How To Host a Hollywood Theme Party: Fashion, Food, Decor, and More

When hosting a party, you want your guests to feel special and create a memorable evening they won’t soon forget. Steal the spotlight and make your guests feel like movie stars with a Hollywood theme party. Not only is this theme an opportunity to enjoy a lavish affair, but it’s also a great way to share your love for movies and relive the glory of early Hollywood. 

Whether it’s a Great Gatsby-style soiree or an Oscar watch party, there are dozens of ways to make your Hollywood theme party a success. From glitzy decor and glamorous attire to sophisticated treats and invitation inspiration, it’s time to start planning your A-list extravaganza.

Tips For Hosting a Hollywood Theme Party

A Hollywood theme party is a great option whether you’re looking for a glamorous way to celebrate a bridal shower, birthday party, graduation party, baby shower, or New Year’s Eve event. 

This glitzy theme is also ideal for an award’s night or movie night party when you want to get the gang together for an evening of fun. You can host an affordable party with DIY decor at home or go for a lavish evening complete with real paparazzi by renting out a venue like the Kodak Theater or Roosevelt Hotel.

Hosting a Hollywood-themed party also gives you plenty of options whether you like vintage style or something modern and over the top. Choose a Great Gatsby party theme with Art Deco vibes and flapper attire. For something modern, host an Oscar party or awards night bash where your friends and family dress up like movie stars. Here are some party ideas for hosting a Hollywood theme party including costumes, food, and glammed-up decor.

Dream Up Glitzy Decor

No Hollywood theme party is complete without glittering decor. After all, these events are all about star power. Greet guests with a red carpet of their very own at the entrance to your event, even if it’s just your front porch. To take things up a notch, add gold Hollywood stars to the carpet to mimic the look of the Walk of Fame. Add your guests’ names to the stars and have them pose for photos or let them take it home as a party favor at the end of the night.

You can set up a photo backdrop and hire a professional photographer or friend to snap photos as the guests arrive. The backdrop can be as simple as a black sheet with gold balloons and confetti to dress it up. You could also order a Hollywood themed backdrop or movie star cutouts from your local party supply store. 

Movie reels, Hollywood clapboards, movie cameras, film strips, the Hollywood sign, popcorn boxes, and similar Hollywood party supplies add a festive spirit to your event. Red rope stanchions, streamers, and a red aisle runner help set the stage. Some stores sell Hollywood theme party supplies as decorating kits, making it easy to get everything you need to host a red carpet party. For a more affordable DIY option, you can also make many Hollywood props by hand using paper and cardboard.

Whether you have a professional photo booth or a homemade version, don’t forget to have plenty of Hollywood photo booth props like award plaques, action megaphones, decals, stickers, and popcorn boxes to amp up the fun. 

If the party is for a special someone — say the birthday boy or girl or bride-to-be — set up a director’s chair where they can be the star of the show. You could even rent (or buy) a projector to create a spotlight that shines on the guest of honor. 

Get Glammed Up

Getting dressed to the nines is half the fun of hosting a Hollywood theme party. Glitter and glam are usually the name of the game, but it’s entirely up to you. If you’re hosting a vintage Hollywood party, things like flapper dresses, pearls, ostrich feathers, and beaded headbands are a great choice. For men, suits with tuxedo jackets are right at home with an Old Hollywood theme, as are fedoras and bowties.

For a modern Hollywood affair, you can’t go wrong with sequins, beads, and daring fashion choices. Try to replicate your favorite VIP’s Academy Awards look or be original with a one-of-a-kind design you put together yourself. Metallics, white, and black are all great color choices for Hollywood party attire. You can also go bold with rich jewel tones such as ruby, amethyst, sapphire, and emerald.

For more red carpet fashion inspiration, check out Glamour Magazine‘s list that includes everything from understated and sophisticated ensembles to eye-catching metallic suits, velvet dresses, and mirrored jumpsuits.

Set Up a Tasty Spread

If your Hollywood theme party includes a meal, don’t forget to dress up your tables. Use film reels or mini statuettes as centerpieces, or opt for decorative napkins and dinner plates featuring Hollywood motifs. Once you have the decor and tableware set, think about crafting a menu that’s fit for Hollywood royalty.

From fancy finger foods to delightful desserts, there are tons of options when it comes to a Hollywood food menu. Since these types of parties usually involve a lot of mingling, make sure to choose appetizers and snacks guests can graze on. 

Cheese bites, truffles, and charcuterie are all good options. For something a little more upscale, serve caviar, seafood cocktail, and oysters. Don’t forget to include sophisticated cocktails or mocktails and a delish dessert spread — like these fun popcorn cupcakes — to cap off the night.

Have Fun With Act-ivities

Hollywood is home to some of the greatest films ever made and some of the most recognizable actors and actresses in the world. No Hollywood red carpet party is complete without games and activities. Here are some ideas that will entertain guests all night long.

Make A Movie

Assign roles to your guests and make your own movie. You can replicate a specific scene from your favorite film or create an original screenplay. Have guests don costumes or simply stand up and do an improv skit that showcases everyone’s creativity.

Fashion Show

Hollywood is synonymous with fashion, so don’t skimp on this element for your evening of fun. Invite guests to don their best red carpet attire and strut their stuff down your makeshift runway. For a hilarious twist, you can have guests design their own red carpet look using only a trash bag or sheet. Designate two or three judges to choose the best outfit of the evening. 

Movie Trivia

If you’re hosting a Hollywood movie night, prepare a game of trivia where guests can show how savvy they are about the silver screen. Questions can cover famous quotes, a specific movie theme, or random facts about Hollywood favorites. Need some help? Use these 100 movie trivia ideas to get started. The winner can be given a special award or a replica Oscar statuette. 

Scavenger Hunt

Do a movie-themed scavenger hunt by dividing guests into teams. Print out a list of the items they’ll need to locate — things like the gold ring from Lord of the Rings, Dorothy’s ruby slippers, or the pink furry pen from Legally Blonde. You can find more scavenger hunt item ideas right here. 

Hide the times throughout your home or event space and give each team a set amount of time to find as many items as possible. Present the winning team with an award and allow them to give an acceptance speech.

5 VIP-Worthy Invitations

Before you roll out the red carpet and set up your Hollywood party decorations, you have to tell guests where to go, when to arrive, and how to dress. You can do that with stunning digital invitations that will excite guests and make tracking RSVPs easy as pie. 

With online invitations, you don’t have to worry about paying for postage or having your invites get lost in the mail. With just a few clicks, you can customize your Hollywood theme party invites and send them to all your guests. Plus, the online dashboard makes it easier than ever to see who’s opened the invites and who’s planning on attending. 

Here are five of our favorite Hollywood theme party invitations, save the dates, and postcards for a glamorous event.

1. Art Deco Diamond Invitation

Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery

This Art Deco-inspired invite is the perfect scene-setter for Old Hollywood themed events, including weddings and baby showers. The gold foil accents add a touch of luxury while the clean, cubist lines reflect the design style of the Roaring 20s.

2. Los Angeles Card

Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery

Send a Hollywood themed postcard to invite associates to a business event or an Academy Award luau. (Hey, the more creative you can get, the better!) This card features the Los Angeles skyline complete with the famous Hollywood sign and iconic buildings reflecting the glamour of the City of Angels.

3. Hollywood Glam Save the Date

Design: Signature Greenvelope (Photos courtesy of Julia Kinnunen Photography)

This Hollywood save the date card features a film reel of the happy couple accented by gold foil. Customize the color, font, and message to suit the style of your celebration. 

4. Silver Screen Trio Save the Date

Design: Claudia Owen (Photos courtesy of Jimmy Bishop)

This movie-themed save the date features a film reel where you can display three of your favorite photos. It’s ideal for people who love classic Hollywood movies as well as those who aren’t afraid to be the star of the show.

5. Pearl Starburst Invitation

Design: Inspired by Luly Yang

This gold foil invitation is bursting with drama and sophistication, making it perfect for a fancy Hollywood theme party. It’s ornate, opulent, and over the top — just what you need for a glamorous birthday party, wedding, or baby shower. 

Go for the Gold With Greenvelope

Whether you’re hosting a Hollywood theme party for Mother’s Day, a wedding, or a birthday, these tips will help you host an A-list event everyone will love. From food to decor to attire and beyond, you’ll be on your way to set the stage, own the spotlight, and take home the gold statue. It’s time to wow your friends and family with your own Tinseltown-inspired party.