I'm planning an 80s themed party and would like others input of what was hot then to incorporate into the part?

Erika, hope your sending your husband fishing or something for the day, your going to need to. Hire a marquis (tent). tables and chairs. The 80's as I remember were more into spits and beer. So actually the party will be transferred to the back yard, with the spit being the center of attractions, a table set up with salads and other foods like cold chicken pieces etc. Now the spit, you can have a pig, lamb or beef butt, this part as for cost based on about 80 people, you wouldn't get much change out of $200.00. I did a suckling big, it cost me then, just over a hundred bucks, but I did a beef butt, that was well into two hundred bucks. with the tent tables, food, drink I would have a minimum budget of $800.00. Doesn't matter what you do, it's going to cost you.

Have a look at the movie "Weird Science". I'd have that movie playing on a big screen TV. There's a scene with a wild party where mutant bikers attack and the two kids try to create a love slave on a computer, but end up calling an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile into existence right in their living room. It's a hoot and the party scene alone should be inspiration for your party. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25q3hxlgvw4 Invite your guests to come to the party dressed like characters from "Miami Vice" . Pastel tee shirts worn under white jackets, three days worth of stubble and loafers with no socks. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/20/fashion/20MIAMI.html Have Duran Duran music playing on the sound system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOg5VxrRTi0 Seagrams wine coolers. Bruce Willis "Moonlighting" costumes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1daIIDQsXI http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088571/

prawn cocktail was very fashionable and trifle as i recall was seen as quite the respectable dinner party item which would now be considered very silly.....as for mains ive no idea souffle was big too and if you look up utube for the cooks that were around u should see what they were cooking meatloaf...? hope that helps

Honestly, there is not a whole lot of difference between now and the 80's besides hair, fashion and music. Many foods/snacks from back than are still popular today.

lava lamps, fondant, and really bad music sorry i too was born in the 80's but these are what sprung to mind

I love the 80’s and have had about six 80’s parties! They are so fun! A great party favor you can make is burn a 80’s mix cd of all your hubbies fav 80’s hits (or yours!) make a cd label with a pic of him from the 80’s to give to every guest to remember the party! you can blow up some cool pics of him from the 80’s poster size to hang up all over. Have some good 80’s movies playing on all tvs- 80’s music of course also. You can find all types of old movie/band posters from the 80s to hang up as décor also. Take a bunch of square boxes, paint black and glue colored paper squares on them as Rubics cubes to put all over the place. For sure have a best dressed contest- everyone makes their vote at the party (make one of the rubics cubes as the vote box- cut a slot in the top) and winner gets a good 80’s movie dvd. any neon balloons, bright streamers, black and white check pattern was big too, maybe rent/buy a disco ball to hang up. Wine coolers were totally new and hip to drink- not sure what beer was big back then? Cool Ranch doritos were big, pop rocks and other 80's candies, tab soda, cheez whiz....do a search online nd it pops up all kinds of foods from the 80's. play a 80's trivia game for more fun 80s dvds. Have a great party! (wish I was coming!)