Planning Themed Children's Parties - Debi Lilly

Expert party planner Debi Lilly shares her practical, creative and inspiring ideas for five themed children's parties, each one full of personality and fun.

By Lisa Capretto
Original Content | February 11, 2010

Royal/Cinderella Party

Decorations
Debi planned a royal party that involved a giant outdoor tent with floating balloons, which you can replicate this in your own dining room with balloons floating around your ceiling. In keeping with the Cinderella theme, use soft colors such as pale blue, light pink and other muted tones.

Food
A secret about children's parties: What you serve isn't as important as what you call it. At Debi's royal birthday party, she served a "princess and the pea salad" with chopped veggies as well as "fruit wands," which were little more than simple fruit skewers. Create tent cards to put on the buffet so guests can fully appreciate your creativity.

Drinks
A royal party is the perfect time to serve "Princess Punch" in bejeweled goblets. To bejewel your own goblet, follow these simple steps:

Pour lemon juice into a shallow bowl
Pour colorful sugar crystals (found in the baking aisle) into a second shallow bowl
Turn your goblet upside down and dip it into the lemon juice
Dip the goblet into the sugar crystals

Activities
Dress-up is a big component of a royal party—for both girls and boys. In addition to providing princess gowns and kings' costumes for the children to wear, Debi likes setting up a craft station where they can make their own royal crowns.