Winter Wonderland Parties

A winter wonderland themed party conjures up wonderful images of soft glowing gas lamps reflecting gently on snow covered streets...think Narnia meets It's a Wonderful Life!

Invitations

Get your party off to a stunning start with some appropriately themed invitations: arty-crafty types could go to town with beautiful snowflake or icicle designed invites, with icy sparkles and silver glitter. Keep everything white/silver/palest blue for a real 'ice kingdom' type vibe!

Scene Setters

If you are hosting your party in December then you'll have a wonderful Christmas backdrop to work with, and can just add fun extras like snow-carpets (rolls of snow type fabric widely available in craft shops and in the Christmas decoration aisles of stores) and snow machines. Just keep a watch out for muddy footprints spoiling the lovely whiteout effect!

For a January or February Winter Wonderland, or for a November party before the festive decorations have come out, go with a more Narnia-esque setting, with lots of snow, ice and soft, muted lighting. For inspiration, think of lovely glittery reflections on glass, icicles sending out sparkles and shadows, and the crunch of frost covered leaves underfoot on a cold, crisp morning.

Fancy Dress

Winter Wonderland will mean different things to different people, and you could encourage your guests to elaborate on it and interpret it with costume suggestions like Snow Kings and Queens or Ice Maidens and Masters. For children, take inspiration from films like Happy Feet and TV shows like Pingu to give them character costume ideas with a wintery feel.

For Christmas time Winter Wonderland parties, you could suggest Dickensian or Victorian costumes or movie themes like A Christmas Carol, or even pantomime for those who really like to go to town with their dressing up!

Entertainment

Depending on your guests' age groups and the reason for the party, your entertainment could range from winter sports/Olympics inspired games, through to film and music quizzes (think Christmas number ones, the big winter/Christmas film releases, winter Olympics sports questions).

For younger children, have snowman dressing games against the clock (or stopwatch!) snowflake designing competitions, quests to find the matching snowflakes on activity sheets. Give traditional party games a winter wonderland twist - play hunt the fir cone in place of hunt the thimble etc.

Treat older children to a winter sports activity, like a session at an ice skating rink or dry ski slope – this could form an element of an overall winter wonderland theme party.

Give adult parties an air of sophistication by selecting classical music for the background – think along the lines of The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky, and other pieces associated with traditional winter ballets and operas. Play DVDs or videos of winter films in the background – go with classics like The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas!

Food and Drink

Take inspiration from winter fayres and Christmas street sellers – serve roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, egg-nog, rich Irish coffees, and sumptuous, warming finger foods and hot soups.

Give children a Winter Wonderland picnic or buffet, with sandwiches cut with cookie-cutters in snowman or star shapes, and decorate cupcakes with a wintery theme!

You'll soon be living it up in a winter wonderland!