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TOODLE-OO “W” (PRONOUNCED DOUBLE U) and Howdy-Do OBAMA

An Inauguration Day Party

A “Bye Bye Bush/Hello Obama Party” from Party411.com

If you are looking for an excuse to party, you should definitely celebrate Obama’s Inauguration and Bush’s Last Day—everyone else is!  Whether or not your friends/family are Obama fans, most likely they are in the 81% of those who disapprove of poor old “W.”  So pick one or both—but certainly celebrate this historical event (without spending the $1000 a night they want for a DC hotel). 

How do you celebrate?  Below is a step-by-step guide for everything from invitations to what songs to play and what activities to host that will make this one inauguration your friends will never forget!

Are you planning on attending the Party411.com Inaugural Ball in Cleveland, Ohio? Check out the invitation!

Inauguration Party Invitation

Start with a Howdy-do Obama invitations (We're going through the change with Obama!) or a Toodle-oo "W" party invitation (It's the end of an error!) to invite your guests to a fabulous once in a lifetime inauguration party. We've already written great poems on the invite - you can just fill in your party details! 

Then use our patriotic backstage pass as a ticket to your very own Inaugural Ball.  They can be laminated and have a lanyard so your guests can wear their pass to the main event.

Consider including patriotic confetti in the envelope for an added special touch.  Don’t forget the basics (who, where, when and why) plus you may want to ask everyone to come dressed in patriotic chic instead of basic red, white and blue!

Entrance/Welcome

Whether inside or out, you want your first impression to scream USA!  Don’t forget to welcome everyone with a Stars and Stripes banner, of course.  And, by the way, a little bunting goes a long long way!  I mean, tell the truth, what’s an inaugural ball without bunting?  Add red, white and blue balloons off your railings or fill the ceiling of your foyer.  Let the strings hang down for a more festive effect.  Enough said!

You might also want to consider yourself as Uncle Sam or as a Mrs. Sam cut-out welcoming all with a speech bubble—or use our welcome sign personalized with your face!

As guests arrive, distribute patriotic hats, noisemakers, tiaras and more from our patriotic kit.  There are also LED patriotic leis and regular patriotic leis that will make for great pictures.  Don’t forget our patriotic single-use cameras with the title of your event to record your friends dressed to celebrate like it’s January 20th, 2009!

For special guests (or host/esses), we have patriotic bandanas and these really cool blinking flag beads - but they’re expensive so go easy…

Inauguration Party Tabletop Decorations and Party Supplies

Besides using Old Glory paper plates and napkins tied with red, white & blue twist bracelets (that everyone will be wearing in their hair or on their wrists), include one of our patriotic drink holders as a favor to take home (if I were you, I’d stuff the silverware in it and place in dead center on one of those Old Glory plates!)…

Centerpieces are simple.  Use one of our skimmer hats as the base for balloons or just use our American flag balloon with some red, white and blue balloons.  If you hate balloons (some people do), use our star candles (coming out of a piece of Styrofoam hidden in the base of the hat).  Place red, white and blue beads instead of confetti around the centerpiece and the table will be fabulous—and your confetti will double as a favor.

Instead of candy at the table, put a Bush candy bar or an Obama candy bar at each place—you can even use them for seating cards if needed.  Or do ½ Bush and ½ Obama—it’s up to you. 

Bars/Buffets

Use red, white and blue linens and of course some bunting or our flag garland on the buffets and bars to tie into your theme.  For fun, add a patriotic drink umbrella to each drink. 

Dress the servers and bartender (or yourself for that matter) in a fun patriotic vest and skimmer hat and pull through your theme with patriotic star trays and bowls.

To really impress your guests, order our custom Bush beer, wine or water bottle labels or our Obama beer, wine or water bottle labels—they’re funny and the perfect touch for a memorable event!

Fun Inauguration Party Favors

This is easy.  Barack Obama cupcakes and cookies are wonderfully delicious and also make great favors.  You're guests will love them!  They are also available with Joe Biden's face, so be sure to get them with our Vice President-elect as well!  Have some out for dessert and more for your guests to take home.

Besides anything and everything mentioned above, don’t forget red, white and blue tinsel maracas for the dance floor if you plan on dancing. 

Another great favor is a picture to take home using one or both of our Uncle Sam or Mrs. Sam photo-ops.  Don't forget the personalized camera to take pictures.  The cameras are a great inauguration party favors as well!

Inauguration Party Entertainment/Activities

Ohhhhhh.  Finally. The good part.  Well, here are my ideas (and I’m sure you’ll have some of your own). 

• A Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin look-alike contest.

• A sing-along.  Say Toodle-oo “W” with songs like “Na Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye” (Steam) or  “So Long, Farewell, Auf Weidersehen, Good-bye” from the Sound of Music.  Say Howdy-do Obama with chart toppers like “Hello…Is It Me You’re Looking For?” (Lionel Ritchie) or take care of both with “Hello Goodbye” (The Beatles).  Fun.

• Karaoke.  Don’t roll your eyes.  Karaoke will never die!  Rent a karaoke machine or ask your DJ to provide it and then choose appropriate songs for your friends to sing (e.g., “Happy Days are Here Again,” “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and others).

• YouTube Videos.  There are some great videos on YouTube that you should definitely share with your guests.  Check it out, use a wall or a big screen and go for it.  A perfect example is the McCain and Obama Comedy Highlights from the Alfred E. Smith Dinner.  Or some of the Bush impersonators…hilarious!

Sherri (aka The Party Girl) was recently featured on a local morning show explaining how to put your Inauguration Day shindig together:

Ok.  The Party Girl is BUSHED!  Have fun.  And let Party411 know what you do that’s different, original and creative to celebrate Inauguration Day 2009!

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