!: Bat Mitzvah Party Theme - She's So Sweet (Candy Theme)

Throwing a theme party is a wonderful opportunity to direct one's party planning efforts from party invitations through party favors. For a Bat Mitzvah. "She's the Sweetest" candy theme is tons of fun for the party planners and guests alike. Not to mention delicious!

Invitations: Set the mood for the party by sending out candy-themed invitations. There are many ready-made, as well as custom invitations, that can be purchased that have a candy theme to them. You can even purchase edible invitations! These typically are either 'chocolate invitations' in which a mold is created especially for your invitations or 'cookie' invitations that have an edible transfer on them that includes the pertinent info regarding your party (place, time, etc.). Although postage is considerably more for these types of invitations, they are certainly unique and fun.

Edible Place cards: Let your place cards do double duty for you. Personalized label mint tins and candy bar wrappers can serve as place cards too! (Just make sure if you are using the latter to write on the label with a felt tip pen so that there is no chance of tearing the label).

Decorations: Here you need to be a bit creative because there aren't a lot of pre-made 'candy decorations'. But here are some ideas to help spur your creative juices:

· Take inspiration from the game "Candyland". Enlist the help of an artistic friend to make larger-than-lifesize candies and memorabilia from the game.

· Decorate with Pinatas. Search the web for sources. You can even find places that will custom make piñatas for you.

· Make your own candy posters. Go to Google Images and search on the term "Candy" or a particular brand of candy. Pick wonderfully colorful images and then work with a printing company (Kinko's or a local printer) and ask them to create poster board, glossy images of them to hang throughout the party room. Not only will they look wonderful, the female guests will love to take them home after the party to use to decorate their rooms.

Centerpieces: With candy as your theme, the sky is the limit with the fun you can have with candy centerpieces. A few suggestions:

· Fill clear vases (very inexpensive to purchase at craft stores) with the candy of your choice and wrap a big, color coordinated satin ribbon bow around each vase. All tables can be the same candy (all M&Ms, all jelly beans, etc). or each table can be a particular type or brand of candy. Make sure you include a mini scoop at each table as well as favor bags so guests can take home the candies.

· Personalized Lollipop centerpiece arrangements. Here, instead of having flowers on each table have personalized lollipops (chocolate or hard candy) be the 'flowers'. Guests will 'pick' a lollipop from the arrangement after the meal and dessert has been served. Not sure how to create one? Turn to Google Images once again for inspiration; simply type in "Lollipop Centerpieces"

Soft-Serve Station: Make your dessert extra special (and fun!) by offering a soft serve station that features a large selection of candy toppings. Just make sure you have several wait staff working the station so that the line can go rather quickly.

Favors: Many of the ideas already listed can also serve as your party favor. However, if want to give a non-edible party favor than look for gifts that can be personalized with a candy theme such as grippy socks or squishy pillows.