Drawing on celebrity themes is a great way to create an unforgettable game night. First, it’s a wide concept that even the least pop-cultured friends can nail—after all, everyone can pick out a few celebrities. Second, many are intrigued by the lifestyle behind the world’s most famous stars. And lastly, there are plenty of specific or broad themes to dive into in terms of decoration, menus, and games.
Let’s take a closer look at how to throw a celebrity-themed game night.
Choosing a Game
A game night typically revolves around a specific title—whether a board or digital game, an interactive murder-mystery style game or a performative theme that recreates a movie setting (Wes Anderson seems to be a popular theme).
Digital games are some of the easiest to arrange, as all they need is a large screen. For example, typically, gamers play slots online while gaming alone, but it can also be adapted for a group activity. In fact, some slots designers have created games that have group party themes, such as Street Magic and Sticky Bandits.
Given the range of slots titles, hosts will have plenty of options to match their theme. However, not everyone will want to infuse a high-energy game into their night. Some may choose to build out an interactive game, such as a murder mystery, that runs for the whole night.
Don’t have a celebrity-themed murder mystery? Just adapt your favorite game format, then insert celebrities based on your overall theme. A sports-themed night may turn guests into the 2015 Golden State Warriors team, while a cooking-themed night might see the likes of Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsey try to frame the other.
Building a Menu
After choosing a game and adapting a celebrity theme to fit the game, building out a menu offers hosts the chance to customize their party. Much of this will depend on the game being played.
Finger foods will be best for fast-paced games like slots, while larger courses would fit into a murder mystery plot. Board games, from classics like Monopoly to new hits like Cards Against Humanity, will need well-thought-out plates to avoid spillage.
After identifying which type of food will be most appropriate, dive (back) into your chosen celebrity theme. A reality TV-themed game night, for example, might see guests dress up as, embody, or play as someone like Kim Kardashian or Jamie Chung.
In these cases, recent fad diets would be a fun way to give an ode to the celebrity theme, while also inspiring a menu that features callbacks to plant-based brunches and obscure hot sauces. Aren’t sure about building out a menu that meets everyone’s dietary needs? Just add ‘potluck’ to the invitation, and let your guests take some of the work out of hosting for you.
Setting Up Space
A party’s arrangement will be built around supporting the game theme, as well as the game itself and the menu. Murder mysteries don’t require much work, while digital and board games will call for one central location where guests can all see and participate.
Some hosts will choose to create certain installations in order to take their party to the next level. Today, photo booths are increasingly popular, from weddings to retirement parties. For example, someone throwing a party that has a Bond theme may choose to design one corner of the room into a photo booth, where guests can recreate the famous Bond intros.
Another popular setup is for hosts to include accents or full-on costumes for their guests to wear. This will depend on whether the celebrity theme is based on the game, or requires guests to also embody and dress up as a certain star.
In these cases, hosts set up changing areas for guests (which also tend to include a photo booth). For example, a sci-fi-themed party might include spacesuits, futuristic gadgets, or movie-specific items (like dinosaurs for Jurassic Park) that guests can pose or incorporate into their looks.
