If you have a taste for the slightly macabre, you might be interesting in knowing how to plan a Goth theme party. In the Goth circles, it is commonly known that another term for Goth is “Gothic.” This is just a consideration in case you need to revise the wording on, let’s say, an invitation.

Gothic is frequently equated with the vampire, which opens up the possibilities for Goth party planning.http://vampirefreaks.com/ There are themes within a theme for Goth parties, and you may need to decide is you want a fun one, a scary one, a solemn one, or an elegant soirée. Goth parties are always held at night. This should go without saying. There is no valid research regarding Goth family picnics, unless there’s a cemetery involved.

Be careful who you invite. If it’s a Goth party for fun, and everyone knows it, that’s one thing. But if it’s a genuine Goth party, some guests may be uncomfortable or critical. Serious Gothic types do not like to be made fun of.http://www.skyatdawn.com/gothic-recipe.html

Will the party be large or small? Goth parties can range from a small close-knit group of friends to a crowd of a hundred or more. It can be very simple or very elaborate.

For the sake of this How To article, the Goth party will incorporate all of the general Gothic elements common to Goth parties, because they can be customized to accommodate which ever theme you choose.

A Goth party should not be confused with a Halloween party. Of course, you can have a Halloween party with a Goth theme, but it really doesn’t work in reverse. Goth is year-round. If you choose an invitation that has the image of a skull on it, and perhaps a candle or two, plus a nice Gothic font for the text, it should be clear to the recipient that you are planning a Gothic party. However, make it clear within your text so there is no guesswork.

Gothic wedding invitations are popular and can be found in many places on the Internet. They sometimes emphasize, “Til death do us part!”http://www.banquetevent.com/wedding/misc/bande/2009/01/get-inspired-elegance-with-touch-of.html

The party menu provided in this How To page is actually a Renaissance feast, which is reminiscent of the early Gothic era. You might ask guests to join you for your Goth party and a Gothic feast.

Your choice of Goth colors is a relative simple one. Black and red. To accent, accessorize. Here are some ideas. On the party food table, place a bright red table cloth or one with a black and red pattern. Try to find a Gothic black candelabra, or a metal candelabra with black candles.http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/candelabra--black You may use this as a centerpiece for the table, or elsewhere in the room. Another dramatic touch for a centerpiece or elsewhere is an arrangement of dead flowers. http://www.uglyflowerstore.com/ Some dead red roses can be very effective. If your party is elegant, you may opt for live blood-red roses.

Another decorating element suitable for any Goth party would be fake cobwebs. Choose cobwebs without a spider. You are trying to give the impression that they have been around for a very long time.

A garlic braid is a nice touch. Of course, everyone would need to be familiar with the concept that vampires do not eat garlic. There is an old Romanian proverb: “One must be very suspicious of anyone who does not eat garlic.” If you print this in Gothic text on a nice poster, complete with a vampire image, you can hang it on the wall next to your garlic rope. This should send the proper message. Garlic braids can be made of real garlic, or ceramic garlic. http://www.wined.us/about-Ceramic-Garlic-Braid-1foot.html

Gothic posters are readily available on the Internet and are not expensive. Several of these on the wall will also help with your Goth aura. You can use ornate crosses with your costume, but you can also use them for your décor. Also blood, coffins, and bats.

Even though it is not a decoration, it is vital that you find eerie dark creepy music, enough to keep it going throughout the party. Search for “ambient Gothic music” to make certain you are not going to wind up with New Age Gothic bands. That music is way too “light.” Always remember, “Don’t think Halloween, Do think death!” Perhaps, mix it up with Vincent Price reciting Edgar Allan Poe.http://www.dagonbytes.com/sitemap.htm

First, a little history of the historical influences over the Goth or Gothic subculture. Goths take their styles from a number of eras. Some come from the Medieval Era (800 - 1400), and some from the Renaissance Era (1400 – 1600). The height of the “Gothic rebirth” was in the mid 1500’s, during the Renaissance. Some Goth influence is from the Victorian Era (1837 – 1901).http://www.gothicsubculture.com/articles/hip.php With this as a guideline, you can do some research and find some really special Goth outfits for the party.http://www.gothicstyles.com/

The easiest way to put together your outfit is at an online costume shop. Search “Gothic costume.”http://extremecostumes.com/ However, if you really want to create something special, look in unlikely places like hardware stores and thrift stores. There really is no set rule for Goth, except the overall Goth “vibe.”http://www.pbase.com/neela106/image/54883526 Be creative! Victoria’s Secret may have some fun items for you as well.

Makeup: Invest in good quality makeup, and make sure you evenly apply the pale-colored base over your entire face and neck, not just down to your jawline. Wear black lipstick or mix in a little blood red as well. Wear black eye makeup, of course. You can draw some Gothic designs around the edges of your eyes with black eyeliner. Black fingernail polish is a must. See if you can find some fingernail decals in cool designs.

Accessories: Large Gothic crosses and ankhs are standard Goth jewelry. Or, you might try a lacy Victorian choker.

You may want to be authentic with your Goth party food. Legendary tales of vampires go back to the Medieval Era. Some Goth enthusiasts say the Gothic subculture got its original roots during the Renaissance.http://www.gothicsubculture.com/articles/hip.php Some say the in the Victorian era. Therefore, if you select one (or all) of these as the theme for your cuisine, you’ll have party food that’s way out of the ordinary. Instead of the gimmicky stuff (associated with Halloween), consider a way to get some real Gothic food on the table.http://www.renaissance-weddings.net/wedding_feasts.htm

How about a Gothic combination Renaissance and Victorian feast? This one was compiled from a number of sources, including the bill of fare for the “nuptual dinner of master Baulde Cuvillon, 1571.”http://www.internal.schools.net.au/edu/lesson_ideas/renaissance/renaissance_cookery_wksht.html

Fruit Platter: A Renaissance feast would feature a platter of fruit, but not much was cultivated fruit. This combination would be authentic. Black grapes, apples, figs, pears and raspberries.

Cheese was on many menus of the day, including the wedding feast from 1571.http://www.internal.schools.net.au/edu/lesson_ideas/renaissance/renaissance_cookery_wksht.html It should be a hard cheese with a bite to it – cheddar, edam or stilton, perhaps.

Main Dishes: If you cannot readily locate roasted boar, a baked ham will make a good substitute. Mustard, especially sweet mustard, was the most popular sauce during the Renaissance. You could serve some along with the ham.http://www.renaissance-weddings.net/wedding_feasts.htm Can’t locate a roast swan? Consider roast chicken as an excellent alternative. Also authentic.http://www.erasofelegance.com/cooking/renaissancerecipes.html

Desserts: See if you can find or make a fruit tart. Raspberries were served in Victorian times as well as strawberries. A fruit tart that consists primarily of berries, with thin slices of tart apple to replace the kiwi fruit (they came along later) would look great and be a food of the times. http://www.joyofbaking.com/FruitTart.html Also small servings of individual custard tarts.http://www.recipecenter.com/Recipe.aspx?Code=1530380 Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a slice of strawberry if you like. Cinnamon was “big” during the Renaissance. They also had early recipes for gingerbread.http://www.internal.schools.net.au/edu/lesson_ideas/renaissance/renaissance_cookery_wksht.html Beverages: Again, hailing from those years loosely between 1400 – 1800, you would have found these beverages being served and they might be fun for your Goth party.

1. Spicy mulled wine
2. Ale
3. Mead
4. Wine

Then, if you want to throw a little Goth into the party drinks, you can make a big punch bowl full of really red beverage. You can combine red punch, sparkling water, and cranberry juice or pomegranate juice. If the punch bowl is glass or crystal, it looks very bloody indeed. Take some rubber gloves, fill them with water, and freeze them (at least a day ahead of time). Make sure the gloves are not too thin or too thick, or the “ice hands” won’t come out well. Cut off the gloves and float the hands in your punch bowl. For added effect, you can drop in some dry ice. Be careful – it can burn your hands.http://www.skyatdawn.com/gothic-recipe.html