If you’re hosting an ice skating party for either children or adults, you’ll want it to be an event to remember. Whether it’s to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or even just for fun, follow these simple steps to hosting the perfect ice skating party:
- Invitations: Your invitations should set the tone for the party, while providing guests with plenty of information. Include blue or silver sparkles in your color scheme, as this is easily replicated on the ice. You may even wish to have your invitation be in the form of a figure skate. Let your guests know whether your party will take place outdoors or inside, and provide directions if needed. Encourage children to wear gloves or mittens. (Even if you’re inside at a heated rink, these will provide some cushion and warmth for their hands if they fall.) If skates are available for rental, or if there is a concession stand in addition to any snacks you’ll be providing, inform guests of this in your invitation so they can bring some cash.
- Food: Ice skating is a physical activity, so people will be hungry when they’re finished! Consider providing filling snacks, such as sandwich roll-ups or pizza. (You may need to ask the rink if you can bring in your own food other than cake or ice cream.) Also include a hot chocolate, tea, and coffee table where everyone can prepare their hot drinks in any way they’d like. This table may include the usual marshmallows, sugar, whipped cream, and flavored creamers. It may also have small cookies for dipping. If young children will be present, offer cups with lids and fill a few before everyone gets off the rink so they have time to cool off before the children drink from them. Donna from Party Wishes set up this a lovely display shown below with snowflakes lollipops in pretty glass mugs used for hot chocolate.

She also incorporated the favors of earmuffs and a scarf into her chair cover decorations…brilliant!

- Decorations: Since you can’t decorate the ice, streamers, balloons, and sparkles should adorn the room where people will eat, drink, and celebrate. (Be careful not to have any confetti or other items on the floor, as these can stick to skates and cause people to fall on the ice.) Or, you may wish to make it feel like an Olympic event, with posters, bouquets, and even stuffed animals lining the walls. Be sure to take short video clips of guests skating, and then you can display them on the wall or a projector as people are enjoying their food. The same is also true of still photographs, which can be emailed or even printed and handed to everyone as they leave.


When planning your wedding, you’ll want all your guests to be able to sit back, enjoy, and have a great time. What better way to encourage comfort and a welcoming environment than through a country themed wedding reception? Remember that this theme should be rustic yet classy. Here are some simple ideas for hosting the perfect event from decorations and the cake, to rustic wedding favors:
- Decorations: A country theme should include natural decorations, from bouquets of wildflowers to jarred candles. You can create beautiful centerpieces with multi-colored wax candles in a number of differently shaped jars. Once the sun starts to set, have attendees go to each table and light the candles for an enchanted feel. Natural wreathes, also containing wildflowers, berries, and even silk butterflies or birds, can be hung on any doorways and at the entrance to the reception. Remember that different shades of green always make people think of being outdoors in the country, so include this wherever possible, even on the ribbon holding the bouquets together. You can also fill a vase with whole coffee beans and place these cute chocolate boot country wedding favors in them. Be sure that there is the same number of boots as there are guests at the table.
Table settings: Rather than having glasses for water at each seat, consider having mason jars instead. (However, do not provide these for your champagne toast.) You can also have traditional cloth napkins, either in solid colors or a gingham design. Place each in a floral napkin holder, perhaps even including silk sunflowers on each one. (You can easily create these on your own by purchasing supplies from your local craft store.) Simple plates and solid silver or even brass cutlery will complete the look. Consider adding candy and placing these cute mini mason jar favors at each setting.
- Cake: Keep in mind that in addition to providing a delicious dessert for your guests, your cake can serve as one of your key decorations. You’ll want the colors to match those of your other decorations, and remember to keep it simple. Intertwining flowers or a few decals will go well with your natural theme. (Don’t overwhelm guests with too many designs or patterns.) You may want to display the cake on a brass serving tray that matches your silverware. Also, cake pops have become quite popular, and they are already individually sized. (Plus, you can make them in a variety of flavors.) You may want place some around your cake for guests to enjoy.
- Photo opportunity: No wedding is complete without taking pictures to remember it by. Whether you rent a photo booth or set up a corner of the room with a bale of hay, allow guests to use props (bandanas, cowboy hats, etc.) and have their pictures taken. This is fun for friends and family members of all ages!
- Rustic Wedding Favors: There are so many country and western wedding favors options for favors including: a personalized glass trinket holder, light-up cowboy boot mug,


