A Spooktacular Halloween Dinner Party

When our children were little, Halloween was a festive and busy time of year. Parades at school; trick or treating; homemade costumes, and lots of decorations around the house. Fun and fond memories. However, just because the little ones are all grown up, it doesn’t mean that adults can’t have some fun too. During my recent visit to Florida to visit Chloe @celebrateanddecorate, a group of friends have a spooktacular Halloween dinner party.

Both Chloe and her sister, Lynn have a long history working with the Disney corporation. Their ideas for costumes and decorations are endless and in a few days, I did learn SO much. In our attempts to replicate the famous ghostly dinner at the Haunted Mansion, we sprayed our hair white, applied ghostly make-up and donned period outfits of white and ecru.

The Tablescape

The table is set with a gray coverlet, a black chiffon runner and tableware of black and red. Using a haunted looking shower curtain (on Amazon for $18.99 here) and hanging it with Command hooks, it covers the window and completely changes the vibe of the room. Lanterns and candles add to the ambiance.

The Centerpiece

Using a white styrofoam pumpkin (see one here), Chloe cuts out an opening in the top. In the meantime, soak floral foam in water until saturated. Insert the foam into the pumpkin and cut off the top of the foam to line up with the top of the pumpkin. Floral foam blocks here.

Next add your flowers by cutting the stems and inserting them into the foam.

Combining the red roses, the deep purple chrysanthemums, the waxy magnolia leaves fill the pumpkin.

Ostrich feathers complete the look which Chloe found on Amazon.

The centerpiece is the perfect size and scale for the dinner table. As a talented table designer and decorator, Chloe gets full credit for this lovely table.You can find Chloe’s blog here.

The Food

Chloe did the meal planning and Andrea (@designmorsels), Chas (@chascrazycreations) and I are all able to pitch in and help with the preparation.

The dinner menu is:

• Chilled shrimp served on a skeleton hand with blood splatter cocktail sauce (skeleton hands here)
• Scary Caesar Salad
• Spooky Stuffed Tomatoes
• Ghostly Twice Baked Potatoes
• Bloody Beef Tenderloin over roasted shallots
• Spidery dinner rolls
• Melted candle red velvet cakes

By using dinner roll dough in the freezer section of your grocery store, is an easy way to make spiders.

Dessert is made using box Red Velvet Cake, store-bought frosting tinted gray and white chocolate candy melting wafers (found here)that drip on the top to look like candle wax. A narrow candle is inserted into the top of the cake and lit ahead of time.

The Costumes

It has been many years since I have dressed up for Halloween. But Lynn brought tubs of fabric and ghostly ideas, including a wedding dress found at a thrift store for $10.00. With some adjustments it fits and did come with a veil too! After makeup and a few props, I am a ghostly bride.

We are even able to capture a photo where it appears as if I am levitating over the dining room table!

Why Do This?

Sometimes putting on a dinner party is a lot of work. However, I can honestly say I so enjoyed doing this with my friends. Chloe is the master of entertaining and she did so much work even before we arrived. However, we all participated in the execution and it was so joyful just spending time in the kitchen together.

Since this trip to Florida was an inspiration for me I am hoping this blog post will be an inspiration for you. After challenging months of isolation, it is a blessing to have fun and laughter with good friends. I learn a great deal from this talented group and look forward to our next gathering

Have a Happy Tuesday! Just arrived back in Phoenix last night, only to do laundry, and pack up again for another wedding in Charleston, South Carolina. If nothing else, I am getting lots of airline miles!