How to Throw a Barbie Theme Party for Adults

Come on Barbie, Let’s Go Party!

The recently released Barbie movie unleashed a roar of feminine fun and positivity. The decades-old, continually evolving and iconic doll has spawned generations of delight in fashion and stylish play. The success of the recent film speaks to this timeless doll’s popularity, particularly among adults. If all-things-Barbie resonates with you (and you secretly want to live in Barbieland), why not be the first of your friends to host a dreamhouse-worthy Barbie theme party for adults! Here we’ll cover plenty of ideas to pull this off Barbie-style.

Margot Robbie portraying Barbie in the opening scene of the recently released Barbie film

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Barbie Theme Party for Adults 101

1. Create the Scene with Barbie decorations

Get ready to unleash plenty of pink! You’ll know you’ve decorated successfully when someone walks into your home and is certain they’ve officially entered Barbieland. Hang pink streamers, lay out Barbie rugs, and string up pink fairy lights. You can find more pink decorating ideas in the pink theme party post. Of course, if you have Barbies, display them front and center! Any of these decorations will likewise Barbify your space and turn it into a pink paradise:

Three-photo collage: first of a Barbie wearing a pink blouse and gold pants; the second of a 1989 miniature version of the 1959 'Evening Enchantment Barbie' wearing a long pink strapless gown, white stole over one shoulder, long white gloves, and a large double strand pearl choker; and the third of a Barbie wearing a hot pink skirt and white tank top reading 'Be Yourself'. Displaying Barbies such as these is, of course, a perfect way to decorate for a Barbie theme party for adults — Elena Mishlanova, Sandra Gabriel

2. Prepare Barbie-Inspired Food and Beverages

There are so many pink sweet treats you can serve for Barbie-inspired refreshments! But while it can be exciting to indulge in sugary desserts, remember to serve good savory bites as well (this is a Barbie theme party for adults, after all) such as a heart-shaped pizza pocket or a veggie tray with hot pink hummus. Here are some fun Barbie-inspired recipes to try out:

3. Set a Barbieland Ambience with Upbeat Music

Photo of decor set up for a Barbie theme party for adults: the top of a life-size pink Barbie with the signature Barbie silhouette icon in the top corner, box next to a bundle of many gigantic plus normal-size pink balloons — Photo by Criativa Pix Fotografia

Create a stellar Barbie vibe by playing the Barbie film soundtrack (yes, you can skip the bad Matchbox 20 song) or throw it back with Aqua’s Barbie Girl. Or play your favourite mix of high-energy party songs. Your choice of tunes depends on your taste; just keep it full of positive, Barbie-empowering beats and plan it with some thought!

4. Add Delightful Scents

We covered the looks, the tastes, and the tunes of a Barbie theme party for adults. Now, consider the scents! To truly immerse your guests in Barbieland, engage the evocative sense of smell by lighting any of these Barbie-inspired candles:

Two-photo collage, each a close-up of a different blond Barbie in a pink shirt — Elena Mishlanova, Crystal Lee

5. Play Barbie Themed Party Games

Keep your guests busy with all kinds of fun Barbie activities by printing off the digital games listed below, or play any card games you know with the OG deck of Barbie cards:

6. Establish Guest Participation

Photo of a young woman wearing a long pink skirt and a pink T-shirt with the classic Barbie signature on it in white. Wearing Barbie-themed clothing is a perfect way to dress for a Barbie theme party for adults — Photo by Muhammad Faiz Zulkeflee

Guest participation involves how you’d like your guests to participate or contribute to your party. You could make your Barbie party a potluck and request that guests bring a pink dish to share. For drinks, you could invite guests to BYOB (Bring Your Own Barbie Bevvy) and just provide the basic nonalcoholic refreshments like sparkling juices and pink lemonade. But the best way to have everyone participate in a Barbie theme party for adults is to come dressed Barbie-style! Encourage scorching hot pink, neon purple, and anything ultra extra. You could also invite guests to dress up as any particular Barbie (or Ken, Allen, etc.), such as President Barbie, Dr. Barbie, Weird Barbie, or Earring Magic Ken. Endless options!

Of course, always choose your guests mindfully and with their interests in mind. Prioritize friends who you know love Barbie. But don’t shy away from others who’ve never had a Barbie or seen the movie. You never know, they may end up having a great time with all the Barbie vibes!

Checklist of Items You Need

Photo of decor set up for a Barbie theme party for adults: a life-size pink Barbie box next to a bundle of many pink balloons, in front of large pink stars strewn across the floor — Photo by Criativa Pix Fotografia

Now that we’ve covered what you’ll need to do for a Barbie themed party, here is a list of all the tangible items to acquire for it:

Barbie decorations (think pink)
Barbie-inspired food and beverages (also think pink)
Barbie soundtrack and/or other Barbie-inspired music
Barbie-inspired scented candles
Barbie themed party games
Barbie outfit

Preparation Checklist for Your Barbie Theme Party for Adults

Photo of several plastic Barbie-sized pink cowboy boots evenly arranged on a white surface, a fun and playful decoration to display at a Barbie theme party for adults — Photo by Girl with red hat

Most of these steps for party preparation apply to any type of party you host. So while we covered Barbie-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 (Barbie-themed); any requested participation (such as Barbie-inspired attire); party date and general time of day; and your address (or other location if elsewhere)
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 amazing Barbie party!

Photo of a window display with a neon sign of the classic Barbie signature in white above the phrase 'You can be anything'. Strung above, in front of and below the sign are many different Barbies and Kens in different outfits, colours and cultures — Photo by Peyman Shojaei

2. Then, proceed with the fun planning

Once you have your Barbie 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. 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
Acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
Set up decorations
Prepare food/drinks (depending on how long things keep)

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 (party playlist, candles)
Get dressed with plenty of time in your favourite Barbie-inspired outfit
Once everything’s ready, take the time to meditate do any centering 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 😊

Signature Barbie sign in original font, in pink

All Set to Host a Fabulous Barbie Theme Party for Adults

Party planning should be fun; never stressful. Partying right is a lifestyle, not a life-or-death event. Every part of the planning process is meant to be enjoyable – from crafting the menu to putting up pretty decorations. At the end of the day, the goal is for you and your guests to have an awesome time – even if that looks different than you envisioned. As long as you put thought and care into party preparation and keep a flexible mindset that allows grace for when things turn out differently, your Barbie themed party will be an excellent event to remember!