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Family-Friendly Trick-Or-Treating Party

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I’ve been dreaming of taking Marlowe Trick-or-Treating for the first time since before she was even born.  Growing up, we would always have Halloween parties– first everybody would congregate at our house for some food, drinks, and games (Bobbing for apples, anyone?) and then we would all go out Trick-or-Treating.  It was so fun to see all our friends  dressed up in costumes, and I always felt so proud to have everyone celebrating and playing at MY house. (Little kids are so weird about everything “mine” HA!) I wanted to create the same feeling for Marlowe for her first Halloween as a walking Trick-or-Treater!

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I’m so excited to give you a sneak peek of the family-friendly party concept and decor a few days early, in case it could serve as inspiration for your own Halloween party!  I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure Marlowe didn’t mind taste testing all the snacks, either!
The goal was to create a festive but elevated decor concept that felt Halloween-y but also adult.  I really believe in investing in nice substantial decorative and serving pieces that you can reuse, re-purpose, and save money on over time.  That said, I’m all about a disposable cup and plate situation, especially when I’m feeding snacks to 20-30 people including many children!

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I got the cool abstract burlap spider runner, and cobwebbed tiered dessert tray, from my Mom as a gift a few years ago (May I remind you of our family Halloween tradition!)  But this is the first year that I’m really using them!  I added to the spider theme with super cheap cobwebs from Party City that I spread over a black table cover, and created some dimension in the room with these adorable black and orange pom-pom garlands.  These were a great investment– I know I will use them for many parties to come!  I snapped up a bunch of crows (why are these SO creepy to me?) at Michael’s, and positioned them around the food and drinks….waiting for an unsuspecting reveler to PECK ALIIIIIVE!!! MUAHAHAHA. 

Ok, the food:  Before I was a parent myself, I didn’t really understand the whole “You kids need to eat some real food before the party” angle.  Who cares?! It’s Halloween!  Then I witnessed firsthand what a little cake for dinner (Thanks, Birthday parties) will do to my normally sweet and agreeable toddler, and I understood.  I understood perfectly.  For our party this year, I wanted to make sure there were some substantial, yummy, and healthy snacks for the kids before we unleash them upon the neighborhood candy.  I decided on PB&J and Hummus-cucumber sandwiches (cut in to Halloween shapes),  Clementine “pumpkins”, and sweet potato puffs for the smaller kids.  I put together a paté and cheese plate for the grown ups, and added some sweet treats for the people who are not that in to candy.  I bought the mini brownies and red velvet cupcakes at the market, but made them my own with sugar eyeballs and an adorable cupcake set from Meri Meri.  The chic cobweb plates are from Meri Meri, too!  Their decorations are always on point. 

Let’s talk booze.  A Halloween party just isn’t a party without a couple cocktails for Mom and Dad.  I always like to mix up a big “signature” cocktail in my glass dispenser (another incredible investment piece by the way).  This year I settled on a thematic “Spooky Cider” with a taste of apples, stone fruit, and cinnamon! Oh, and Rum (welcome, Pirates).  Of course not everybody is a mixed drink fan, so I like to have a wine option on hand.  I myself am a HUGE red wine fan, and I could not be more excited about the spicy, complex, and highly drinkable red blend by HobNob! “HobNob Wicked Red Blend” is being sold for the Holiday in this limited edition Day Of The Dead bottle that fits perfectly with my spooky decor– and is delicious to boot!  I know my guests are going to love it.  I may or may not have already shared a bottle with Kyle over this cheese platter, and I can tell you that it pairs perfectly with paté and manchego (and brownie bites)!

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I really am thrilled to continue my family tradition from growing up by hosting our friends (and Lowie’s!) for Halloween this year.  It makes me so happy to be playing out one of the many Mommy fantasies I had while pregnant, and hopefully it will be something Marlowe can look forward to every year!

Do you have any family Halloween traditions?? I would love to know what they are– leave me a message in the comments below!

xoxo
EAM


** Many thanks to HobNob for sponsoring this post!  As always, the writing and opinions expressed above are 100% my own.  All brand partnerships and affiliates for this site will always reflect things or experiences that I genuinely like, and that I believe to be a good fit for my aesthetic and brand.
                                            

      SPOOKY CIDER
(Makes 1 witch’s cauldron aka A LOT)

  • 1 handle dark rum
  • 2 liters apple cider
  • 1/2 cup cinnamon schnapps
  • 1 cup apricot brandy
  • Juice from 3 lemons
  • 10 cups of ice
  • 2 apples sliced in to rounds

Combine all ingredients and stir well.  Drink responsibly!

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Photographs by Nina Suh for Love And Lemonade Photography

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5 Comments

  1. Madie says:

    the thematic wine adds the perfect look and adult touch!!!

    10.28.15 Reply
    • Happily Eva After says:

      Madie,
      Thanks, I agree! It really is delish too!

      10.29.15 Reply
  2. Julie says:

    I loooove these ideas! I think I might add some plastic eyeballs that can float in the spooky cider to make it extra creepy. My neighborhood does a halloween potluck in our street every year and then we all go trick or treating together with the kids. This year I’m in charge of plates and cutlery. To make it spooky, I’m gluing a googly eye to the end of each fork, spoon and knife.
    And now that I’ve typed all that out I guess what I’m saying is eyeballs make everything creepy!

    10.29.15 Reply
  3. Alessan says:

    are you guys still having a party this year even with the baby’s arrival?

    10.11.16 Reply