Party themes are a popular way to add a little something special to showers, birthdays, anniversaries or any type of gathering. There are many options for putting together a French-themed party, and they can be relatively easy and inexpensive to create. Tips include incorporating the French language into your invitations and other written pieces, choosing French foods for your menu and playing French music during the party. You can also incorporate icons of French culture, history and architecture into your décor.
Incorporating French phrases into your invitation is an easy way to set the mood for a French-themed party. Conveniently enough, a number of standard invitation and party phrases are already French. "Hors d'oeuvre" can be substituted for "appetizers," for instance. The commonly-used "R.S.V.P." stands for the French, "répondez s'il vous plaît," meaning please respond. Consider spelling out this phrase to add impact.
You can use the French spellings for other words, too, particularly if you are throwing a French-themed party for a shower, anniversary or other romantic occasion. For instance, "coeur" is French for "heart," "enchanté" means "enchanted," and as many are already aware, "l'amour" means "love." An online English to French translator can help you find other ideas. These words can also be used in your decorations, thank you notes, place cards and more. Remember to address all notes and place cards using the French forms of address, such as "Mademoiselle" or "Mlle," "Madame" or "Mme," and "Monsieur" or "M."
Food and music can add much to your French-themed party. French music is available for download online if you don't have access to a collection. French foods can also be researched online. Quiches and croissants are an authentic option for a brunch, coq au vin could work for a sit-down dinner, and brie served with baguettes is a potential appetizer. Crème Brûlée, Éclairs and madeleines are all popular French desserts.
Décor can be an important part of carrying off any theme. For a French-themed party, one way to enhance your décor is to use well-known French icons. The Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe are both recognizable architectural structures, for instance. You might also post prints by famous French artists, such as Monet, Matisse, Cezanne or Rousseau. Another option is to decorate your dining area like an outdoor cafe in Paris.
Color schemes for French-themed parties can vary based on your preferences. Many such parties use black and white, based on the popular harlequin motif. In this case, a single accent color, often a mid-tone of pink, is frequently added for impact.