Shelley's 25th Harry Potter Birthday Party

Growing up, Harry Potter books were my absolute favorite to read. So naturally, when my husband asked me what I wanted to do for my 25th birthday, the big "Quarter of a Century," I, without hesitation, exclaimed, "HARRY POTTER BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!" And to my delight, he said, "Okay." Joe and I had a blast planning out all the HP themed snacks, beverages and games. Joe even designed custom signs and name tags for each item and bottle. Little details from each book decorated every wall of our house and people came dressed in their "house colors". We even designed an O.W.L.S. Exam for guests when they walked in the door containing trivia questions and a scavenger hunt. Paper versions of all 7 horcruxes were hidden around the house, which they had to find before getting their exam graded by "Headmaster Joe." Harry Potter movies played in the background and, for those over 21, there was a "Potions Class" station. Follow the directions and you might just brew up a delicious cocktail.

• What People Ate

  An assortment of Harry Potter themed snacks, including: Bertie Bott's every flavor beans, broomstick cheese & pretzels, deviled dragon eggs, hippogriff cold cuts (salami and turkey slices), bow truckle limbs (pretzel sticks), Honeyduke's wizard hats (pillsbury croissant rolls filled with chocolate), venomous tentactula leaves (salad), stuffed mandrakes (pizza rolls), owl droppings (truffles).

• What People Drank

  Guests that were over 21 were allowed to "brew their own potion." Directions to brew Amortentia and Polyjuice potions were printed above the potion station, and when "brewed" correctly they made either a Cherry Cosmopolitan or a Mint Mojito. Wolfsbane Potion (strawberry lemonade) was provided for underaged wizards.

• Desserts

  Lightening bolt cupcakes.

• Activities / Games

  Trivia quiz, scavenger hunt, chess, chinese checkers, movie watching.