Over-The-Top Themed Parties For Grown-Ups Slideshow

A sophisticated beer tasting birthday party can appeal to both men and women, with the right beer, food, and décor. Serve up some bite-size pub foods — sliders, wings, fries, and dipping sauces — with traditional bar munchies like peanuts scattered around the party for snacks. Grab a chalkboard and write out the different beers (be sure to mix in a wide variety of traditional and craft beers) to recreate the pub ambiance, and have a voting sheet for guests to write down their favorites. A great take home gift? A beer glass commemorating the party.

The mustache has made a comeback. That's right, these days the swirly facial adornment is seen on everything from T-shirts to purses, so why not throw a party around this trendy theme? Staples at this get-together are most definitely straws with paper mustaches attached, so when a guest takes a sip it will look as though they have a mustache (or attach mustaches to the tops of bottles to get the same effect). Put some mustache cupcake toppers on simply iced cupcakes to make them pop, serve mustache-shaped molded lollipops, a mustache-shaped cake, and in honor of the original mustache man, play some Monopoly.

Channel your inner bookworm and throw a Shakespeare-themed tea party to honor the late, great playwright. Take a page from across the pond and serve a spread of tarts, tea sandwiches, and several pots of classic teas like English breakfast and Earl Grey (or go for some more contemporary ones). Read your favorite sonnets and munch on a variety of scones, jams, and chutneys, all of which would accompany this party wonderfully.

his classic game takes center stage at this themed party. A candy buffet is a must, with candy dots, traditional colored M&Ms, gumdrops, Skittles, Red Hots, and whatever your else sweet tooth desires. These round candies are a great way to represent the spots on the board, and polka-dot treat bags would be a great idea, too.