How to Host an Enchanted Forest Theme Party for Adults

The Seductive Magic of an Enchanted Forest

If you’ve ever fantasized about visiting an enchanted forest, indulge your inner child (and that of your friends) by hosting an enchanted forest theme party! Unlike other all-encompassing themes, this one’s all about the atmosphere. It’s a party like any other – full of friends, fun and play – just possibly a little more laid back or with some mysterious woodsy vibes that you create with the environment. Think of it as creating a set for a stage production and you want every guest/cast member to feel so enmeshed that they believe they are actually there. And while playing whatever games or engaging in whatever activities as you would with any party, everyone’s enchanted into believing that they’re actually partying in an enchanted forest. Let’s dive into how to create just such a sensation!

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How to Throw an Enchanted Forest Theme Party

Close-up image of a fly agaric mushroom (white stem with bright red cap covered in knobby white spots) in a Finnish forest. Mushrooms make excellent decor for an enchanted forest theme party — Photos by Jimi Malmberg and Justine Meyer

An elaborate and handsome fairy house made of tree root, stones and a thatched roof, in Krohn Conservatory, Cincinnati — Photos by Jimi Malmberg and Justine Meyer

1. Turn Your Home Into an Enchanted Forest

You know you’ve decorated successfully when someone walks in and immediately knows what kind of party they’re at. Setting a magical scene is what this party’s all about! Imagine a forest floor and the magical/folkloric creatures that would live there: elves, fairies, gnomes, leprechauns. You would find mushrooms, ferns, moss, ancient tree roots, and lush leaves. Look to virgin rainforests for inspiration, anywhere from the Pacific Northwest’s Olympic National Park to Costa Rica’s Monteverde.

A small dirt path on the forest floor in the Olympic National Park leads between surrounding ferns and trees

There is a certain level of shade to create this atmosphere. Lush forests create a canopy that blocks out a good amount of light. Dawn, dusk, or night is usually the time we conjure when we imagine an enchanted forest. Fairy lights are perfect mood lighting for capturing those times’ magical feel.

If you have any houseplants with large, lush leaves – such as a fig plant or ferns, bring these into your party space. They will provide 90% of the atmosphere. Gather ivy from outside and bring it in to adorn your mantel, furniture, and above door frames. Greenery will be your best asset for this theme!

Close-up photo of two bright red amanita mushrooms in Tatariv, Ukraine, on a forest floor next to pine cones, evergreen sprigs, and bright green moss — Photo by Igor Yemelianov

Here are some lovely decorations to adorn your space:

Close-up photo of a statue of a gnome sitting next to a bucket of apples on a bench that reads 'welcome' and looking pensive. Gnomes are great decor for an enchanted forest theme party — Photo by Lan Gao

2. Prepare Enchanted Forest-Inspired Food and Beverages

Time to craft a magical menu! Food is a delicious way to engage your guests in an enchanted forest through their sense of taste. Focus on earthy food that incorporates plenty of vegetables and tubers. Mushroom dishes, for instance, are definitely fitting. An enchanted forest party also calls for anything that tastes magically amazing, in an enchanted sort of way! Try any of these recipes to cast such a spell:

Close-up photo of three fly agaric mushrooms (white stems and red caps with knobby white spots) on a forest floor nearby leaves and mosses, perfect inspiration for an enchanted forest theme party — Photo by Hans Veth

3. Set the Ambience with the Perfect Playlist or Video

Background music is a big part of a party’s vibe. If you’re having a magical forest dance party, amp up a killer playlist. But if you want people to be able to easily hear each other in conversation, you could just keep the music volume lower or play something that includes video such as a background movie (FernGully, for example) or a soundscape/ambiance video (see list below). Maybe you play atmospheric electronic music. If you are a fan of early 90s computer games, Jill of the Jungle songs offer a nostalgic and ambient party soundtrack. Or maybe you play whatever you and your friends’ favourite music is. There is no one-size-fits-all – your audio choice depends on your taste and how you want to tie it into the enchanted forest theme. Just make sure you plan your playlist with some thought!

Close-up image of roots at the base of a tree trunk, covered in bright green moss, a beautiful scene that inspires an enchanted forest theme party from fairy-height — Photo by Mali Maeder

Here are several enchanted forest ambiance videos that provide a fun visual background:

4. Add Evocative Scents

A large brown tree root with patches of bright green moss lays across a wet forest floor covered in leaves, dirt and other debris — Photo by Leandro Almeida

We covered the sights, the flavors, and the sounds an enchanted forest theme party. Now, consider the scents! To truly immerse your guests in this environment, think of ways to engage the evocative sense of smell. One way is to gather some soil after it’s rained to bring inside and emit a fresh earthy smell. Another is to burn any of these thematic scented candles:

5. Establish Guest Participation

A woman is dressed in costume as a woodland fairy with green elf ears, a leaf garland crown with small twigs sticking out of it, mushroom earrings and mushrooms strung over head, a green forehead jewel, and green makeup to look of the earth — Photo by Vika Glitter

Guest participation is optional and involves how you’d like your guests to participate or contribute to your party. You could ask your guests to bring a dish to share, forest potluck-style. You could make the party BYOB. Maybe you invite guests to come in costume – whether as gnomes, fairies, elves, fauns, or any other mythical creatures. If someone wants to go to an enchanted forest party, chances are they would also love to dress up! Just make sure you communicate any participation request up front when you initially invite guests.

Of course, always choose your guests mindfully and with their interests in mind. Prioritize friends who you know would most enjoy this theme. But don’t shy away from others who may not know much about it. You never know, your party just may enchant someone into loving it!

Checklist of Items You Need

Now that we’ve covered what you’ll need to do for an enchanted forest theme party, here is a list of all the tangible items you may need to acquire for it:

Enchanted forest party decorations
Enchanted forest party food and beverages
Music/video and speakers/screen
Enchanted forest-inspired scented candles
Enchanted forest costume (if you’re inviting guests to dress up)

Close-up photo of the base of a small tree trunk with a white wooden door and two round white wooden windows nailed on for a fairy house in the Lode, Cambridge woodlands, a fitting abode for an enchanted forest theme party — Photo by Phil Hearing

Preparation Checklist for Your Enchanted Forest Theme Party

Most of these steps for party preparation apply to any type of party you host. So while we covered enchanted forest-specific details and ideas above, below are basic party planning guidelines to neatly order each step of the process (you can find more thorough details in the Best Party Practices posts):

1. First, confirm that people can come on any chosen date

Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well
Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s). The only details you’ll need to share at this time include what type of party it will be (enchanted forest-themed); any requested participation (i.e. potluck, etc.); party date and general time of day (i.e. ‘afternoon’); and where (your address, or other location if applicable)
This first step is just to get people to confirm that, barring unforeseen circumstances, they are able and willing to attend and will save the date to do so. If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure the calendar date for your fabulous enchanted forest party!

Close-up photo of a fly agaric mushroom on a mossy ground nearby other brown mushrooms and plants — Photo by Pixabay

2. Then, proceed with the fun planning

Once you have your enchanted forest party date established, you first need to get out your calendar and map out when you plan to do every step of preparation. This means you schedule time for each preparation activity that you’ll need to do. If you don’t schedule time on your calendar early enough, you may find yourself overwhelmed and unprepared the day of the party. Don’t do that to yourself! Check out the How to Be a Good Party Host post for more clarification on exactly what you can do to be confident, prepared, and ahead of the game. Party planning isn’t rocket science, but it naturally requires some thought and effort (which people do notice). Here’s a general overview of what you can expect to do leading up to the party:

First, sit down and schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep as listed below
Create invitations with all the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
Order any party supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to set up)
Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
DIY any party supplies and decorations
Acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
Set up decorations
Prepare food/drinks (depending on how long things keep)

Close-up photo of a red capped mushroom (probably fly agaric) on a forest floor covered in green moss and brown pine needles — Photo by Egor Kamelev

3. Day of Party

It’s very important to get as much party prep done far enough in advance that you have some time to yourself to relax come party day, especially if you’ve been busy. So be sure to plan your day-of-party preparations early enough to have that time and space to yourself as well. Within those amply planned/set-aside time slots, you can expect to do these preparations during the day of your party:

Complete any last-minute food/drink prep that are too fresh to do any earlier
Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations (if not up already)
Prepare ambience (audio/visual, candles/scents)
Get dressed with plenty of time in your favourite enchanted forest theme party outfit/costume
Once everything’s ready, take the time to do any preferred self-care activities that get you in a good head space if you aren’t already. This is in your own and everybody else’s best interest (they’ll pick up on your contagiously good vibe)! You want to be a relaxed, energized, and happy host 😊

All Set to Enthrall Your Friends with an Enchanted Forest Theme Party

Every part of the party planning process is meant to be enjoyable – from planning the menu to putting up decorations. The way to be a good host is to put thought and care into party preparation while also keeping a flexible approach that allows grace for unexpected surprises (i.e., not taking yourself too seriously). It is a party, after all. At the end of the day, the goal is for you and your guests to have a good time – even if that looks different than you envisioned. Do your best to make this amazing, magical event, enjoy the process, and party on!