Sometimes, we all just need to throw a party of the sake of having one. Throwing a party for no other reason than to just let loose and have fun generally leads to the best parties and the best party memories. If you are looking for a fun time with your friends, then the ‘gaudy’ party is just the kind of gathering to have. Very little effort is needed for this party. Most everything you will need, you already have, and the tackier, the better!


The Invitation:
-In this case, make sure invitations are handmade-and badly!
-Spell words incorrectly, switch pen colors mid word, and leave scratch marks (as if you’d tried to make the first color pen work again) right on the invitation
-Smudges, grease, stains, and torn corners will also add to the effect.
-You could mail in old envelopes (scratch out addresses), unused bill payment envelopes, or use new ones, but you may want to fold or crumple the invitation, or even start a grocery list on the back.

The Dress:
-Tell your guests to dress in the most gaudy outfits they can find: clothing that is stained, ill fitting, from a different decade, or completely mismatched will work.
-If there are any thrift shops or other secondhand clothing stores in the area, suggest they take a look! Outfits could be made for next to nothing.
-Dress yourself in an old formal dress (that’s why you kept that bridesmaid dress) and wear your hair in curlers, ratty house slippers on your feet.
-Give a tacky prize for the tackiest outfit. Something like a free t-shirt you never wore (or better yet, one you did) or a home earwax removal kit. Don’t bother wrapping it.

Setting the Scene:
-Place any old thing you can out on your porch, as well as in your yard. Run clothesline the length of your porch and hand old shirts, pants, and ‘granny’ undergarments there
-Decorate your table using a stained tablecloth, wadded paper towels as napkins, a mix of plastic and metal silverware, and completely mismatched plates and cups (if you don’t have enough to mismatch, you can get cups and plates at your local dollar store)
-Play over the top music softly in the background. Make sure it’s something completely inappropriate for the party, such as marching band music, or Christmas music (assuming the party is being thrown in spring or summer)

The Food:
-Serve food that requires little to no effort on your part: frozen pizza, hot dogs, and bologna sandwiches. Place everything on a long tray in the middle of the table and place a pair of tongs with it, telling your guests to fend for themselves.
-For drinks, don’t go out of your way: simply serve canned beverages
-For dessert, go simply again, serving gelatin cups or Twinkies.