Hosting a party with an Shakespeare theme is a fantastically fun way to celebrate the Bard and immerse yourself in his world.

In this extensive guide, I’ll cover every aspect of planning a Shakespeare bash in vivid detail, from selecting a venue to decor, costumes, food, entertainment and more. Follow these tips to host an unforgettable soirée worthy of the man himself!

Why Choose a Shakespeare Party Theme?

Before diving into the planning, let’s look at what makes a Shakespeare theme such a great idea for your next special occasion:

• Multi-generational appeal – Shakespeare’s works span comedy, tragedy, drama, and poetry. With something for everyone, guests of all ages and interests will find something to enjoy. Even young children can participate in costumes and games!
• Theatricality – Shakespeare goes hand-in-hand with drama and performance art. Guests are encouraged to tap into their inner thespian with costumes, reading lines, and acting out iconic scenes from the Bard’s most famous works.
• Transportive setting – Decor, music, food and costumes will make guests feel fully immersed in Elizabethan England. Step into the role of a lord, lady, peasant, or jester!
• Uniqueness – Avoid a boring or generic party theme. Shakespeare provides so many specific elements to incorporated that will set your party apart.
• Customizable mood – Do you want an elegant affair inspired by one of Shakespeare’s regal histories? A playful outdoor soiree akin to A Midsummer Night’s Dream? A gloomy, dramatic Macbeth inspired banquet? Shakespeare offers great flexibility.

Now let’s move onto practical planning considerations to bring this literary theme to life!

Selecting the Venue

Choosing the right venue lays the foundation for your Shakespearean environment. Consider these factors when selecting a location:

For an indoor venue:

• Community theaters provide auditoriums with built-in Shakespeare ambiance
• School theaters are affordable options in your local district
• Libraries or community centers may have multipurpose event rooms
• Restaurants with Medieval flair or decor

For an outdoor venue:

• Backyards, gardens or patios – string up overhead lighting!
• Public parks with gazebos or pavilions
• Botanical gardens, historic villages, Renaissance fairs grounds
• Rent a castle or Medieval venue if your budget allows!

More venue considerations:

• Size – Make sure the space can comfortably fit your guest list.
• Ambiance – The more the venue appears Elizabethan, the better. Wooden beams, stone walls and Fireplaces = perfect.
• Layout – Ensure there’s sufficient room for activities, seating, catering and mingling.
• Noise restrictions – Outdoor venues might have noise ordinances, so keep that in mind for music.
• Accessibility – Consider guests with disabilities or limited mobility.
• Parking availability – Have a parking plan so guests don’t have issues with long walks.
• Permit requirements -Some public venues require event permits, so plan ahead.

Designing Your Shakespeare Invitations

Whether you opt for printed or digital invites, the invitation sets the tone and builds anticipation for your Shakespeare bash.

Printed invitation options:

• Calligraphy handwritten notes – Opt for quill and ink for an authentic Shakespearean look!
• Faux parchment paper with Elizabethan script font
• Linen or textured cardstock with foil stamping
• “Wax sealed” envelopes (use reusable glue dots instead of actual wax)

Digital invitation options:

• Customizable templates on Paperless Post or Evite
• Design your own graphic invitation on Canva
• Creative text-only email/online invitation

What to include:

• Themed event name – Like “A Night of Shakespearean Revelry”
• Date, time, location details
• Attire guidance – “Garments of the Elizabethan era”
• RSVP by date so you can finalize your headcount
• Additional info like parking, schedule of events etc.

Inject some Medieval flair into your invitation wording by incorporating flowery Shakespearean language. Set the whimsical mood from the outset!

Decorating for an Immersive Experience

Transforming your venue into an Elizabethan wonderland is one of the most exciting and important aspects of planning your Shakespeare party. Use a mix of DIY and premade decor elements to create a transportive environment.

Banners and tapestries: Hang large banners featuring your family crest, initials or Shakespeare quotes. Display tapestries depicting medieval imagery or landscapes.

Flowers: Fill vases, hanging baskets and garlands with an abundance of flowers – roses, peonies, baby’s breath, and wildflowers perfect for a Midsummer Night’s Dream theme.

Tablescapes: Use burlap, lace or medieval-print linens over banquet tables. Wrought iron candelabras and candelabras set the mood. For centerpieces, opt for floral arrangements, stacked books, skulls, or other Shakespearean imagery.

Signs and displays: Create signs with Shakespeare quotes to guide guests to different areas. Display costumes, prop swords, and other Elizabethan artifacts around the space.

Shakespeare book wall: Use thrifted copies of Shakespeare works to create a book backdrop or photo booth wall. Spray paint the books in metallic colors first for extra pizzazz!

Fragrance: Enhance the ambiance with rosewater sprays, potpourri sachets or essential oils like lavender and rose.

Lighting: Use strings of Edison bulbs, lanterns or faux candles to create mood lighting. Rent café string lighting or a tent to illuminate outdoor venues at night.

Entryway: Greet guests with a floral archway, red carpet, or sign that says “Welcome to the Globe Theater.”

Thrones and seating: Designate special chairs or thrones for your guests of honor. Cover seating with faux fur throws.

Photo booth props: Provide an array of silly Shakespearean props like skull masks, swords, crowns, cloaks and more.

With the right combination of decor, your guests won’t know what century they’re in!

Music For Your Elizabethan Affair

There’s an art to selecting period-appropriate – or period-inspired – music that enhances the old world ambiance.

For historically accurate music:

• Hire musicians to play lutes, recorders, viols and other Renaissance instruments
• Curate a Spotify playlist of medieval and Elizabethan era compositions

For Shakespeare inspired tunes:

• Film soundtracks from Shakespeare adaptions like Romeo + Juliet or Much Ado About Nothing
• Jazz or blues with an old world vibe
• Orchestral or choral versions of pop songs

Guidelines for your playlist:

• Include a mix of upbeat dance tunes and slower, atmospheric ballads
• Avoid modern pop songs and stick to classical or acoustic vibes
• Reference specific songs in Shakespeare’s works like “Sigh No More” from Much Ado About Nothing

Pipe your playlist through overhead speakers to maintain the ambiance all evening. Just be sure the noise adheres to any venue volume restrictions, especially outdoors.

Costume Ideas For Your Shakespeare Guests

Costumes are a must for any Shakespeare party! Encourage your guests to dress to impress in Elizabethan era garb.

Provide outfit inspiration and guidance in your invitation. Even simple additions like ruff collars or capes can instantly “Shakespeare-ify” modern looks.

Women’s costume ideas:

• Long peasant gown or wench dress
• Opulent ballgown with jewel accents
• Lady Macbeth or Juliet inspired gowns
• Flower crowns, laurel wreaths and jeweled tiaras
• Corsets, bodices or vests as Elizabethan tops
• Elbow-length gloves
• Intricate hair braids

Men’s Shakespeare costume ideas:

• Poet shirt or long tunic
• Medieval style cloak, cape or tabard
• King’s crown or jester hat
• Breeches or tights
• Doublets
• Masks like a plague doctor beak
• Carry a skull, script scroll or prop quill pen

Provide extra costumes like wigs, cloaks, ruff collars and more so any guests who didn’t dress up can still participate. Break out your thrift store haul or raid a local costume shop.

An outfit contest during the event is a fun way to show off everyone’s Shakespearean looks!

Food and Drink For Your Elizabethan Feast

The food and drink you serve should aim to mimic a Medieval Renaissance fair whenever possible.

Beverages:

• Serve mulled wine, hard cider, mead and ale in wooden tankards or goblets.
• Offer guests non-alcoholic options like fruit punches, lemonades, teas and infused waters.
• Position beverage stations around the event for easy access.

Main courses:

• Hearty meat pies with flaky crusts
• Roast turkey legs, best eaten with hands
• Savory porridge and stew-like puddings loaded with vegetables
• Crusty breads, cheese boards and crafted hams for sampling

Side dishes:

• Roasted seasonal vegetables like parsnips and carrots
• Mixed greens with vinaigrette, cranberries, nuts and seeds
• Pickled vegetables like beets, onions and cauliflower
• Potato leek soup, served in fresh baked bread bowls

Desserts:

• Petite Shakespeare themed cupcakes iced with script font quotes
• Seasonal fruit tarts dusted with powdered sugar
• Individual macarons, truffles, sugared nuts and other dainty sweets
• Birthday cake decorated with icing roses, books, crowns, etc.

Dietary restrictions: Provide options for guests with food allergies or preferences:

• Gluten free pastries and desserts
• Dairy free mac and “cheese”
• Vegetarian shepherd’s pie
• Vegan meat substitutes like seitan turkey legs
• Allergen-friendly meal ingredients clearly labeled

When possible, incorporate edible flowers like pansies, lavender and citrus zest for an authentically Elizabethan flair.

Interactive Shakespearean Entertainment

In between eating, drinking, and conversing, keep your guests engaged with interactive entertainment incorporating Shakespeare’s iconic works:

• Dramatic script readings – Small groups can perform and recite monologues or scenes from the plays.
• Theatre games – Play improv games like freeze tag, “bard-iarre” (Shakespeare charades), or “And scene!” (Act and freeze in strange positions).
• Elizabethan dancing – Hire a choreographer to teach simple Renaissance dances like pavanes and galliards, or just play music and encourage silly period dancing!
• Live actors – Hire performers to act out comedic scenes as entertainment.
• Shakespeare insult contest – Guests compete to creatively sling Elizabethan era insults like “You yeasty, rump-fed horn-beast!” Give prizes.
• Trivia – Test guests’ Shakespeare knowledge with trivia games. Award small prizes to winners.
• Photo booth – Provide costume pieces and props for guests to take memorable Shakespearean snapshots.

The more interactive elements your party features, the more excited and engaged your guests will be. Tap into the playful creativity inspired by Shakespeare!

Take Home Gifts and Favors

After an amazing Shakespearean evening, send your friends home with Elizabethan era mementos and favors to remember the occasion.

Gift bag or box ideas:

• Loot bags decorated like script scrolls, tied with ribbon
• Miniature books or sonnets
• Quill pens, ink wells, wax seal kits
• Chocolate coins wrapped in burlap or lace
• Temporary Shakespeare quote tattoos
• Elizabethan jewelry, like cameo necklaces or jeweled rings

Scented gifts:

• Sachets of dried lavender or rose petals
• Mini votive candles with quotes on burlap or wood slices
• Rosewater spritzer bottles

Edible favors:

• Sugar cookies decorated with icing quotes
• Fruit tarts or petits fours pastries
• Individual seed paper flowers guests can plant

Find inexpensive favors at craft stores, Renaissance fairs, and Etsy. Help your guests relive the Shakespearean magic at home!

Conclusion

Hosting a party worthy of the legendary Bard takes creativity and commitment to the Elizabethan theme. But by following this guide, you’re guaranteed to throw an occasion guests will rave about for ages.

So don your doublet, grab a tankard of mead, and let the revelry commence. The Bard would undoubtedly approve. “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”