Themes · Prices checked
A Hollywood theme party: the arrival, the room and the hire list
The whole point of a Hollywood party is the entrance. Start with the carpet and the photo moment, then dress the room around them.
By Claire Dunmore · 2 min read
A Hollywood or Oscars night works because every guest gets a moment of arrival. Get that right and the rest of the room can be simple.
The arrival
- The carpet. A 6 metre red runner covers most front paths and doorways; Events Fantastic lists one at $100 + GST. Posts about a metre apart either side, with red or gold rope. See the red carpet guide.
- The photo moment. Put a backdrop, a photo booth or a friend with a camera at the end of the carpet. A booth runs from about $500 to $950 for three hours in the packages we found; see the photo booth guide.
- The welcome. Someone at the start of the carpet to greet each guest by name does more than any decoration.
The room
Black, gold and red are the usual palette. Round tables with dark cloths read as a gala dinner; a dance floor in front of the DJ gives the night somewhere to go after the speeches. Gold Chanel or Tiffany chairs suit the theme; see the table and chair prices.
The dress code
"Black tie" or "Hollywood glamour" on the invitation tells guests what to wear. If the party is outdoors in summer, say so, and let people know whether the carpet runs across grass.
The hire checklist
- Red carpet runner, measured from the drop-off point to the door
- Posts and ropes for both sides
- Backdrop or photo booth at the end of the carpet
- Tables, chairs and cloths
- Dance floor and lighting
- Power for the booth, the DJ and the lights
- A wet-weather plan for anything outside
The Arrival Planner
Enter the length of your entrance and your guest numbers. The planner works out the runner, the posts and ropes, the marquee floor and the dance floor, and prices them from published Australian hire lists.
- Red carpet
- Posts and ropes
- Marquee floor
- Dance floor
Rules: runners 1.2 m wide in 3, 6, 9 and 12 m lengths, posts about 1 metre apart on both sides (Events Fantastic); 1 m² a guest seated, 0.5 m² standing (Barlens); 30 to 40% of guests dancing at once, 0.37 to 0.46 m² each (Curated Events). Prices: Events Fantastic (carpet, + GST) and Bargain Party Hire (marquees, floors), read 3 October 2026. A guide, not a quote.