Vision Board Party: Pro Tips for an Inspiring Night!

Embracing the excitement of a new year with friends, snacks and sips is even more fun thanks to this new trend: vision board parties. In recent years, these parties — where you get together with friends to create a collage filled with inspirational images to help manifest goals — have picked up speed on social media. With more than 100,000 posts on Instagram and 17 million views on TikTok, these popular gatherings are actually a breeze to toss together. We spoke to an event pro for her savvy, affordable vision board party ideas.

“I’m a very visual person, so for several years now I’ve been piecing together an annual vision board to sum up my dreams for the year and keep them in a prominent place,” says Maureen Walker, owner of A La Mo party styling in San Diego. “As it turns out, we all agreed it was a very relaxing, uplifting experience. It was an opportunity to take a break from all of the post-holiday stress, focus on ourselves and have a little time with the girls!”

Welcome guests with a help-yourself bar

Vision board party: Help-yourself bar cart beverage station — Maureen Walker of Party a la Mode

To get the look of Walker’s colorful spread, first choose an empty area in front of a blank wall and push a bar cart (or console table) against the wall. Setting up a snack-and-sip station, like this one, frees up table space for crafting. And rolling a bar cart near your crafting table makes it easy for guests to serve themselves! Stock your cart with Champagne or sparkling wine, cocktail glasses, snacks, sweets, napkins and utensils. The finishing touch: bold crafts-store garlands hung vertically behind the cart and a supermarket or faux bouquet on the bottom of the cart.

Offer up tasty bite-sized snacks

Vision Board Party: crostini appetizers on wooden cutting board — nata_vkusidey / GettyImages

“Contemplating goals for the future can make guests hungry!” says Walker. She suggests setting out appetizers that are easy to eat while crafting, . Fun options: bite-size crostini layered with cheese and bright toppings like pomegranate seeds and herbs.

Make it simple for your friends to get crafty

Vision Board: vision board with colorful photos and words — Maureen Walker of Party a la Mode

Gathering friends to create a vision board is a perfect way to start the new year, when goals and dreams are top of mind! Before your party, set out a piece of posterboard or a large corkboard (Buy at Amazon, $9) for each guest.

Also smart: When first inviting friends, ask them to bring photos they want to include on their vision board, along with any old magazines they have on hand. Other sources of inspiration include greeting cards, stickers and note cards. You can even pick up books of motivational quotes at the library and leave them out for guests to browse for ideas.

Serve instant smiles with a bubbly signature sip

Vision Board: Signature sips — Maureen Walker of Party a la Mode

For a drink that adds a pop of color to the table, pour colorful soda into clear glasses that show off its vibrant hue, suggests Walker. She chose blood-orange Italian soda (available in supermarkets). “It’s also delicious mixed with sparkling wine for a bubbly drink that will get your creative juices flowing!”

Create a central crafting station in seconds

Raid your crafts drawer (or swing by the dollar store!) for scissors, glue sticks, push pins, markers and gel pens. Then cover your dining room table with a roll of kraft paper and set supplies in the center. The paper protects your table, plus gives guests a spot to jot down their ideas and inspiration as it strikes!

To make a vision board for less than $20, follow these tip by MyNameIsTiffanie on TikTok:

@mynameistiffanie
vision board tutorial ✨ #fyp #visionboard #visionboard2024 #visionboardparty #manifestation #blackgirltiktok #blackgirlluxury #becominganinfluencer #visionboardhowto
♬ original sound – ☻

Dress up your space with a ‘goal garland’

Before the party, blow up several balloons in a variety of colors. As guests arrive, hand them a paint pen and ask them to write a goal or inspiring word on a balloon. Tie the balloons to a length of twine and tape to the wall, forming an arch. Tip: Have guests take a photo under the garland and post it on social media. Declaring a goal publicly makes you more likely to achieve it!

Sweeten the day with a “stroke of genius” cake

Vision Board: Stroke of Genius Cake — Maureen Walker of Party a la Mode

Delight your group with an artsy dessert. To do: Bake a two-layer 8″ round cake from a box mix, then drop pre-rolled fondant (like Wilton Ready-Rolled Fondant, Buy at Joann, $12) on top of the cake, press on sides and trim to fit. Next, use edible paint (at crafts stores) and a clean paintbrush to add strokes; top with faux flowers.