{pictured above: Midnight Madness Halloween Party}

Halloween is on a Saturday this year, and you know what that means… even more of an excuse to party! If the date crept up on you (pun intended) and you’re not exactly ready for the costume-clad guests to arrive yet, not to worry. You’d be surprised how quickly you can whip up a cool Halloween bash, even if all you have to work with is Friday night and Saturday during the day... seriously!

Below are some planning tips to help guide you through it. Pick and choose which ones work best for you, even if it's just 1 or 2.

{pictured above: Spooky Chic Dinner Party}

1. Scrap it.
Search for Halloween themed scrapbook papers in a a few different patterns that you can mix and match. Use these to create quick DIY placemats, napkin rings, drink tags, and party signs, and to decorate things like vases, pillar candles, and party favors. 

Most paper collections also come with coordinating embellishments such as chipboard cut outs, ribbon, stickers and more, which you can use to dress up place settings & party décor as well!

{above images from Hostess with the Mostess & Fantasy Celebrations}

Have a life-size skeleton at your house? Dress her up with a feather boa and and flapper headband! You can also use the feather boas to dress up centerpieces and table/counter surfaces on the bar, buffet, etc.

 6. “Shortcut” the menu.
Attempting an elaborate menu is not a good idea when you’re already pressed for time, so take shortcuts wherever you can. Want to serve a fun signature drink like a Pina Ghoulada? Instead of making the drink from scratch, use a frozen mixer so that all you have to do is add in the spirit and turn on the blender. Less shopping that way too! Or try a ready-made orange or mixer cocktail mixer & just add vodka. Orange rimming sugar is a quick way to dress up glasses. Just wet the edges with a lemon or lime & dip the rim into the sugar.

Go the “semi-homeade” route with the food too. For example, serve Spooky Spider Eggs made with store-bought deviled eggs so that all you have to do is slice up some black olives for the "spider" topper. Or use instant pudding mix to create Tombstone Cookie parfaits. Just add crushed Oreos as the "dirt topper" + a Milano cookie with “RIP” scrawled across the top in decorator icing. Not everything has to be done from scratch…you get the idea!

{above images from Sunset.com}

7. Focus on one showstopper.
Instead of getting overwhelmed by all the different elements that can go into a party, focus on just one “showstopper” that’s sure to be the talk of the evening – whether it’s a really cool centerpiece, a candy bar/buffet, or the dinner table.  Then keep things easy everywhere else with mood lighting & a just little bit of coordinating décor to help tie the space together.

{pictured above: Halloween Dessert Buffet by Amy Atlas}

Use small votives and tea lights to light up surfaces like tabletops and fireplace mantles, and to put a “spotlight” on decorative skulls and spiders. Battery-operated LED lights are always a good, safe alternative to traditional candles too.

Another fun idea: stretch black nylons and fishnets over glass cylinder vases and use them to showcase pillar candles (see image #3, above). Read more about this idea here.

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Have quick Halloween party ideas  of your own to share? Please post them in the comments section here!