Decor and Costumes: The best way to show your Western theme intentions is to request that your guests arrive in costume.
Cowboy hats can be purchased relatively inexpensively, as can bandannas and lengths of rope.
Having extras on hand as party favors or sending them along with invitations are a great way to equip your guests with items they can wear and/or bring to the party.
Place "WANTED" signs around the house, featuring your guests or your own face.
Search local party supply stores for cacti, cowboy hats and boots, horses, etc.
to get your guests in the Wild West spirit.
You may also want to create a campfire, either from construction paper to tape to a wall, or use an existing in-door fireplace to set the scene.
Thrift stores and online costume stores provide year-round access to Western style costumes and accessories that are not always over-priced.
Locate your inner bargain hunter and shop away.
Use themed invitations: Wrap your invitation in a bandanna or include one along with a traditional style invitation.
Insert a plastic sheriff's badge into the envelope if you plan to hand deliver to your guests.
Another great idea is to crinkle brown paper bags to use as invitations, as crinkled brown paper gives the appearance of worn leather.
Cut the paper into a fun boot or cowboy hat shape and your themed invitations are ready to mail.
Adults: If you feel like getting creative, tear off the straight edges of a piece of un-lined paper and carefully burn the torn edges to make the paper look old and worn.
Name your location: Carefully consider the best place to hold your party.
If available, you might choose to hold your party in an old barn or at a campsite.
Even if you plan to entertain in your home, you can spruce up the place with an old style sign or banner.
A General Store, Saloon, or Corral is an excellent way to name the scene for your Western party to play out.
Activities: Depending on whether or not there will be children at the party and the indoor/outdoor access, you may want to build an outdoor bonfire for adults and supervised children.
This can come in handy for food preparation as you can roast hotdogs or heat up beans over an open fire.
Other great activities include hobble horse races, water gunfights (if the weather permits), an old-fashioned hoe-down or line dance with country music playing, horseshoes, rope the cowboy, or pin the cowboy on the horse, can all make great activities.
Be sure that any weapons you provide to be used in activities are age appropriate.
Use your best judgment when hosting a children's party versus an adult party.
Grub: One of the best parts about throwing a Western themed party is that you can keep the food simple.
Anything barbecued, chili, baked beans, salsa and chips, cornbread, hot dogs, root beer, sarsaparilla, and s'mores are all great food items that are easy to prepare and fun to eat.
To step it up a notch, try decorating a cake like a prairie desert and adding plastic cowboy and Indian figurines to create a famous battle scene.
Be sure to check out some of the online resources for Western terms and slang to use during the party to get your guests in the mood to rope, ride, and hunt, just like real cowboys and Indians!