JELLYBEAN EXTRAVAGANZA: A COLOURFUL GUIDE TO THROWING A VIBRANT PARTY!

Written By: Bec  |  Last Updated: 30.10.2023
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What is a jellybean party? And why will you love it? Because, my friend, it involves a whole lot of colour, food, drinks and FUN!

​Read on to learn exactly what this theme is and how you can start planning yours today!

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Related: 90+ Impressive Hen Do Theme Ideas
Related: Main Squeeze Themed Party​

The Jellybean Party Theme (Quick Overview)

A jellybean party works by assigning each guest one colour before the event. Party goers arrive on the day wearing their assigned colour (a red dress, for example), and holding a drink to share in their assigned colour (red wine). The mix of hues will result in a fun and playful atmosphere (+ you get to sample drinks in ALL the colours of the rainbow!). Bring the whole theme together with bright foods and décor, a few fun games (such as 'how many jellybeans') and some glorious take-home favours!

Check out our favourite jellybean party ideas on Etsy!
★ Click here to view our hand-picked collection ★

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​What is a Jellybean Hen's Party?

To be honest... a Jellybean party doesn't have much to do with jellybeans at all!

Rather than cramming sweet, coloured lollies into your mouth (which does sound like a good time, don't rule it out), this theme is all about coordinating outfits and beverages.

​How?

Before the celebration, each guest is assigned one colour. It is then up to them to not only find an outfit in their particular colour, but also a drink! So, for example, say that I was assigned 'red'. I would turn up to the party in a red outfit, holding a bottle of red wine.

The range of outfits and drinks is what creates an incredibly bright and fun atmosphere (and you'll be testing out beverages you've probably never heard of before - in all the colours of the rainbow!).

Jellybeans also welcome.

The Outfits

As mentioned above, this party is ALL about the outfits!

There are no limits on what a guest may wear. As long as they're in their assigned colour, they can do as they please. The results are likely to range from glamorous right through to hilarious (and it's this fabulous contrast that will make for many wicked photos and memories).

The Food

When it comes to the food, anything goes!

A flexible theme that encourages a range of colours, tastes and textures; you can go crazy with fruits, delectable desserts, salads, cheese platters, grazing tables, chocolates, ice-cream, iced biscuits, lollies (even, dare I say it... jellybeans!).

​As long as you end up with a range of hues, the fun vibe of your celebration will continue on the food table.

Related: How to Create a Glorious Food Bar

The Drinks

There are a couple of options when it comes to drinks.


HIRE A BARTENDER
First, you could hire a bartender for the night; someone who can work their magic with the huge variety of wines, spirits and mixers that will be brought to your celebration. Cocktails, punch, mocktails - the concoctions they whip up will be both surprising and delicious!



GET CREATIVE WITH A DIY BAR
Set up a dedicated 'bar area' whereby guests can create their own masterpieces from the assortment on hand.

To help with these creations, print off a variety of cocktail recipes that can be followed to a tee (or changed up slightly to suit individual taste). Whether or not guests' decide to use these recipe cards depends on how confident they are in their beverage making skills.

​And for those who go free-range, you never know, they may just create a drink that soon becomes a favourite of the party!

​Related: DIY Drink Station Ideas

The Decorations

As you may have guessed by now, this theme revolves around colour. BUT when it comes to the decorations, sometimes less can be more.

We love starting with a white base. White tablecloths, white plates, white bowls, white wooden tables, white crates (that can be filled with food, flowers or even favours), etc. From here, add the colour piece by piece - and don't stop until you're satisfied with the overall look.

Decorating in such a way will result in many different styles - some venues will resemble a beautiful rainbow, whilst others will become sophisticated backdrops complete with pops of colour. No matter what the finished product, it will be YOU and it will be AMAZING!

YOU MAY LIKE TO ADD 1 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Colourful flowers: overflowing from vases, crates or baskets
• Colourful food and drinks: displayed on top of your white tablecloths
• Confetti: photo confetti, flower petals or eco confetti is a great way to add pops of colour to tables
  
• Fabric bunting: strategically hung throughout the venue (depending on the look you're going for, this can be placed over food tables, across rooms, along fences or even between trees)​
• Party signs: frame colourful party signs and display around your venue. These can be anything from a 'Welcome' sign through to a 'Photobooth' sign
• Photos: placed around the venue - either in coloured or white frames. Op-shops are great for picking up a range of cheap frames (and whilst browsing the aisles you may also find some other weird and wonderful treasures perfect for your event!)
• Twinkle lights: colour changing lights/fairy lights are perfect for illuminating the party. Keep costs down by digging into your Christmas box and using your beautiful stash.​
• Vases: source vases from friends, family or local thrift stores that are in a range of fun and vibrant colours. These can be filled with beautiful blooms, greenery, or simple white flowers. Clear or white vases also work well for this theme.

Alternatively, host the event in a garden and/or by a pool. Outdoor tables, picnic rugs, festoon/fairy lights, fabric bunting and rustic touches, combined with nature's colours - it's the ultimate and most beautiful backdrop for any warm weather 'jellybean party' celebration!

Play Some Colourful Games

When it comes to pre-wedding celebrations, there are an abundance of games and activities for you to choose from (for bridal shower game inspiration, click here; for hen party game ideas, click here). But if it's jelly bean party games you're after, the following tweaks to classic options may be of interest!
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BEAN BOOZLED

★Click here to grab your own pack of ‘Bean Boozled’!★
Will it be chocolate pudding or stinky socks? Only time will tell! For this jellybean challenge requires that guests spin the wheel before picking a jelly bean in the colour that it lands on. Will the chosen bean be wild? Or completely delicious? It's just a risk you're going to have to take...! Click here to grab your Bean Boozled game now!

HOW MANY JELLYBEANS?
Fill a jar with jellybeans (making sure you count them as you go). Record the total and keep it hidden. Place the jellybean jar, some paper, pens and an empty jar on a table. Now you're all set to play!

Throughout the celebration, guests can go to town guessing how many jellybeans it took to fill the jar. They can do this by writing their name and guess on a piece of paper, before folding it up and placing it in the empty jar. When you're ready, check the guesses. Whomever was closest to the actual number is announced as the winner! This lucky person gets to claim victory by downing all of the jellybeans (cue sugar overload).



PLAYDOUGH SCULPTURES
Whip up some colourful playdough before the celebration (click here for a great homemade recipe).
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On the day, this game can be played in teams or as individuals (make your decision based on how much playdough you have!). To play, each team/individual is given some playdough and asked to mould a penis within a certain time-frame. Give prizes to the best shaped pecker, the biggest pecker, etc. (get creative and have some hilarious prizes to go with your hilarious categories)!

Don’t want to mould a penis? Have teams mould a man, mould parts of a man, or mould the bride instead!

Alternative:
Rather than playdough, why not create colourful sculptures? A cheeky activity that results in some hilarious artwork!

Click here to grab some naughty plaster... you know you want to!

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SCAVENGER HUNT
This is such a fun game for those heading out and about! Make a list of colourful items that guests have to find and either photograph or video themselves with. For example, drinking a cocktail that matches your outfit, eating an ice-cream that matches your outfit, dancing in front of a rainbow, next to a sign that is the same colour as your outfit, holding a small bag of jellybeans, etc.
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Have a prize for the team/individual who finds (and photographs/videos) everything on their list first!



TRADE IT
Another option for the hen do heading out. Hand your bride-to-be a bag filled with small packets of jellybeans, and explain that she is to trade these for unusual items throughout the night. Can you imagine the hilarious objects and stories this game will result in?!

Handy Tip:
You can involve everyone in the fun if you wish. Simply present guests with 2 small packets of jellybeans each, and explain that these are not to be eaten (unlucky!), but to be traded for random items throughout the night. The guest with the most unusual trade at the end of the celebration wins a prize!

Related: 40+ Hen Party Games
Related: Memorable Bridal Shower Games

Treat Guests to Some Bright Favors

Jellyben parties are vibrant and fun. But you don't want the excitement to end when the party does! Keep the good vibes going well after your celebration with some colourful and exciting party favors (designed to bring the smiles):
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• Adult coloring book: paired with colourful pencils
• Beauty products: bright eyeshadow, vibrant lipstick, beautiful lip gloss
• Biscuits: send guests home with a delicious array of jellybean themed biscuits (or biscuits of any shape decorated in a variety of colours). This also works for cupcakes.
• Cocktail glasses: gift each guest a beautiful cocktail glass that matches their assigned colour. For an extra touch, have it personalised with the person's name (or a sweet message)
• Colourful candles: with lovely aromas, that will bring back memories of the celebration
• Flower bouquets: these could be pre-made, or created by the guests' themselves prior to leaving. Bouquets can be in colour blocks (e.g. red flowers in one bouquet, yellow in another, etc.), or a colourful mix
• Jellybeans: an obvious choice for a jellybean party! Gourmet jellybeans in beautifully presented jars make for delicious and on theme gifts. This also works for lollies (colour coordinated, if you wish).
• Plant gifts: small, flowering plants are a wonderful, eco-friendly favor. Depending on your budget, they can be gifted in white pots, colourful pots, or even as seed packs. 
• Succulents: for an easy to care for, living gift
• Water bottles: vibrant water bottles make for a fun and practical favor. Again, these can be personalised for added flair​

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It's Time to Plan Your Epic Jellybean Party!

Now that your mind is overflowing with inspiration, it's time to put your ideas to paper and get planning! A theme that is not only unique and easy to pull off, but also super fun, your jellybean party is guaranteed to be hit with hen and guests' alike!

As always, I’d love to hear your ideas/real life experiences – so please share your pictures and/or jellybean party ideas with myself and the rest of the For Every Hen community (via the comments section below).

Cheers to an incredibly memorable celebration!

- Bec :)

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​P.S. The image below is perfect for Pinterest... Go on and share these awesome jellybean party ideas - you know you want to! :)