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Party season is quickly approaching, you guys!
One of my favorite things about hosting, besides the snacks, is watching everyone lose it over a silly game.
Not that I’m competitive about game night or anything, haha! But I do keep a folder of backup ideas just in case.
So don’t fret if you’ve never hosted before. I used to struggle putting a whole night together. Now it’s basically muscle memory!
Keep on reading for 20 ideas that work for any crowd. From board games to balloon pops and photo boards, there’s something here for every kind of party.
PARTY GAME IDEAS
Two Truths And A Lie Board
We’re starting off strong with the classic two truths and a lie board. Everyone writes their statements on a little card. Then they pin them up for the group to guess.
I’ve stopped even trying to guess hers. Her poker face is honestly unbeatable.
- The icebreaker that never flops
- Works with any size crowd
- Cards ready in ten minutes
Balloon Pop Charades Cards
How cute are these balloon pop charades cards? Each balloon hides a tiny slip of paper with a word to act out.
Popping the balloon is honestly half the fun!
- Loud on purpose
- One balloon per player
- Great for mixed ages
Minute To Win It Cups
Minute to win it cups turn regular plastic cups into a full competition. Stack them, flip them or race the clock, the format changes every round.
These are the games that make grown adults compete like it’s the Olympics, haha! Nobody wants to lose in front of the neighbors!
- Chaos in the best way
- Sixty seconds per round
- Cups from the dollar store
Guess The Baby Photo Board
This one is a guest favorite every time. Guess the baby photo board pins up embarrassing childhood pictures. Everyone matches names to faces.
I still haven’t lived down my own mullet photo from this game! The awkward haircuts always steal the show.
- Blackmail material approved
- Print photos ahead of time
- Prizes for closest guess
Human Bingo Printable Cards
Human bingo printable cards get people talking to guests they’ve never met. Squares ask things like who has traveled abroad or who can whistle a tune.
They come in handy more often than you’d think.
- Small talk, solved
- No prep past printing
- Works for strangers or old friends
Scavenger Hunt Clue Cards
Scavenger hunt clue cards send guests hunting through the whole house or yard. Riddles lead to the next clue until somebody finds the prize.
Who doesn’t love a good hunt, am I right? The neighborhood kids still talk about the one that ended in the garage!
- Turns any yard into an adventure
- Clues fit in an envelope
- Prize at the final stop
Memory Jar Guestbook Station
A memory jar guestbook station fits right into any of the farewell party ideas floating around online this year. Guests drop a written memory into a jar instead of signing a plain card.
I reread mine from a coworker’s send off last year and lost it a little! Someone always writes something that makes the whole room tear up. Bring extra tissues just in case.
- The keepsake that actually gets kept
- Slips fold up small
- Jar doubles as decor after
Map Pin Travel Send Off
This map pin travel send off looks amazing on any goodbye table. Guests push a pin into the spot they hope the guest of honor visits next.
My pin always ends up somewhere ridiculous like a random island nobody’s heard of, lol! By the end of the night the whole map looks like a tiny constellation.
- A map full of good wishes
- Pins from the craft aisle
- Frame it after as a gift
Farewell Wishes Balloon Wall
The farewell wishes balloon wall is dramatic in the best way. Balloons get filled with tiny notes. They’re popped one by one as a send off tradition.
Aww! How sweet is this idea for someone moving far away? My neighbors did one before their big move and half the street showed up! I still have a photo of it on my fridge.
- Pop one, read one, cry a little
- Notes rolled up small
- Balloons in any color scheme
Stadium Snack Board Display
A stadium snack board display turns the coffee table into the real MVP. Little end zones made of chips, dip and sliders line up like the field itself.
This is one of those football party ideas that gets photographed more than the actual game!
- The board that outshines the halftime show
- Feeds a full living room
- Snacks arranged in under an hour
Jersey Themed Table Setting
Jersey themed table setting is such a fun little upgrade for game day. Team colors on the plates, napkins folded like pennants, the whole table gets in on it.
The tablecloth still gets more compliments than the score most weeks!
- Tailgate energy indoors
- Colors match any team
- Napkins folded in five minutes
Football Field Cupcake Platter
Talk about talent! This football field cupcake platter turns green frosting and white piping into a tiny stadium. Little player figures line up like it’s kickoff.
I always mess up the yard lines but nobody notices once the frosting’s on! A box mix works fine here, so nobody needs to be a professional baker.
- Kickoff never looked this sweet
- Box mix cupcakes work great
- Piping tip for the yard lines
Ugly Sweater Photo Backdrop
An ugly sweater photo backdrop is basically required at this point for any of the friendmas party ideas going around this year. String up mismatched sweaters and twinkle lights. The photos take themselves.
My sweater has sequins falling off it every single year and I still wear it proudly! Everyone shows up trying to out-ugly each other.
- The wall everyone poses in front of twice
- Sweaters from the thrift store
- Lights left over from the tree
Cookie Decorating Table Setup
A cookie decorating table setup keeps guests busy and full of frosting fingers. Plain cookies, a few bowls of icing and a mountain of sprinkles is really the whole setup.
I always end up with more frosting on my hands than the cookies, haha! Got a bunch of extra sprinkles lying around from last year? This is exactly where they belong.
- Frosting fingers guaranteed
- Cookies baked ahead of time
- Sprinkle bowls from the pantry
Ring Shaped Balloon Arch
A ring shaped balloon arch might be the most requested backdrop out of all the engagement party ideas out there right now. Gold and white balloons twist into a giant ring that frames the couple perfectly.
I tried building one myself once and it took three tries to get it round! It looks straight off a fancy event with basically zero decorating experience needed.
- The arch that photographs itself
- Balloons in gold and ivory
- Frame fits most doorways
Engagement Photo Timeline Display
This engagement photo timeline display walks guests through the whole love story. Pictures get clipped along a string from childhood photos all the way to the proposal.
Every time, the old photos steal the biggest laughs of the night.
- A love story on a string
- Clips from the craft drawer
- Ribbon in any color scheme
Sparkling punch Toast Backdrop Wall
A sparkling apple cider toast backdrop wall makes the toast photo actually worth framing. Gold streamers, a few florals and a simple sign turn a corner of the room into the spot everyone wants to stand in.
Is it really a toast without a proper backdrop? Not in my book!
- Cheers, but make it photogenic
- Streamers in metallic tones
- Sign printed at home
Holiday Ornament Exchange Table
A holiday ornament exchange table is the centerpiece a lot of friendsmas party ideas circle around each December. Everyone brings a wrapped ornament. They pick one from the pile at the end of the night.
No shame in that! Fighting over the last good ornament has basically become tradition.
- Everyone leaves with a new favorite
- Ornaments wrapped ahead of time
- Table set with a simple runner
Hot Cocoa Bar Cart
A hot cocoa bar cart is one of my favorite drink station ideas party planning has ever handed me. Marshmallows, syrups and a few candy canes turn plain cocoa into a whole experience.
Same! Everyone always ends up back at the cart for round two before the night is over.
- Round two is basically mandatory
- Toppings in mismatched jars
- Cocoa kept warm in a crockpot
Wrapped Gift Exchange Table
Last but definitely not least, we have this wrapped gift exchange table built for the classic favorite things party gift ideas everyone loves swapping each year. Guests bring three of the same small item wrapped identically. Then they pick blind.
It’s the one exchange where nobody ever complains about their pick! Who could argue with more snacks or candles?
- Everybody wins something good
- Gifts wrapped in matching paper
- Three of the same item each
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Sophie
