How to Pick a Theme for the Guest of Honor

• Pinterest
• Facebook
• X
• LinkedIn
• Threads
• Mail
• Print
• ShareCopied to clipboard

Welcome, party planners and theme enthusiasts! Today, I’m diving into the art of picking a party theme that pays tribute to the guest of honor. Because let’s face it, a party without a theme is like a balloon with no air – it’s just not as fun! Plus, the esteemed guest will feel so special that you took the time to create a party around who they are.

Table of Contents

1. Why a Themed Party Matters
2. The Process of Picking a Theme
   • Identify the Guest of Honor’s Personality
   • Brainstorm Theme Ideas
   • Choose a Theme
3. Plan the Party
4. Execute the Party
5. Specific Examples of Themes to Fit Personality Types
   • The “Adventure Seeker”
   • The “Bookworm”
   • The “Gamer”
   • The “Nature Lover”
   • The “Music Lover”
   • The “Foodie”
   • The “Fashionista”
   • The “Artist”
   • The “Tech Enthusiast”
   • The “Animal Lover”

Why a Themed Party Matters

A themed party sets the tone for the entire event and can make it more memorable and enjoyable for everyone involved. It also shows the guest of honor that you put thought and effort into planning their special day.

The Process of Picking a Theme

1. Identify the Guest of Honor’s Personality: Consider the guest of honor’s interests, hobbies, and personality traits. Are they adventurous, creative, or laid-back? Do they have a favorite book, movie, or TV show? Use this information to brainstorm theme ideas.
2. Brainstorm Theme Ideas: Once you have a sense of the guest of honor’s personality, brainstorm theme ideas that reflect their interests. Think about what they enjoy doing in their free time, what makes them happy, and what makes them unique.
3. Choose a Theme: Narrow down your list of theme ideas to one or two options that you think the guest of honor will love. Consider factors such as the time of year, the location of the party, and the budget.

Plan the Party

Once you’ve chosen a theme, start planning the party. This includes deciding on the venue, creating a guest list, sending out invitations, and planning the menu and activities. You can find my article that covers every step of the planning process by clicking here. And I have a bunch of FREE DOWNLOADS to help you too!

Execute the Party

Use my free tools to help you stay organized and on track. On the day of the party, set up the decorations, prepare the food and drinks, and make sure everything is running smoothly. Don’t forget to take lots of photos to capture the memories!

Specific Examples of Themes to Fit Personality Types

1. The “Adventure Seeker” Theme: For someone who loves adventure, consider a theme like “Around the World” or “Outdoor Explorer.” Decorate with maps, globes, and travel-themed decorations, and serve international cuisine.
2. The “Bookworm” Theme: For someone who loves to read, consider a theme like “Literary Classics” or “Book Club.” Ask guests to come dressed as their favorite literary character and have everyone guess who they are. Decorate with book-themed decorations, and serve food and drinks inspired by the guest of honor’s favorite books. Consider doing a book exchange during the party too.
3. The “Gamer” Theme: For someone who loves video games, consider a theme like “Retro Arcade” or “Gamer’s Paradise.” Decorate with video game-themed decorations and set up gaming stations with the guest of honor’s favorite games.
4. The “Nature Lover” Theme: For someone who loves nature, consider a theme like “Enchanted Forest” or “Garden Party.” Decorate with flowers, plants, and nature-themed decorations, and serve food and drinks inspired by the outdoors like trail mix, parchment wrapped sandwiches or flower cookies.
5. The “Music Lover” Theme: For someone who loves music, consider a theme like “Rock ‘n’ Roll” or “Music Festival.” Decorate with musical instruments, records, and music-themed decorations, and play the guest of honor’s favorite songs.
6. The “Foodie” Theme: For someone who loves food, consider a theme like “Food Truck Festival” or “Gourmet Dinner Party.” Decorate with food-themed decorations and serve a variety of delicious dishes from different cuisines.
7. The “Fashionista” Theme: For someone who loves fashion, consider a theme like “Red Carpet Glam” or “Fashion Show.” Decorate with fashion magazines, mannequins, and fashion-themed decorations, and encourage guests to dress in their most stylish outfits.
8. The “Artist” Theme: For someone who loves art, consider a theme like “Painting Party” or “Art Gallery.” Decorate with paintbrushes, easels, and art-themed decorations, and set up a painting station where guests can create their own masterpieces.
9. The “Tech Enthusiast” Theme: For someone who loves technology, consider a theme like “Virtual Reality” or “Tech Expo.” Decorate with gadgets, robots, and tech-themed decorations, and set up a tech station where guests can try out the latest gadgets.
10. The “Animal Lover” Theme: For someone who loves animals, consider a theme like “Zoo Safari” or “Petting Zoo.” Decorate with animal prints, stuffed animals, and animal-themed decorations, and set up a petting zoo or animal encounter for guests to enjoy.
11. The “Girlie Girl Theme”: If the guest of honor is a girly girl who loves all things pink and sparkly, consider a princess-themed party. Decorate with tiaras, pink balloons, and fairy lights. Serve pink lemonade and cupcakes with edible glitter. For entertainment, you could have a princess dress-up station or a royal tea party.
12. The “Down to Earth Theme”: If the guest of honor is a down-to-earth person who loves nature and the outdoors, consider a rustic-themed party. Decorate with burlap, mason jars, and wildflowers. Serve barbecue and cornbread. For entertainment, you could have a bonfire with s’mores or a nature scavenger hunt.
13. Parties Based on Profession: If the guest of honor has a specific profession, consider a party theme related to their job. For example, if they’re a doctor, you could have a medical-themed party with decorations like stethoscopes and band-aids. Serve “prescription” cocktails and “surgical” snacks. For entertainment, you could have a trivia game about medical history or a “surgery” relay race.
14. The “Thrifty Thrill-Seeker”: For the guest of honor who loves a good bargain, a thrifty-themed party is a treasure hunt. All guests can bring a thrifted item to dress one another up for the party. Set up a swap meet where guests can trade items they no longer need. Or you can also have a thrift store fashion show where guests model their thrifted finds. Decorate with recycled materials and DIY decorations. This theme is not only budget-friendly but also eco-friendly!
15. Others: The possibilities are literally endless when it comes to choosing a party theme. You could have a retro-themed, a beach-themed, a superhero, a masquerade ball or any seasonal-style theme. The key is to choose a theme that best reflects the guest of honor.

Planning a themed party based on their personality is a thoughtful and creative way to celebrate the special people in your life. Help each other out by swapping ideas below. Or asking for ideas for your guest of honor’s personality! I look forward to starting an open line of creativity with you all!

Cheers Planners!

Anna

• Pinterest
• Facebook
• X
• LinkedIn
• Threads
• Mail
• Print
• ShareCopied to clipboard

Some other helpful articles for planning a party:

The Ultimate Birthday Party Blueprint: A Complete Planning Guide with Timelines, Checklists, and More

Perfect Pairings: Matching Party Decor & Favors with Your Menu

How to Feed People at Your Party

Check out my other Theme Party Blogs to help you get your creativity flowing:

The Ultimate Themed Party Planning Guide: Tips & Ideas

How to Pick a Theme for the Guest of Honor

Seasonal Inspired Party Themes

Free Downloads:

THEMED PARTY IDEAS BY AGE

THEME INSPIRATION TABLE

SEASONAL INSPIRED PARTY THEMES