Decorate indoor party areas or outdoor areas that are covered.
• Buy perishable food items.

The Day of the Party

• Finish cooking last-minute menu items.
• Prepare a place for coats.
• Set out any food that doesn't spoil 1-2 hours before guests arrive; wait to set out any food that may spoil quickly.

Using a checklist will help you stay organized and get your party off without any snags. Are there any items you would add to this checklist? Tell us in the comments!

Graduation Party Tips & Supplies

It won't be long and the class of 2012 will be celebrating graduation. You just can't celebrate graduation from high school or college without a great party. We've got some great graduation party tips for you as well as some fun ideas for creating fun DIY graduation party supplies with Pinwhirls.com products.

Graduation Pinwheel Party Favors

Graduation Party Planning Tips

Dont' Be Afraid of Trying Something Unique: Mortar boards and tassels are the standard in graduation party decor from banners to cakes and invitations. To change things up, try decoration with items that symbolize the grad's hobbies or major -- like yellow and gold music notes or red and black lab coats and beakers.

Use Photos for a Collage: You can affix photos to poster board or create a digital slideshow presentation featuring the graduate's accomplishments and activities while at school. Include everything like soccer practice, choir, the senior trip, and parties with friends. Ask family and friends to contribute photos if you need help collecting some fun candid shots.

Games and Activities: If you have the room and budget for music and a dance floor, go for it! You could also feature a trivia game that includes questions about the graduate. The person who answers the  most questions correctly gets a prize and a special photo opportunity with the grad.

Graduation Party Supplies

For the perfect graduation party, don't forget these party supplies:

• Invitations
• Banners & Pennants
• Cake and Cupcake Toppers
• Thank You Cards

Party Planning: Housewarming Party Tips

If you've recently moved into a new home and are eager to show it off, a housewarming party can be lots of fun. It's also a good way to meet neighbors if you're new to the area. The point of a housewarming party is to welcome friends, family and neighbors to your new space, so you can host the event as soon as you're comfortable. You don't have to have every last box unpacked and all the decorating done yet.

Housewarming Party Tips

1. Send Invitations: Housewarming parties aren't usually very formal affairs, so you might want to do it open house style, sending out invitations that suggest a loose timeframe for guests to stop by and visit.
2. Make Sure Your New Home is Easy to Find: Offer directions and a description of your new home so that friends and family can find you easily. You might also want to decorate the yard or mailbox so your home can easily be picked out as guests make their way down your street. Yard pinwheels and balloons are a great way to draw attention to your new home.
3. Offer a Tour: Your house is the main event, so don't be afraid to show it off. You can take guests on an informal guided tour of your home or you can welcome them to explore on their own so that you can welcome new guests as they arrive. 
4. Take Before & After Pictures: If you've done major remodeling or redecorating, place before and after photos in each room so that your guests can see the transformation.
5. Keep Food & Decorations to a Minimum: There's no need to get too extravagant at a housewarming party. A few decorations are fine, but it really is all about showing off the home. So don't feel like you need to go overboard. For food, we suggest simple appetizers and cookies or brownies that guests can snack on easily. (Hint: If you bake them yourself, your house will smell amazing for the housewarming party!)

How do you make your guests feel welcome at a housewarming party? Share your tips with us in the comments.

Party Planning: Summer Block Party Tips

Here in Indiana, like in many other parts of the U.S., we've been setting record warm temperatures. It's got a lot of us thinking about ways we can enjoy the outdoors, and it's got a lot of us in the mood to start party planning for our spring and summer outdoor parties.

If you're thinking of hosting a summer block party in your neighborhood, it's a good idea to start planning now. We've got some tips to help you coordinate an event that's fun for everyone in the neighborhood.


Summer Block Party Tips

1. Learn the Rules: Your very first step should be to check with local authorities and set a date for the party. In lots of cities and towns, you need to obtain permission to host a block party--particularly if your plan is to close the street during the event.


2. Send Planning Invites: Planning a summer block party can be a huge undertaking. To get the most support, send out a flyer or invitation for a planning session to round up as many volunteers and coordinators as possible. This will also be a great time to ask for donations and generate interest for the block party.


3. Keep Decorations Simple & Unifying: Being outdoors, you might struggle to come up with workable ideas for decorating. We suggest lining the curbside with fun summer yard pinwheels and using colorful centerpieces on picnic tables.


4. Ask Everyone to Contribute: A block party is an expensive undertaking unless everyone pitches in. Here are some areas where you can ask your neighbors to pitch in: food, cooking, picnic dishes and utensils, decorations, flyers and invites, monetary donations, entertainment, and games.


5. Play Games: No outdoor party is complete without yard games like volleyball, cornhole, and horseshoe. But you can also schedule fun camp-style games like potato sack races and water balloon fights. Organize special games for the young children and toddlers.


6. Organize a Clean-Up Event: If your neighborhood is in need of some TLC, kickoff the event with a project. You could ask everyone to help pick up trash, make repairs, or even start a community garden. The block party is a great way to reward everyone once all the hard work is done.

Do you have fond memories of block parties in your neighborhood either as a child or an adult? What made the summer block party special for you?

5 Steps to Being a Great Party Hostess

Photo Courtesy of Prue of Gigi & Lulu
www.gigiandlulu.com.au/blog/carnival-party/

Some people just have a knack for being the perfect party host or hostess. From the perfect decorations and invitations to the best food and games, some people don't even have to try. For the rest of us, I've compiled a few tips that will help make your next backyard barbecue or birthday party more enjoyable. After all, a party isn't really a party unless everyone is having fun and the mood is festive.

5 Steps to Being a Better Party Hostess

1. Work Ahead. It's important to get all of your prep work—like making the hors d'oeuvres and decorating—completely finished before your guests start to arrive. This way you have time to interact with everyone. Most of the time the party hostess is the one person all of the guests have in common. That makes you the social glue that keeps everything together.
   


2. Personally Welcome Your Guests. Even if your guests will be letting themselves in and arriving at different times, make sure you greet them as soon as possible after they arrive. Welcome them, and make that little bit of effort to let them know you're happy they could come. Fill them in on the conversation or the current activity so they can jump right into the mix.
   


3. Be Happy. If you're not enjoying your own party, chances are your guests aren't either. Don't sweat the small stuff and don't make excuses for things that didn't go as planned. Relax, smile, and have fun. Your guests will appreciate it!
   


4. Limit Your Guest List. A big party is great, but only if you truly have the room for it. If you want your guests to be comfortable make sure you don't have them packed in like sardines without room to mix and mingle.
   


5. Let Others Help. Many times people will offer to help you in the kitchen or to set up for the next game or activity. Let them. You don't have to do everything yourself, and its a good way to include people who feel like they are out of the loop.

For party invitations, decorations, and inspiration, don't forget to visit us at www.pinwhirls.com!

Color Meanings

One of the most important elements of planning a wedding or party is choosing the perfect colors for flowers, balloons, Pinwhirls, and other decorations. Beyond just selecting your favorites, you might want to choose hues that are symbolic or carry special meaning for you. Below you'll find a list of some popular colors along with their meanings and popular uses.

Blues

Blue is common among religious practices and is symbolic of loyalty, peace, and calm. It is also worn often in the workplace and can symbolize intelligence, togetherness, and stability. Blue is considered a year-round color so it's extremely versatile.

Other blue-related hues: Azure, sky blue, royal blue, navy blue, beryl, cerulean, cyan, and indigo.


Greens

Green is most frequently associated with nature and life or growth. Green can also be a calming color, but it is sometimes negatively associated with envy. Stronger associations include ties with the environment, the season of spring, and vitality.

Other green-related hues: Sage, olive, pine, sea green, emerald green, mint, and kelly green.

Reds

The color red is like a two-edged sword. It is commonly associated with love and passion, but it is also representative of conflict and war. Red is a stimulating color the often elicits and emotional response. In some cultures across the globe it is symbolic of joy, purity and celebration.

Other red-related hues: Crimson, rouge, ruby, maroon, China red, carmine, and burgundy.

Purples

Purple traditionally associated with royalty, nobility, and spirituality. It is also represented in nature in the form of violets, lilacs, and lavender. It is known for sparking the imagination. Darker shades are representative of wealth and extravagance, while lighter shades suggest romance.

Other purple-related hues: Eggplant, lavender, indigo, mauve, amethyst, and wine.

Different color combinations can be used to spark multiple meanings. Combining greens and blues, for example, can give your event a feeling of calm and growth. Using reds and purples can spark emotions of passion, love, and royalty.

By learning color meanings, you can plan a wedding, shower, or birthday party that inspires guests to see the world as you do.