Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
As you may well know, I have been planning a Harry Potter party for what seems like a wizarding eternity. My vision and crafting finally came to fruition this weekend.
Jack and I both had a vision of this party being similar to a day at Hogwarts...classes and all. Seeing as I haven't seen the movies or read the books {eeek}, I had to turn to Jack for a lot of input and inspiration. Together, I think we pulled it off magically!
Near a month ago, Jack and I delivered the invitations. Yes, delivered, not mailed. He donned his Hogwarts robe and with acceptance letters in hand and a ticket to board the Hogwarts Express, we rang every single guest's doorbell. We even provided them with there very own personalized maroon duffle to bring to school.
If you could have seen their shocked faces! It was so fun!
All twelve boys arrived precisely at the time their tickets stated. They traveled through Platform 9 3/4 {our backyard gate} into a wizarding world.
They dropped their bags in the castle {which they had filled with a blanket and pillow for the post-class movie}. We allowed time for all students to take a tour of the campus with their parents and send an Owl Post to the birthday boy.
I found the Harry Potter postcards at Universal and paired them with a bird cage and a yard owl statue. It was a hoot! Jack loved reading his birthday messages from his friends the next day.
I encouraged all the students to say farewell to their muggles because it was time to turn these kiddos into wizards! We had class to attend.
We all met up at our first stop, Transfiguration Class. Each boy put on the Sorting Hat while Jack spun them around in a chair {improvisation}. From there they picked a tag out of the black bucket to determine which house they belonged in. No one wanted Slytherin and they all wanted Gryffindor.
I had my spell book ready with the magic chant and capes for each student once their house was assigned.
Each student was also presented with their Hogwarts Report Card that they carried from class to class. And yes, we actually graded them.
The final assignment in Transfiguration was the presentation of wands. Every wizard must have a wand. And the best place to find one is Ollivanders don't you know!
At the "shop", I presented each student with a box that contained their very own wand in it. For cost sake, I used chop sticks off of Amazon. The boys each painted their wand to ensure each guest would have a wand unique to them.
I did however label each box with a wizard worthy name.
At the close of the party, we packaged up the wands in these authentic bags from Ollivander's from Universal Studios. I begged the wizard behind the counter for 12 of these beauties on our vaca....lucky me, she graciously agreed.
The next class was Potions. I purchased clear bottles on Amazon and put these ingredient stickers from Michaels on them {I happened to stock up post Halloween knowing this was on the horizon for Jack}. I filled the bottles with a variety of ingredients, such as yeast, baking soda, alka-seltzer tablets, vinegar, peroxide and water.
Basically anything that would bubble or explode.
I provided mini cauldrons for the students to do their mixing in. Also from Amazon.
The next class was Herb-ology. I struggled with how to make this one appealing to nine and ten year old boys. Then I had an ah-ha moment. What is spookier than Venus Fly Traps? I luckily found individual planters and seeds as a set on Fat Brain Toys. Not to mention, they made a great take away for the guests.
I decorated the table with a mossy runner from Michaels, jars from the dollar section at Target, and fake florals from the Dollar Store.
Following Herb-o-ology, the students attended Charms class, which was run by a Wizarding magician. This turned out to be one of the boys favorite classes. I honestly would have ever guessed. Jack and I struggled with the idea of the guests being too old for this, apparently not!
And although, the wizard was a hit, Quidditch was by far the favorite class. Jack was so specific about the rules and equipment needed for this game, that I thought I was never going to get it right.
Luckily, that trip to Universal clarified it all for me and the fact that Jack came to the realization that we may need to improvise. I'm good and all, but I can't make balls and brooms fly.
I found the brooms on Amazon and the Quaffel Ball and Bludgeoner Sets at Universal. The Golden Snitch was also found at Universal, and although it didn't actually fly around, it did flap it's wings.
As for Quidditch hoops, I had to get really creative. This is the result of PVC pipes, hula hoops, duck tape, and a lot of gold spray paint. Imagine making 6 of these guys? Totally worth the endless spray paint sessions when I saw how much the kids enjoyed them.
The classes were certainly a large part of the party, however, I had to feed these hungry wizards too. Jack planned the menu...all of his faves. I mentioned it wasn't a very "wizardly" meal, but he insisted.
Again, I had to use a little creativity to label this buffet.
All of the table decor was from Michael's {post Halloween}, including that beloved toad. I made the banners and food signs on the Cricut and found the Hogwarts flag on Zulilly. As for the amazing suitcase, I found it at an antique market and just knew it was screaming
Harry Potter Party!
I hung various themed posters on the walls, hung floating keys from the ceiling, and put out a few of my personal Halloween decorations as well.
The students dined in the Great Hall. I spray painted Dollar Store candle holders gold, hung floating candles, and put gold chargers at each place setting.
After a mystical dinner, I offered dessert to our guests. The dessert table included Bertie Botts Jelly Beans and themed cupcakes.
I topped the cupcakes with lightning bolt sprinkles from Amazon.
Each student also got their own "Poison" cup. I debated Butter Beer, but was happy to see the little wizards thoroughly enjoyed mixing up their own crazy concoctions in the cups. I proved a variety of two liters for them to mix up and from there they worked their magic.
Each student took home a goodie bag of Magic. Jack and I really wanted to give them all a live toad, but it seems there has been a toad shortage in the U.S. {I'm not even kidding}. So we opted for these magical treats....a deck of cards, a book of magic tricks, and a magic 8 ball. I imagine their muggles are much happier with that favor as opposed to the toad.
I'm still thinking the toad would have been more fun though!
I made my birthday wizard take a few family pictures before the guests arrived. Do you recognize
daddy Dumbledore?
So, as lovely as these pictures are, this was the calm before the storm. Once those wizards arrived nothing ever looked quite the same and that is why I chose the share the party prep first. There was definitely some Mischief going on, can say that it was Managed though.
Stay tuned for more pictures with the Wild Wizards and a lot Hogwarts Birthday fun...
