1980's... party decorations

I think lots of neon coloured balloons would convey 80s.

Also, a glitter ball! Though that might be a bit 70s?

My best friend and I had exactly this theme for our 30th the year before last.

We had music and film posters but cant for the life of me remember where we got them, they weren't cheap though. We also had a blacklight as well as a smoke machine etc.

Shimmer curtains were fairly cheap and jazzed things up a bit in a really tacky 80's way, like these -

Hmm what else, we had lots of inflatables like inflatable guitaurs, lots of neon. Balloons in 80's colours were by far the cheapest way of getting atmosphere in there. We also then made loads of stuff like a giant pacman game and put it on the wall (got this idea from the internet).

Had I thought about it sooner I may have also tried to get photos of the guests from the 80's and blown them up and made them part of the decor!

Really though, it was the guests outfits that made the night! We had some fab ones and had a prize for best outfit. I believe it was won by someone who came as the karate kid (the bit where he is in a shower outfit - ha ha). Also obviously the music was a big part of it, and we also did an 80's quiz that had a music round which included songs and tv theme tunes.

We also had loads of 80's sweets - nom nom nom.

Best party ever!

Some great ideas here girls...

If I make up some caption cards for the photobooth... any suggestions?

Could you do it from some 80's films?

ie- 'Nobody puts baby in the corner!' or 'I got the need, the need for speed'

eta, I'm not great with 80's films so thats all I can think of quickly! ha

I love you not for who you are, but for who I am before you.

Oooh that is a good idea...

- "Son, your ego's writing checks your body can't cash." ('Top Gun')
- "I feel the need ... the NEED FOR SPEED!" ('Top Gun')
- "You wear too much eye makeup. My sister wears too much. People think she's a whore." ('Ferris Bueller's Day Off')
- "It's in the hole!" ('Caddyshack')
- "So I got that goin' for me, which is nice." ('Caddyshack')
- "Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." ('The Princess Bride')
- "Inconceivable!" ('The Princess Bride')
- "Yes, it's true. This man has no dick." ('Ghostbusters')
- "Ray, if someone asks you if you are a god, you say, 'Yes!'" ('Ghostbusters')
- "So it's sorta social. Demented and sad, but social." ('The Breakfast Club')
- "Screws fall out all the time. The world is an imperfect place." ('The Breakfast Club')
- "So we'll hammer later?" ('Real Genius')
- "I'd buy that for a dollar!" ('Robocop')
- "Your looks are kind of pretty when your face isn't screwing it up." ('Goonies')
- "Strange things are afoot at the Circle K." ('Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure')
- "Kiss my fat one, you cheap dime-store hood." ('Stand By Me')
- "I'll have what she's having." ('When Harry Met Sally')
- "Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash. But I would be pleased to partake of your pecan piiiieee." ('When Harry Met Sally')
- "This one goes to eleven." ('This Is Spinal Tap')
- "Gimme the keys, Lisa!" ('Weird Science')
- "Hey Bud, let's party!" ('Fast Times at Ridgemont High')
- "Girl, you look so good, someone ought to put you on a plate and sop you up with a biscuit." ('Coming to America')
- "Don't move, dirtbag!" ('Police Academy')
- "Look, It's the African anteater ritual!" ('Can't Buy Me Love')
- "Yippee-ki-yay, motherf***er!" ('Die Hard')
- "Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way ... turn!" ('Better Off Dead')
- "That chick Julie, she's truly dazzling." ('Valley Girl')
- "Wax on, wax off." ('The Karate Kid')

Could you present every guest with a pair of neon socks or legwarmers when they arrive and insist they wear them all night? Will it be fancy dress 80s stylee?! Can I come if it is?!

It will indeed be 80's fancy dress - 80's fashion, 80's film stars, 80's pop icons... the works!!

Wow - love some of these ideas!

For your photobooth you could do the background of the test card where the girl is playing knotts and crosses with the toy clown? Perhaps supply a wig and hairband so people can re-create it? Or is that really random? It's just something I remember from TV back then!

Decoration wise, you can buy glow stick bracelets from the pound shop - you could link these together to make neon garlands. (like christmas paperchains).

Perfect example of why I ❤️ 80's films!!

Genius idea...

OK more quotes required for the caption cards...

I also need songs to dance to... from the 80's, 90's, 00's and 10's (will be working our way through the eras!)

Fire away people!!!

For 80's music the LiveAid playlist is a good place to get some inspiration:

• Coldstream Guards – "Royal Salute", "God Save The Queen" (W 12:00);
• Status Quo – "Rockin' All Over the World", "Caroline", "Don't Waste My Time" (W 12:02);
• The Style Council – "You're the Best Thing", "Big Boss Groove", "Internationalists", "Walls Come Tumbling Down" (W 12:19);
• The Boomtown Rats – "I Don't Like Mondays", "Drag Me Down", "Rat Trap", "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" (sung by the audience) (W 12:44);
• Adam Ant – "Vive Le Rock" (W 13:00);
• Ultravox – "Reap The Wild Wind", "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes", "One Small Day", "Vienna" (W 13:16);
• Spandau Ballet – "Only When You Leave", "Virgin", "True" (W 13:47);
• Elvis Costello – "All You Need Is Love" (W 14:07);
• Nik Kershaw – "Wide Boy", "Don Quixote", "The Riddle", "Wouldn't It Be Good" (W 14:22);
• Sade – "Why Can't We Live Together", "Your Love Is King", "Is It A Crime" (W 14:55);
• Sting and Phil Collins (with Branford Marsalis) – "Roxanne", "Driven To Tears", "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)", "Message In A Bottle", "In the Air Tonight", "Long Long Way To Go", "Every Breath You Take" (W 15:18);
• Howard Jones – "Hide And Seek" (W 15:50)
• Bryan Ferry (with Pink Floyd's David Gilmour on guitar) – "Sensation", "Boys And Girls", "Slave To Love", "Jealous Guy" (W 16:07);
• Paul Young – "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (intro), "Come Back and Stay", "That's The Way Love Is" (with Alison Moyet), "Every Time You Go Away" (W 16:38);
• U2 – "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Bad" (with snippets of "Satellite Of Love", "Ruby Tuesday", "Sympathy For The Devil" and "Walk On The Wild Side") (W 17:20);
• Dire Straits – "Money for Nothing" (with Sting), "Sultans Of Swing" (W 18:00);
• Queen (introduced by comedians Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones) – "Bohemian Rhapsody"/"Radio Ga-Ga", "Hammer to Fall", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions" (W 18:44);
• David Bowie (with Thomas Dolby on keyboards) – "TVC 15", "Rebel Rebel", "Modern Love", "Heroes" (W 19:22);
• The Who (introduced by Jack Nicholson) – "My Generation"/"Pinball Wizard", "Love, Reign O'er Me", "Won't Get Fooled Again" (W 20:00);
• Elton John (introduced by Billy Connolly) – "I'm Still Standing", "Bennie and the Jets", "Rocket Man", "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee), "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with George Michael and backing vocals by Andrew Ridgeley), "Can I Get a Witness" (W 20:50);
• Finale at Wembley Stadium:
  a) Freddie Mercury and Brian May (Queen) – "Is This The World We Created?" (W 21:48),
  b) Paul McCartney – "Let It Be" (W 21:51),
  c) Band Aid (led by Bob Geldof) – "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (W 21:54);
• Raul and the Panflutes

• Bernard Watson – "All I Really Want to Do", "Interview" (JFK 13:51);
• Joan Baez (introduced by Jack Nicholson) – "Amazing Grace"/"We Are the World" (JFK 14:02);
• The Hooters – "And We Danced", "All You Zombies" (JFK 14:12);
• The Four Tops – "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)", "Bernadette", "It's The Same Old Song", "Reach Out I'll Be There", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" (JFK 14:33);
• Billy Ocean – "Caribbean Queen", "Loverboy" (JFK 14:45);
• Black Sabbath (introduced by Chevy Chase) – "Children of the Grave", "Iron Man", "Paranoid" (JFK 14:52);
• Run-D.M.C. – "Jam Master Jay", "King Of Rock" (JFK 15:12);
• Rick Springfield – "Love Somebody", "State of the Heart", "Human Touch" (JFK 15:30);
• REO Speedwagon – "Can't Fight This Feeling", "Roll With The Changes" (JFK 15:47);
• Crosby, Stills and Nash – "Southern Cross", "Teach Your Children", "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" (JFK 16:15);
• Judas Priest – "Living After Midnight", "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)", "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" (JFK 16:26);
• Bryan Adams (introduced by Jack Nicholson) – "Kids Wanna Rock", "Summer Of '69", "Tears Are Not Enough", "Cuts Like a Knife" (JFK 17:02);
• The Beach Boys (introduced by Marilyn McCoo) – "California Girls", "Help Me, Rhonda", "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Good Vibrations", "Surfin' USA" (JFK 17:40);
• George Thorogood and the Destroyers – "Who Do You Love" (with Bo Diddley), "The Sky Is Crying", "Madison Blues" (with Albert Collins) (JFK 18:26);
• Simple Minds – "Ghost Dancing", "Don't You (Forget About Me)", "Promised You A Miracle" (JFK 19:07);
• The Pretenders – "Time The Avenger", "Message Of Love", "Stop Your Sobbing", "Back On The Chain Gang", "Middle of the Road" (JFK 19:41);
• Santana and Pat Metheny – "Brotherhood", "Primera Invasion", "Open Invitation", "By The Pool"/"Right Now" (JFK 20:21);
• Ashford & Simpson – "Solid", "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" (with Teddy Pendergrass) (JFK 20:57);
• Madonna (introduced by Bette Midler) – "Holiday", "Into The Groove", "Love Makes The World Go Round" (JFK 21:27);
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (introduced by Don Johnson) – "American Girl", "The Waiting", "Rebels", "Refugee" (JFK 22:14);
• Kenny Loggins – "Footloose" (JFK 22:30);
• The Cars – "You Might Think", "Drive", "Just What I Needed", "Heartbeat City" (JFK 22:49);
• Neil Young – "Sugar Mountain", "The Needle and the Damage Done", "Helpless", "Nothing Is Perfect (In God's Perfect Plan)", "Powderfinger" (JFK 23:07);
• Power Station – "Murderess", "Get It On" (JFK 23:43);
• Thompson Twins – "Hold Me Now", "Revolution" (with Madonna, Steve Stevens and Nile Rodgers) (JFK 00:21);
• Eric Clapton (with Phil Collins) – "White Room", "She's Waiting", "Layla" (JFK 00:39);
• Phil Collins (having flown Concorde from UK to USA) – "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)", "In The Air Tonight" (JFK 01:04);
• Led Zeppelin Reunion – (with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, Tony Thompson, Paul Martinez, and Phil Collins) – "Rock and Roll", "Whole Lotta Love", "Stairway To Heaven" (JFK 01:10);
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", "Daylight Again"/"Find The Cost of Freedom" (JFK 01:40);
• Duran Duran – "A View to a Kill", "Union Of The Snake", "Save A Prayer", "The Reflex" (JFK 01:45);
• Patti LaBelle – "New Attitude", "Imagine", "Forever Young", "Stir It Up", "Over The Rainbow", "Why Can't I Get It Over" (JFK 02:20);
• Hall & Oates – "Out Of Touch", "Maneater", "Get Ready" (with Eddie Kendricks), "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" (with David Ruffin), "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "My Girl" (with Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin) (JFK 02:50);
• Mick Jagger (with Hall & Oates / Eddie Kendricks / David Ruffin) – "Lonely At The Top", "Just Another Night", "Miss You", "State Of Shock"/"It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" (with Tina Turner) (JFK 03:15);
• Finale at JFK Stadium:
  a) Bob Dylan, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood – "Ballad of Hollis Brown", "When the Ship Comes In", Blowin' In The Wind" (JFK 03:39),
  b) USA for Africa (led by Lionel Richie) – "We Are the World" (JFK 3:55)