Days until Halloween: 51
Feel yourself like a little Cinderella? If so, then this party is especially for you. Below you will find all the information and tips you will need to organize a successful event for you and your friends. But first, a little more about Cinderella.
Some say that the story of Cinderella has been in circulation since as early as 1BC! Whether this is true or not is hard to say, but perhaps one can find proof in a story that was popular in the ancient Egypt with the Greco-Egyptian girl named Rhodopis.
It is said that Rhodopis was forced to do the washing at the river by the other servant girls while they attended an event thrown by the Pharaoh Amasis. Naturally this made her very sad but, like Cinderella, she wasn't without help. Just like Cinderella had a Fairy Godmother, Rhodopis had an eagle that carried her rose-gilded slipper to the city of Memphis where the Pharaoh's event was held and dropped it at his feet.
Upon seeing the slipper the Pharaoh immediately ordered his servants to find the owner of the show which, quite naturally, turned out to be Rhodopis. And the rest, as they say, is history as the two married and lived happily ever after.
Of course there are other versions of the story, from quite a few different countries. Do yourself a favor and look them up (use your favorite search engine and search for Aelian, Ye Xian, Chūjō-hime, etc.). Right now, however, it's time to party!
Get your pen and paper and get ready to
make some notes!
Below you will find some useful ideas
for Cinderella Party invitations. Should you require any of the
materials or items necessary, just ask your parents to help by
purchasing them from a retail store in your area or from the
internet. And remember, including the following information in your
invitation will ensure that your guests will have all the information
they need.
Party Name: Be sure to give your party a fairytale-like name such as “Jane's Fancy Dress Ball for Cinderellas”
Salutation
Date & Time
Venue/Location
Dress Code
Contact Details
Additional information…
While you may know the story of Cinderella, some of your friends may not. For this invitation you will be making a small booklet as an invitation for your party that also contains the story of Cinderella!
To start off you will need a computer loaded with the appropriate software as well as a printer. If you don't have a printer, ask someone you know if you can use theirs when you have finished with your design. We will also recommend using a template for your invitation to assist with the layout.
Now, to start with you will want to have a Cinderella-themed image on the front page of your invitation along with the name of your party. Ideas for front page images include a glass slipper, a pumpkin coach, Cinderella herself or a Fairy Godmother waving her wand.
On the second page of the booklet you will need to put all the details of your party. Remember to use a font appropriate to the story of Cinderella. And finally, you will need to add the story. Decorate each page fittingly so as to make it an invitation to keep for a long time!
When everything is done, simply have
your little booklet printed and binded and get ready to deliver them.
If you know the story of Cinderella, then you will know that she loses her glass slipper in her rush to get away from the ball (because it had gone midnight). The prince, who had fallen in love with her, uses this glass slipper to find her again.
For this invitation you will need to buy a glass slipper, or at least a clear plastic slipper, for each of your friends that you want to invite.
If you are using glass slippers, then
you can have the invitation details of your party engraved on them
(though you would need to ask your parents for some help). Should you
be using the plastic slipper, create some paper-based invitations (as
described under the Cinderella Invitation) to add to the slipper and
get ready to deliver the invitations to your friends.
For this invitation you will need a small orange pumpkin (the kind used for Halloween), some wire and some paint). You might also want to use an image from the internet to use as a template.
Now, you will want to empty the pumpkin first and cut some squares for the coach windows. When that has been done, place a small candle inside the hollow pumpkin. Next up you will want to bed the wires to resemble coach wheels and attach them to the pumpkin. As soon as you are happy with what you have, use the paint to decorate the pumpkin to resemble a coach. This might take some skill so ask your parents for help if you are having trouble.
Finally, carve the details of your invitation in the back of the pumpkin coach, but be sure not to break through to the inside of the pumpkin.
The final idea is to light the candle at night and look at the back of the pumpkin coach where the details of the party will be revealed.
All you'll need to state under the “Dress Code” section of your invitations will be “Cinderella”. And if you are planning to have an elegant ball, be sure to inform your friends that they dress accordingly (otherwise they might come in rags and covered in dirt!).
Otherwise, they can come as the poor
Cinderella that has just finished her chores (dressed in her tattered
rags), the Fairy Godmother or even one of the two step-sisters.
For your decorations you will have to
decide which kind of Cinderella party you will be having. If you are
having a normal Cinderella party as the poor cleaning girl, then you
will have to decorate your place as such. But if you are having a
fancy dress ball and all your friends are wearing glass (or at least
transparent) slippers, then you might be able to use the following
decorations:
Castle backdrop
Elegant Candle holders with candles
Fairy Godmothers (toy ones) hovering from the ceiling
Glitter on all surfaces
Streamers & Balloons
A huge analog clock (preferably halted at 11:59pm
Glass slippers around the room (as centerpieces, etc.)
Pumpkin Coach (Made with a hollow
pumpkin and the necessary decorations)
Have one of your parents dress as the court chamberlain or master of ceremonies and announce your guests in a royal manner.
A line that can be used is “Announcing!
The beautiful Cinderella – also known as Jessie Holmes”
These are used so that all your friends
will remember your party even weeks after the event. Ask your parents
for help to look and buy on the internet or in the appropriate retail
store in your area.
Miniature Glass Slipper
Cinderella Pencil Box
Fairy Godmother Wand
Fairy Wings
Stickers
Necklaces & Jewelery
Fairy Godmother Statuette
The best part of any party is of course
the activities. Below you will find a couple of activities that we
think might be appropriate to your party.
Time to get out the popcorn and draw
the curtains! A Cinderella film will be sure to set the correct
atmosphere for the rest of the party. Ask your parents to take you to
your local DVD store or even look on the internet for the appropriate
Cinderella DVD.
Everyone should gather in a room and place one chair at one end. A Cinderella for this round should then be chosen and seated on the chair with her back to everyone else. Now, she'll have to place one of her slippers under the chair at the end closest to the people behind her and then close her eyes.
While her eyes are closed, someone
should steal the glass slipper from under the chair (or just leave it
there!). Cinderella may then open her eyes but have to guess who
stole her slipper! She has three guesses – if she guesses
correctly, then she gets to go again. However, if she guesses
incorrectly, then someone else can have a go as Cinderella.
Divide your friends into a couple of groups and tell each to practice acting out a mini Cinderella play. But, also instruct them to act out an alternative ending. This can be a happy ending, a sad one or even a funny one that will have everyone in stitches (also ask your parents to keep the video camera at the ready).
After about 20 to 30 minutes of
preparing, each group then has to perform their version of the the
story to everyone else. Naturally, the group with the best version
wins. If you want to award the group with the best act a prize, be
sure to get one before the day of the party.
If you have your parents' permission, then you will love this activity! The purpose is to make a Cinderella coach using a large pumpkin. Of course you will have to hollow out the pumpkin and decorate it accordingly to make it suitable for the beautiful Cinderella.
But now – you can't just throw the inside of the pumpkin away as it can be used for food that not only tastes extremely good, but is healthy too! Ask your parents to help you find a suitable recipe for pumpkin cakes or anything else that you can use pumpkin in. Once you have made the pumpkin coach, proceed to make your pumpkin foods and perhaps take the time to give it to the needy (if you don't eat it yourself). This fit in perfectly with the theme of Cinderella and will definitely put a smile on someone's face.
If you aren't planning to make or eat the pumpkin cakes as described under the Make & Bake then you will obviously need some snacks for you and your friends. Here are a couple of ideas which you can use:
Food
Sandwiches
Pastries
Cupcakes
Cake
Apple pie
Popcorn
Chips & Dip
Hot dogs
Drinks
Tea (for a Cinderella tea party)
Fruit Juice
Soft Drinks
Sports Drinks