If your crowd is full of jet-setters, a travel themed party may be the perfect occasion to showcase all the trinkets, photos and memories picked up while abroad. What better way to pick your next destination than swapping stories with friends whose passports are as worn as yours? Above, you’ll find a lovely custom dessert table designed by Sweets Indeed that is sure to provide some inspiration for your own travel inspired party! Here are some tips to help you throw a travel-themed bash:
Invitations
Stir up the nostalgia with customized luggage tag invitations. Ask your guests to bring photos, souvenirs, foreign tender or some other memento from their travels for a little show-and-tell.
Decor
Suitcases – Place vintage-esque luggage cases in various places around the party area. You can even leave some open and fill them with snacks and travel inspired props. Check out this setup featured on Style Me Pretty.
Maps – Visit rummage and estate sales to find old world maps. These can be framed and hung as artwork that is not only perfect for your party, but is beautiful as everyday decor as well.
Make your maps a little more interactive by rolling them into cones to hold snacks like popcorn and pretzels. Above, One Fab Day shows even more creative ways to incorporate maps into your party decor.
Globes – Traditional globes are a fabulous decoration item. Not only do they add a sophisticated flavor, they can also be the perfect conversation starter, allowing guests to point out where they have traveled and where they plan to adventure next. As featured on Style Me Pretty, here is a beautiful way to complement your vintage suitcase decor with a well placed globe.
Planes – Outlines of airplanes can be printed out on colorful paper and tied together for garland. Or, if you’re feeling extra crafty, try making paper airplanes from old maps and stringing those together for pieces of garland, as seen on Run Lucas Run.
Place cards – Keep that theme chugging. If your party includes a sit-down meal, customize Place Cards with a cute airplane or suitcase graphic, or write the menu on traveled-themed stationery.
Activities
A couple hours into the evening, have everyone sit down and share their treasures. Pass around photos and show any digital prints on phones or tablets. You could even give little prizes to the person or couple who has traveled the furthest or has the most stamps on their passport(s).
Food
If you’ve planned far enough in advance, request that your guests bring a treat from some exotic land they have visited. They could also make a homemade dish or show patronage at a shop and buy a premade item. And you could always bake some travel-themed cupcakes, as seen here from Kara’s Party Ideas.
Drinks
Beverages are also a great opportunity to showcase everyone’s travels. You could feature horchata from Mexico, wine from France, sake from Japan and tea from China.
Gift bags
When it’s time to leave, have gift bags filled with candy from a variety of countries ready for your guests. Or get extra creative and design a favor box with a stamp to look like a well-traveled package.
Enjoy your party! No luggage necessary.
