Whoa-a-a, let me tell you about a real different black and white idea from back when we were "all together".
We had a "wreath" on the front door made of white rope and black ribbons, tied with a black/white bandana and silver chrome twisted wire!
We played all the classier Country Western pre-recorded music we could find, encouraging black or white clothing to be worn, if the guests had them, complete with any Western hats, boots, belts, jewelry or shirts anyone had.
We hung white/clear lights from the trees, patio umbrellas, adding black/white streamers/balloons inside over the main food table.
The first thing we handed guests upon arrival was their own personal name tag and tagged items in a black/white paisley bandana wrapped bundle with a small cowbell/whistle, notepad, black/white pencils for quiz games, licorice and white mint candy clear cans, and a Scavenger Hunt list and number to use for their "partner" in the hunt around the neighborhood, with a 45 min. limit, regardless, with the stipulation that they also had to wear their "disguises", (which helps with the often embarrassment).
I found black/white "fur" fabric, cut out placemats for the black/white striped fabric "tablecloth" stretched across the lawn over 1/2 sheets of plywood tables, at waist height, added black/white dotted napkins, plastic eyeglasses with "mustaches", black and white kerchiefs, bandannas for souvenirs with black whistles attached, and the bandanas also for using for blind-fold games like: Blindfold Limbo (to good rhythm music for hopping backwards under the black water hose between two helpers lowering it at the end of the line of players each time the line completes that level set to music and toss the black horseshoes at the short white stick in the distance, all after the Scavenger Hunt, before eating!
We had barbecued beef on Big Grands biscuits, grilled blackened catfish pieces for the side, black olive/pickles/green onions/mayo potato salad, hot black beans with mini cocktail onions, tall white cups of Iced Sweet Tea and short black wine glasses for non-alcoholic Cold Duck one time toast to the Guest of honor.
We offered chocolate covered frozen bananas for dessert along with a touch of red from the large strawberries pre-dipped in Chocolate! This was on a large silver tray but paper baking sheet doily covered.
I had a "Guess the number of black/white marbles in the Jar", for a black/white prize from a few prize choices, (to be done anytime by mingling guests), their guess logged by their own hand with a black dry erase marker on a white dry erase bulletin board), predesigned in advance with large animal print patterned background as a border.
We played Black/White Bingo, using black/white ping-pong balls to call out numbers on handmade FANCY cards. (after eating)
Just before leaving each one was given a black or white dart to toss at the people-cleared room of balloons to find money ($2-5.00) in a balloon of their choice (some black ones were empty and full of a handful of black/white homemade shredded confetti.
Now, this may all seem "easy for Texans", but like buying potatoes in Idaho, it's not so easy, believe it or not. It's just enough to keep folks busy and mixing, full and happy, and makes great memories because it's so different!
By Lynda from TX
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Popcorn would work for a white food and the movie theme. Maybe Oreo cookies? They're black & white and are great dipped in chocolate. Pretzels are good dipped in chocolate too. You could order a checkerboard cake (chocolate & white cake alternating).
got any pics of the party
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My son is turning 16 in January and we have decided to give him a nice party to celebrate with his friends and family. He has decided on a casual dressy Black & White theme to make it more interesting. We will be reserving our community clubhouse to host this event on a Saturday evening.
I'm trying to come up with as many ideas and tips as I can.
Here are some things I've already come up with:
All decorations will be B&W. Working in the Hollywood film items here and there as well (my son plans to be a film direction later in life). I need ideas for centerpieces.
B&W gift bags for the guests to take home. I need to know what to put in them.
I plan on setting up a display of some sort with B&W pictures of my son and his friends, near the entrance.
I'd like to make a B&W guest book for his friends to write things in as they come in.
We will have a DJ and I thought maybe of putting a basket of B&W flip flops in the girls bathroom for them to wear to dance in (to give their feet a rest if they are wearing heels).
Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate Table Fountains with things to dip into it. I need ideas for the dip.
I'd love to get some food ideas from the wonderful people on this site. I'm not sure if I should plan on a dinner to be served or just stick with snacks and finger foods. These kids do not seem to eat much and I'd hate to spend a lot on food that goes to waste. I know they will want to nibble and munch though!
I was thinking of a B&W cupcake "cake" on a silver tiered cake plate. White cake, chocolate frosting... chocolate cake, white frosting.
Do you have any other suggestions or ideas? I know it sounds like a lot but it's really not. I want it to be a fun, casual, relaxing night for him and his friends. A night to remember for all of them. Not too frilly because it is a boy's 16th party.
Thanks in advance!
ChristiansMom from Riverside, CA
Hi,
Sounds like you have made a lot of progress already. For gifts in the bags, key chains (whatever you can find black & white) or have some made with with old film negatives or slides incased inbetween lab slides and soldered around. You could even use each guest's school photo from the school yearbook, if you wanted it to be individualized.
You could buy some cheap film at the dollar store and just remove it from the casing, it should already be curled, so add it to a centerpiece, with things used to splice film, a reel to reel movie projector, maybe some old film reels as the base of any number of things
Black and white filming was done so long ago, maybe you could use some of the old movie characters and have them put on the napkins. I do not know who does this, but I know it can be done.
The guest book should be easy to make. Use some old photos for the watermark behind the lines where the guests will be signing. Maybe create the cover from black fabric with white lettering (paint pen) or use white fabric and iron on black and white photos. You should be able to find the black and white art for the guest book on the internet. The pictures will be clearer in a 5.5x8.5 size book.
Food, that is a touch one. Finger foods are going to be your best bet. Most kids will not sit long enough to eat an actual meal at a party. Try to have finger foods that do not contain sugar, some kids just won't at it at all, my son being one. I don't know how this would work, but celery sticks will stay fresh in water, so I'm wondering if you mixed up some food color to be black (may be available during this seaseon) and but the end off the celery stalk, placed it in the food colored water, it might soak up the color, but I'm guessing here.
Black and white photos of cars would be good too, since it is age 16, the long awaited driving age. You could get their attention with the old cars like the edsil, the fairlane, the lincoln, cadilac and some sporty cars like the vette, the spitfire, porsche, etc.
Marilynn Monroe, James Dean, Audry Hepburn, Elvis, etc for poster art or table cloths.
Some links: http://classicfilm.about.com/
Search for vintage or classic black and white films
I can't think of anything else at the moment, but if I do, I'll let you know.
I hope something here helps,
Tina (10/02/2006)
By Tina Brown
Hi, you have some terrific ideas already!
For the foods to dip into the chocolate fountains, you could use poundcake cut into cubes, strawberries, grapes, vanilla wafers, pretzels, potato chips (I've had choc covered chips...not bad!!!!), apple wedges, maraschino cherries, pretty much any kind of fruit or cookie.
Also, if you have a digital camera, I think most of them have an option to take either full color, sepia toned, or black and white photos. If you don't have one, see if someone you know that does will take pics before the party of your son in various poses, and pics of his friends, pets, etc. in black & white. Print them out or get prints made and get cheap frames (black & white) from the dollar store and set them around.
Finger foods are definitely your best bet, sitting down to a meal is not going to be important to teens!!!!
Check recipes for appetizers, those are usually finger food.
Lastly, check with your local freecycle (www.freecycle.org) to see if anyone has any old 8mm projectors, film reels, projection screens, old movie cameras,...anything having to do with filmaking that they no longer want.
Hope your son has a fantastic birthday party!!!!
God bless! (10/06/2006)
Wow! Thanks everyone for the wonderful ideas! I've been adding some of your suggestions to my list and will for sure be using the ones that fit for the party. I'm getting excited just thinking about it. I know the kids are going to have so much fun!
Please keep the ideas coming. I love having lots of ideas to choose from.
Thanks again! (10/08/2006)
