Host The Ultimate Inauguration Bash On The Cheap

The inauguration is tomorrow and what better way to celebrate this monumental change than by throwing an inauguration party for you and your friends! Although we are all watching our wallets, it doesn't mean we don't deserve to celebrate -- and we can do so without spending much at all.

Diana Heather from Celebrations.com has some creative ideas for hosting the perfect patriotic bash.

PARTY SUGGESTIONS AND VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Invitations
Obama used the internet for his campaign in a way no President to date has done - embrace technology & save money by sending e-invitations from Celebrations.com. Upload the popular Shepard Fairy artwork of Obama and personalize your own e-invitations.

Decor
- Save money on décor and use your old 4th of July napkins, paper plates, and plastic silverware.
- Use life-size Obama cut-outs to capture your guests in a photo-op with the president! Hand each guest their Polaroid as they leave the party. This one is from VisionaryBoutique.com and they usually range from $35-50.
- Place red, white, and blue candles around the main party room. Hit up the New Year-after holiday sales and scour the clearance racks for these.
- Pass mini-flags out to guests as they arrive, and also use them in centerpieces filled with red, white, and blue M&M's.
- Fly bouquets of red, white and blue balloons around the room tied to the ends of furniture or held down by a weight.

Food and Beverage
No party is complete without cocktails, and we've got some specialty drink ideas just for the occasion: Offer refreshing cocktails such as the "Barack on the Rocks" with vodka, Blue Curacao and 7-up for a light, citrus flavor, and "Obamaritas" for a fun twist to the original margarita. Some other ideas are:
- Serve up a tribute to Obama's hometown with classic Deep Dish Pizza and Chicago Meat Balls
- Honor Joe Bidden with a Sloppy Joe station
- Bake a flag cake using whip cream, strawberries, and blueberries. Stick red, white, and blue birthday-sized candles on the cake and blow them out with your guests when the inauguration ends!

Trivia and Games
Play presidential trivia by asking your guests to answer fun facts about the president elect and keep track on a large dry-erase board decorated with cut-outs of Obama. About.com has tons of trivia about Obama and past presidents to play with

BingObama: www.bingobama.com
Print these BingObama game boards from Bingobama.com and have your guests mark their board each time Obama says one during his speech

For more information, visit celebrations.com.