As an event planner, it was discouraging (but necessary) to see more and more events postponed or outright cancelled. During these unprecedented times, life is still happening around us, and there are moments and milestones that are still worth celebrating with you and your’s… maybe just differently than you original planned. I will be posting tutorials on past events I have done, and showing first how you can dream up a party you will host down the road when this is all behind us, and also modifications for how you can celebrate on a smaller scale with minimal supplies and still Party-In-Place (and style) during quarantine!
I love movies and (pre-coronavirus) go almost weekly (AMC A-list member, humble brag), so a movie party at your local theatre is a pretty non-labor intensive way to celebrate a birthday. They often have private party rooms for you to congregate with your group before or after for gifts and cake. Some movie theaters allow you to do a special screening of an older movie no longer in theaters, so definitely inquire about that!
So to begin, your movie party needs to start with cute popcorn buckets, and I absolutely love these dollar tree reusable popcorn buckets that come in a 2-pack. Bonus- these fit perfectly in most movie theatre drink holders. These larger popcorn tubs add variety, are good for sharing, would make a unique cake stand substitute, or would serve a popcorn bar well.
Next- funfetti birthday cake popcorn! This is super easy to make. Make your own popcorn or buy a very lightly salted microwaveable variety. Melt white chocolate (ghirardelli is my favorite baking chocolate), mix in a couple spoons of dry funfetti cake mix to your liking, coat your popcorn, top with your sprinkle of choice and mix it around! Tip- use a softer sprinkle or else your popcorn will be very crunchy. I bagged these in treat bags and put them in the Dollar Tree popcorn containers as take home favors.
Make that funfetti popcorn work overtime on your Birthday cake: frost a cake white, and then clump fresh funfetti popcorn along the side while it is still a little warm. and congregate some at the top. This cake had a surprise sprinkle center which is always fun to cut into.
Try popping your own popcorn from kernels! This is the foolproof small batch stovetop popcorn recipe I use. It tastes great and doesn’t have all the who-knows-what that’s in the microwaveable bags. It’s of course easier to use microwaveable popcorn, so don’t feel guilty about using those if you already have them on hand!
Social Distancing Modifications: Even though movie theaters aren’t an option at this time, staying in for a movie has always been a great time! With a few extra steps and some preparation, what may have become a routine time filler can be made into an extra special celebration. Amazon video and iTunes are early releasing in-theater movies to On-demand, but an all time favorite movie would also be a great option.
Quaranteeny Movie Party for your littles: First, create an in-home theatre! Basements are nice and dark, or it can be right in your living room. Pile up some quilts & throw pillows and make a cozy ground viewing area. Stack pillows on one end under the quilt to create plush “recliner seating” to lean against. Use chairs and make it like auditorium seating. Grab some red, purple or black blankets, tablecloths, or towels and make a theatre curtain backdrop using your chimney as a base, or make “theatre curtains” around your TV.
Make a “Now Showing/Starring: [Name’s] Birthday!” marquee sign with a lightbox or markers… special shoutout/thank you to my 11-year-old niece for making me these signs with her lightup boxes AND styling AND shooting this pic for me! I’m so proud! :)
Create a popcorn bar and fill treat bags with various popcorn flavors, seasonings, and toppings… make your popcorn exactly how you want it, which you may not be able to do in an actual movie theatre. Make salty sweet combos, add birthday sprinkles, add extra butter and gummy worms, go crazy.
Create popcorn holders out of tupperware by alternating red and white construction paper rectangles or download/print a popcorn container wrap off the internet.
Drinks: Make Coke Slushies in your blender out of ice tray pre-frozen coke cubes.
Serve Nachos with cheese sauce or order pizza from a local pizzeria that would really appreciate your business right now! Make a concession stand with those dollar boxed candies or make them as favors.
If you have the facilities to host a party in your yard with an outdoor projection screen, use various ride-on car’s or cardboard boxes + black take-out containers (for wheels) and make it a drive in movie party!
Quarantini Movie Party for Adults: Download the Netflix Party extension and watch a movie at the same time as your friends, as well as comment in a chat thread visible alongside your feature film! Make spiked jack + cherry coke slushi (Coke of your choice ice cubes + whiskey + extra ice + a maraschino cherry to garnish).
Here are some links for items you can order online to enhance your party:
In Stock as of 4/3/20 and shipping within 1 week:
Popcorn Buckets - Individual: This is a 20 pack, but it’s handy to have extras for group movies or having company (Dollar Tree is currently not shipping).
Large Popcorn Bucket: Vintage feel, rounded
Movie Ticket/Invite: Instant download, print at home
Shipping 1+ week(s):
Movie Projector for iPhone: I have never used one of these, but I’m very curious! You could use this to project off any blank wall or for your outdoor movie nights on a white sheet/canvas!
Kernel Popcorn Butter Spray: Get your stopwatch, 0 calories for 1/3 second spray! You may be able to get this at your local grocery store via instacart. Coating with butter is sometimes messy and hard to evenly distribute so this may be a great alternative!
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Here are some creative photos I’ve found on Pinterest and elsewhere that showcase how other’s have done an at-home movie party (comment below for credits):
As always, please pay close attention to CDC & government regulations to ensure that your fête is safe for all!
We are in this fight against Coronavirus together, even though we are apart. Until it’s safe for us to gather & celebrate together in-person, there are still ways to make life’s many special moments and milestones special and uniquely yours. For more Party-in-Place free tutorials, click the images below:
