Ren Theme 80th Birthday Party Help?!

[Drouzin]

Hello all!  I love ren fairs and the family knows this, so when it was decided to throw Mom a little birthday lunchon at a local Italian restaurant, they figured they would go with an Italian renaissance theme and I would come up with all the ideas.   Usually I'm pretty good about being the idea person, but for some reason I'm stuck on stupid this week and nothing is clicking for me.

I wanted to do scrolls for invites, but the mailing cost is going to break the budget.  I thought that a nice redish purple, ivory, green and gold would make good colors, but it feels so fall/winter for an Aug. party.  And I thought those little wooden treasure chests with a little something inside would make nice favors.  I have either been shot down by the family or am not thrilled with the ideas, (like they are not creative enough or something )  If anyone has an idea/thought or two on decor, cake, flowers, favors, or colors that they'd like to toss out, I'd really appreciate it!  Thanks!

[Anna Iram]

Perhaps go with a Tuscany theme. Especially as it's to be in a restaurant. You could make simple invitations from colored paper, perhaps a terracotta color. Find a quote you like in Italian that will set the mood for the party with an English translation and then the invitations itself. Perhaps in a nice gold ink. Include a stem of rosemary or lavender (okay I stole this idea from a site I read once, but I like it. It evokes the scents of Italy.).

Table decorations could be as simple as vines and grapes and bottles of wine.

Here's a site with tons of links. Perhaps it will give you more ideas.

Invitations to Create the Tuscan Theme

http://www.askginka.com/nationality/italian-tuscan-theme-wedding-party.htm

[Drouzin]

Many and much thanks Anna!   Perhaps Tuscan is the way to go, terra cotta and sunflowers with grapes and wine bottles, a little Owain Phyfe playing in the back ground...  Hmm a bit more rustic...  I like it!

[Anna Iram]

Glad to be of help.

[KAT OB]

I found this last year while looking for ideas for my Dad's party::

You could have 2 different "sides." The Silver side and red side. You could get a game of human chess going with the different sides.

I found goblets at a discount store; they were end of summer close outs; plastic white goblets. I didn't have time, but you could glue on jewels to the edge of the cups.

I got some clip-art of a Coat-of-Arms and placed a "XX" for name of mom in the center; made two copies and hung each one from a piece of red cloth  that hung on each side of the "Queen's Throne"

I made a castle like cake out of a sheet cake and ice cream cones.

[Drouzin]

Oooh, Kat!  What a great idea!  Mom is decended from Queen Elizabeth's advisor William Cecil Burleigh, I could use his coat of arms, (if he doesn't mind me borrowing them for the day ).

[Anna Iram]

There's tons of icebreaker games here if you want to go that directions.

http://businessmajors.about.com/od/icebreakers/tp/TopIcebreakers.htm


Perhaps some can be tweaked to be Ren themed or not but just for fun.

[KAT OB]

Don't forget to let us know how it all goes, plus what you ended up doing.
Enjoy the day!

[Khaalis]

Here are 2 resources of links for Ren related/themed party ideas:
http://www.askginka.com/themes/medieval-renaissance-faire-theme-wedding-party.htm
http://www.costumeparty.com/adult-party-themes/renaissance-party/

Hope they are useful.

[Drouzin]

A big thank you for all of the help and links!!   I've been in craft mode on the invitations for two days and am thankfully done.  They were supposed to look more renaissance, but due to limited time, budget and shopping, I had to make do with what I had.  What was supposed to resemble blackwork and tudor roses, (instead of red and white I used Mom's favorite purple, pink and green color combination), came out looking more like victorian scrolls and violets.  At least the terra cotta stamp worked out.  Sigh.

[LadyShadow]

But it still looks wonderful.

[Drouzin]

Well, all that work and the party has been cancelled.   My sister just got back some test results that didn't really reveal anything and it looks like this next month is going to be filled with more doctor stuff and no one is up to a party now.   I guess we're lucky we didn't mail out the invites today.  I am determined to have a ren party at some point, and when I do it will be a second chance to get the invites right.

[LadyShadow]

Sorry to hear about that.  I hope all goes well.  Best of luck next time around

[Drouzin]

Thanks Lady Shadow.  This is the second Ren themed party I've had to cancel, (Katrina did in the first one).  Perhaps I can do something in the fall, besides the weather will be cooler.

[Anna Iram]

I'm sorry to hear that Drouzin. I do hope all turns out well with the test resuklts and you can have your party to celebrate.

I like what you did with the invites. Pretty.