Guide to throwing the ultimate Game of Thrones viewing party
By Corey Smith
Decor
Decor is a bit simpler than food, and sometimes they go together. When it comes to serving food, metal or wood platters work best, the older looking the better. The same goes for your drinks. Metal goblets work best. We’ve found that most of this stuff can be found at Goodwill or other thrift shops for relatively low prices. Metal pitchers make for a fun way to serve your drinks, but be careful with those as it becomes easy to lose track of how much you have consumed.
Regarding actual party decor, a little goes a long way. HBO Shop carries a fantastic selection of decor, and if you shop carefully, there are some really great deals. I picked up House Stark and House Targaryen banners for eight dollars each, and these hang easily from your existing curtain rods. Any type of sword or armor works well, so pull out all those old Halloween costumes, or again, stop by the local thrift stores. If you want to go big and buy actual recreations of the swords of Westeros, more power to you.
I find that placing as many electric candles as you can find around your house gives any room a very Westerosi feel once the lights go down. Smaller items, like Game of Thrones drink coasters, are a nice touch, and even the fleece blankets sold by HBO add to the atmosphere. We have a House Stark blanket we drape over the ottoman in the middle of the living room, which means the words of House Stark are the first thing people see when they walk in.
The key here is to add anything and everything related to Game of Thrones you can find, no matter what it is. One fun suggestion: print up a photo of Tyrion pointing a crossbow at Tywin and stick it in your restroom, aimed at your guests.
Last but not least, if you can get your hands on anything resembling thrones, your party gets bumped to elite gold level status. We were able to purchase a few chairs from a church that was getting knocked down—they were used by clergy during services. These are reserved for my wife and I, making us the king and queen of the feast, and giving the guests the illusion that they’re in a Westerosi throne room.
Your decor is cumulative, so the more the better. Get creative—if you think it fits, it probably does!