Of all the weddings, birthday parties and celebrations I’ve attended the last year, they’ve all been unique and enjoyable in their own ways. The Cinderella style decorations and scenic view at my brother’s wedding in April were stunning, and set the standards high for all other weddings I attend in the future. My uncle’s 50th birthday celebration in July, filled with gag gifts and silly banter, had me laughing so hard I literally couldn’t breathe, and a close friend’s moving away party earlier this month was catered with divine cupcakes that made the night even more bittersweet. However, of all the events I’ve been to recently, my roommate’s surprise birthday party will go down in my books as one of the most creative, fun nights of the year. Why so great? One word— photobooth.
If you’ve ever used a Mac computer, you’ve probably lost at least an hour or two with friends playing around on the Photobooth App. There is something seriously addicting about taking photos with all the different filters, distortions and background options. My roommate, Lillian, is no stranger to the Photobooth App, and is well known among friends as the “model” of our group. The girl loves cameras, and cameras seem to love her– so it was only fitting to rent a photobooth for Lillian’s surprise party.
Needless to say, the photobooth was a hit. Photobooths by themselves are a blast when you’re with the right people, but what made the photobooth at Lillian’s party even more memorable was the props the host bought. Similar to the different options on the Photobooth App, props can make photobooths endlessly entertaining. I never thought I’d have the pleasure of seeing my friend’s Grandma pretend to play an inflatable guitar, or see my boyfriend sporting a feather boa with a bonnet. For whatever reason, having props made all the guests more comfortable in front of the camera and helped coax out their silly sides. If you’re thinking of renting a photobooth for your next special occasion, I highly recommend investing in some props. Not only will you see sides of loved ones you never knew, you’ll have physical evidence to remember it all. Below are some of the wacky props we used at Lillian’s that won’t break the bank.
- Inflatable guitars
- A variety of blow-up creature pool floats (Dolphin, shark, dragon, etc.)
- Feather boas
- Moustaches
- Tropical leis
- Capes
- Nerd glasses
- Fake noses
- Eye patches
- Empty antique picture frames
- Hats (Beret, straw, sailor, trapper, bonnet, etc.)
- Helmets (Viking, football, bike)
- Shutter shades
- Flower bouquets
- Wigs
- White boards (Chalk boards or cardboard with markers would work too)
- Oversize buttons
- Pennants
- Gloves
- Clothing from thrift stores (The stranger, the better)
- Balloons
- Bubbles
Many of these items can be found at dollar stores, party stores, thrift stores, secondhand shops and online at marketplaces like Amazon. Keep in mind the weirder the props are, the funnier the photos will be. You could even let party guests keep some of the props as favors if you don’t want to hang on them after the event. They’ll serve as fun reminders of the evening, and can likely be used again for different costume or themed parties in the future.
