Party like it's 1999
I was totally head over heels for the ’90s back in the day, and throwing a ’90s-themed bash is the ultimate time machine to revive those fun, funky vibes! Buckle up, because here’s your go-to guide for crafting the most rad ’90s atmosphere, complete with decorations, grub, and totally tubular activities!
Don't forget you free 90's party Trivia printables - they're near the bottom!
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Invitations for a 90's party
Your invites are about to throw a party of their own! Picture this: retro vibes galore with neon colors, eye-popping graphics, and blocky fonts that scream FUN! Why not transform them into cassette tapes, CD cases, or even classic Game Boys? Talk about a nostalgia overload! 🎉🎮
I had fun designing these on Zazzle. Check them out here, or design your own.
Don’t forget digital options, you could send out digital invitations designed to look like a 90s computer screen or a pager notification.
Here are some ready made invitations.
Dressing like the 1990's
Encourage your guests to come dressed as their favorite 90s celebrities or characters. Here are some ideas to inspire them:
- Grunge: Plaid flannel shirts, ripped jeans, band t-shirts, and Doc Martens.
- Hip-Hop: Oversized clothing, tracksuits, bucket hats, and gold chains.
- Pop Culture Icons: Consider characters like Rachel from Friends, the Spice Girls, the Fresh Prince, or popular boy bands from the 90s.
- Accessories: Suggest fun accessories such as scrunchies, slap bracelets, chokers, and butterfly clips.
90’s Hip Hop accessories.
1990's party decorations
Vibrant neon colors and abstract shapes dominated the 90s. To capture that essence, consider using neon streamers, banners, and tablecloths featuring geometric patterns.
You could even create your own neon signs, custom ones are available from here.
You could decorate the place with posters of 90s icons (e.g., Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls).
I love this 90s Icons Banner, which is a digital download, so you can get it straight away.
Inflatable chairs and mini sofas were a 90s staple and perfect for creating a fun, loungey vibe.
This reminds me of an inflatable chair I used to have.
Bean bags make great seating, and lava lamps add a retro feel to the room.
90's music playlist
You will have so much choice here, create a playlist with popular songs from 90s artists like Britney Spears, NSYNC, the Spice Girls, TLC, Nirvana, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., and Backstreet Boys.
A compilation CD would be good, such as Now that’s what I call the 90s.
90s themed party food
To make the food and drink 90’s themed, you could come make some cocktails or mocktails with some names like “The Fresh Prince Punch” or “Spice Girl Spritzer.”
Food I remember from the 90’s include a lot of Pizza Hut pizzas, pot noodles, monster munch (pickled onion flavour) and space raiders. Followed by jelly tots and fruit pastilles. Turkey twizzlers were also a favourite, until they became a symbol of unhealthy food!
Perhaps there was healthier food in the 90’s and I can’t remember it!
Turn a normal cupcake into a 90’s cupcake, with these cupcake toppers!
90s party games
If you are able set up a station with classic 90s gaming consoles like the Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, or original PlayStation, and play games like Super Mario Kart, Street Fighter, or Sonic the Hedgehog.
I think these retro game consoles are really good value.
Other games like Twister, Jenga, and Pictionary were popular in the 90s and add to the nostalgic fun. With Twister being a great party game!
Twister party game.
90s karaoke is always a blast! Sing along to hits from Britney Spears, Spice Girls, and boy bands.
90 lyrics game.
90s photo booth
Set up a photo booth with props like cassette tapes, 90s sunglasses, pagers, and hats. You could even add a Polaroid camera for instant pics.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera
Party favors
It can be fun to give out some party favours, perhaps some pin badges, 90s-inspired treats like slap bracelets, temporary tattoos, or mini Tamagotchis.
Mystery Scoop of 90’s themed Buttons.
FREE PRINTABLE 90s TRIVIA QUIZ
Get your Free quiz sheets here – a bundle of 6, plus the answers of course!! Have fun x
Questions and Answers!
Q1: What makes a party distinctly “1990s”?
A1: A 90s-themed party leans into neon colours (think teal, hot pink), iconic pop culture (like sitcoms and boy bands), retro games (Tamagotchi, Game Boy), and classic party foods (like Dunkaroos and soda floats). Music playlists should feature 90s pop, hip-hop, grunge, and R&B.
Q2: What are some good decoration ideas for a ‘90s party?
A2: Use inflatable furniture, lava lamps, cassette tapes, posters of 90s icons, and streamers in neon. Add props like retro phones, floppy disks, and polaroids. Balloons in bold colours and a photo booth with 90s-style frames help boost the nostalgia.
Q3: What should I wear to a ‘90s party?
A3: Channel 90s fashion: think overalls, crop tops, high-waisted jeans, slip dresses, bucket hats, and scrunchies. For men, consider flannel shirts, baggy jeans, or tracksuits. Don’t forget chunky sneakers and neon accessories.
Q4: What kind of food and drink is suitable for a 90s-themed party?
A4: Go retro: serve Pizza Bagels, Dunkaroos, Pop-Tarts, Jell-O, and fruit punch. For drinks, you can do classic sodas, Capri Sun, or mocktails with fun 90s names. Use bright cups, striped straws, and trays with nostalgic branding if possible.
Q5: How do I put together a 1990s playlist?
A5: Combine pop hits (Spice Girls, Britney Spears), grunge (Nirvana), hip-hop (Tupac, Notorious B.I.G.), and R&B (TLC, Boyz II Men). Mix in TV theme tunes or movie soundtracks from the 90s for extra vibe. Use curated Spotify or Apple Music playlists as a base, then tweak to match your crowd.
Q6: Are there any fun games or activities for a 90s party?
A6: Yes! Ideas include:
Retro video game corner (Game Boy, Nintendo 64)
Dance-off to 90s hits
Trivia quiz on 90s pop culture
Tie-dye T-shirt station
Karaoke of popular 90s tracks
DIY slap bracelet-making
Q7: How can I make sure the party feels authentic rather than cheesy?
A7: Strike a balance: focus on nostalgic rather than camp. Use genuine 90s references, but don’t overdo it. Let the music set the tone, choose quality retro props (not just tacky “faux-1990s stuff”), and encourage guests to dress in ways they actually might have in the era. Authenticity comes through in details like real 90s games, posters, and a curated photo corner.