Island Casino Night posted by Marylyn on 12/12/07
I wanted to make a big deal out of my BF's 21st birthday, like going to Vegas. However because of financial constraints it wouldn't have been possible for me to take him and all of our friends. Instead I had the party at home with an Island Casino Night theme to humor guests of both gender.
I had limited space, so I had to use the bedroom as a VIP room, complete with streamers and casino decorations (mostly paper plates with dice and playing cards drawings). I rented a poker and roulette table, chips were awarded to guests who RSVP'd early. At the end of the night guests had an opportunity of winning prizes (goody bags $0.99-$3.00, giftcards $5-$10, toys such as poker sets $4.99, dart boards $9.99 etc), the chips are used to redeem raffle tickets and drawings were made at the end of the night. In the event that a guest ran out of chips, they may obtain more by rendering a song, dance, act or service the game tables as dealers. Hawaiian type of food were served, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. I didn't have a big place, so for bar stand I used the top of my stove/oven. I covered the top, making sure that it was turned off and unplugged. I decorated the top portion of the oven by putting up colored paper sign "Do it yourself Bar," I also placed several decorative umbrellas, those that usually comes with cocktail drinks.
For the apartment decor, I bought streamers $0.49 each (yellow, light green and orange), balloons $7.00/12 of the same color and some Hawaiian motif plates $2.50/8, napkins $1.50/12, a few tikki lights $3.99 and leis $0.25 each for guests as they enter the apartment. Best hawaiian wear was also awarded to 2 guests (male and female) voted by guests. You don't have to spend too much on decorations all it takes are streamers, balloons and some plates matching your theme. Prizes can be goody bags or candy bags, its not the value that matters, its the excitement and fun part of getting prizes. You may find interesting things to give away in the 99 cents store sometimes. Hope this idea helps your party...Good luck :)
