A Night of Escape

Host a Sorority or Fraternity Dance

Typically, when students enter college, they are excited to leave the world of high school behind and continue with their lives, perhaps by joining fraternities or sororities.  However, once the stress of college sets in, those same students long for the days of high school, with less homework and more semi-formal dances.  As college life grows more intense, students look for a way to relax, almost exactly as they did during high school.  Because fraternities and sororities are famous for hosting mixers and parties, organizing a semi-formal dance can present a new challenge.  It’s also a good way to initiate those new members, allowing them to step up and organize a semi-formal dance while the older members observe and help, if needed. 

College Formal Themes

Start by thinking of a place to which you would want to escape.  You want the chance to be someone else, someone who has no worries, in a time when life is easy and fun.  You’re on your way to choosing a semi-formal dance theme.  Much akin to high school semi-formals, fraternities and sororities have themed dances, not only for Homecoming, but for various other reasons throughout the year. 

Masquerade College Formal Theme

Masquerade is a popular semi-formal dance theme, because it allows students to escape their collegiate identities and become entirely different people for an evening.  An air of mystery surrounds a Masquerade-themed semi-formal dance, and there are many different themes of the Masquerade itself—everything from a candle-lit Music of the Night (for the music and theater department dances) to a bright and colorful Peacock-themed masquerade.

Fifties College Formal Theme

Another semi-formal dance theme that is sure to help students relax is a Fifties theme.  While fraternity dances don’t always use life-sized props, this dance theme could give the fraternities on campus a chance to let their men show off cars that they’ve worked to restore.  If they don’t have many cars, there are always hot rod standees that could be used!  A Fifties semi-formal dance theme is a great way for students to let loose and let their hair down, but still have fun.  Girls can take it to the next step and find poodle skirts to wear, while guys could wear their leather jackets and slacks.  For this dance theme, formal attire is not required.  It’s all about having fun, dancing, and going back to the ease of the Fifties.

Casino Fraternity Dance Theme Ideas

A popular semi-formal dance theme among fraternities is Casino Night.  A Las Vegas casino backdrop will help students trade their stressful college life for a night of fun, dancing, and cards.  This dance theme also gives girls a chance to slip into that little black dress and get all dolled up for a night on the town— even if it’s simply on campus!  After a few high-energy dances, students will be ready to relax with a game or two of blackjack—or maybe a spin on the roulette wheel.  After their night away from homework, students will be relaxed, refreshed, and ready to tackle their homework again.  When planning a semi-formal dance, fraternities and sororities need only remember: relax, have fun, and don’t think about school for a night!  A semi-formal dance, especially in college, is meant to allow an escape, a time for you to relax.  It’s exactly what hard-working students deserve!

Spring’s Top 10 Prom Themes

Stumps Party presents the list of spring’s top 10 prom themes.

Candy Land
If you want a combination of color and fun, this is the theme. The student body will love the lollipop-lined walkways, the sweet taffy waterfall, cupcake backdrops, and sweet candy arch. The success of this prom is easily described in one word – sweet.

Mardi Gras
Put the party into your prom with a Mardi Gras theme. Fill your space with vibrant purples, greens, and golds. Add beads, feathers, and masks. Based upon the style of your decorations, you can replicate the look of an embellished, New Orleans street or simply elicit a sense of mystical magic, or Afro-Caribbean mambo. What used to be for the French is now perfect for your school.

Hollywood
Everyone will sing “Hurray for Hollywood” when committee members see how easily this theme comes together and when the student body takes pleasure in the glitz of this hot theme. Give them the star treatment with a red carpet entrance, rows of paparazzi, lights, cameras, Hollywood Walk of Fame stars, and more. This theme can also lean to a more casual interpretation with an emphasis on film, popcorn, and lots of yellow, red, and white.

City
Bring the upscale, cosmopolitan atmosphere to your school with a city theme. Surround prom-goers with skyscrapers, billboards and lots of lights. Pull these items together to give the impression of a city, or make it a New York night with the addition of a Times Square theme kit or Central Park props.

Parisian
The Parisian theme is always a hit with its romantic, European flair. Imagine the excitement of your student body as they get to walk past the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe arch, or a Parisian café. Play some Edith Piaf, serve baguettes with pate, and cover the walls with backdrops depicting scenes of Paris, such as the Champs-Elysees.

Casino
You won’t be rolling the dice when you choose this popular theme. Students love the high-energy décor of playing cards, poker chips, dice, and roulette wheels. Choose from a jackpot night, a high roller night, or a Vegas escape theme kit. Include some games, a buffet and some live entertainment for the full casino experience.

India
The Indian theme has really become a favorite because of its modern exoticism. The juxtaposition of rich greens, purples, golds, blues, and pinks create a breathtaking look that is unique to the Indian culture. This theme benefits from lots of draping chiffon, shimmera, and gossamer fabrics, trimmed with string lights. Prom-goers will be charmed with the beauty of this destination theme prom.

Stars
Dazzle everyone with a stars theme prom. The student body will be taken aback when they find themselves surrounded with gold, silver, and white stars of all sizes that reflect light throughout the space. Choose from star-studded arches, stairways, columns, and tunnels. Decorate the ceiling with hanging stars, string lights, and panels of star gossamer fabric.

Castles
Prom-goers love the chance to revisit the days of chivalry and courtly love. That is why the castle theme is always a success. This theme can capture the romantic look of a fairytale castle, the medieval look of the Knights of Camelot, or the fantasy look of an ice castle.

Fifties
Everyone loves the 50’s. It was the time of the sock hop, the soda fountains, the poodle skirts, and the emergence of rock and roll. People knew how to have fun and student bodies all over the country still have fun with a fifties prom theme. Fill the space with 45’s, vintage car props, jukebox standees and drive-in decorations. This theme has lots of possibilities, so just run with it and have fun.

Choose your theme and fill all of your decorative, tableware, publicity and favors needs at Stumps Party. We love proms and we want to make sure that your school loves yours.

Hot Theme Party Kits for the Musically Inclined

Certain prom event themes bring a special dimension to the party, and that dimension is a particular genre or style of music. Here are some of our favorite prom theme kits for the “musically-inclined” that would create good vibrations for a post-prom party, too.

Rock Star Theme Decorating Kit. This kit hits striking visual notes in purple, blue and red with neon touches and features giant guitar pedestal, pyrotechnic and speaker standees reaching 8-10’ tall! Hang plenty of metallic star curtains and float guitar- and star-shaped mylar balloons with this kit.

All That Jazz Kit. Create a 1920s sidewalk lined with city street lights that leads to a ballroom bandstand. Dance amid flapper and jazz guy silhouettes, then take a break at a table dressed in navy, black and silver tableware and musical votives.

Disco Theme Decorations. Can you ever have enough glass mirror balls? We didn’t think so. Pick up table top disco balls in addition to the big ones you’ll find with the Boogie Arch and sequined columns in this glittering collection.

Hip Hop Hustle Theme Kit. Place these decorations in front of a blue spotlight background illustration, install a graffiti wall with a two toned brick patterned flat paper opposite, pull out some thick markers and start the music.

Twist the Night Away Kit 1950s Decorations. Fifties parties have been popular for at least 30 years. They’ve developed a style all their own and this kit hits all the right notes for the atmosphere you’re seeking. The drive-in is here, the muscle cars are here, the juke box is installed. Add a great mix of music, some malteds and a Rockin’ personalized banner.