All photos and text in this post are copyrighted to Soiree Event Design and may NOT be copied from this site and used in any way without permission from the owner. Pinning images, of course, is allowed and encouraged.
Hey party peeps! This week is an emotional one for me as my oldest son just left for Basic Training to join the US Navy AND the week before he left my sister and nephews were in town who I hardly ever get to see. LOTS of emotions! The great thing though is that my nephew’s birthday was while he was here and LOVES the Call of Duty video game which also is my son’s favorite so I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than to throw a Call of Duty party to celebrate both milestones. AND BOY DID WE CELEBRATE! Check out how the entire family got in on all the fun. LOTS of memories were made this day!
Call of Duty Video Game Truck!
Okay, you guys know how I do. I just didn’t want to throw a normal Call of Duty party, I had to create the ULTIMATE CALL OF DUTY PARTY EXPERIENCE! I wanted to create an environment where the guests could actually play the video game together but also take part in interactive outdoor activities that went with the theme so I called the experts in mobile entertainment— Games 2 U. They have a state of the art video game truck which pulls up to your house and has a video game theatre inside where up to 12 guests can play at one time. They have all the latest video games like Call of Duty, Minecraft and Injustice for multiple game systems like PS4 and XBox One.
GIRLFRIEND TIP: This type of party is GREAT for a surprise party! My nephew had no idea I was throwing this party and when he pulled up and saw the video game trailer he was so excited! I mean, look at it! It’s visually a wow-factor all by itself AND it plays music loudly on the outside…a kid favorite!
Call of Duty Gear UP Bunker!
After the guests were done with the 40 minutes of video game play they entered into the Call of Duty Gear UP Bunker which was a themed Call of Duty table full of military dress up items for each guest including camouflage shorts, shirts, dog tags, hats, sunglasses and a special backpack from Birthday Express for the birthday boy! The faces of the guests when they entered this room was PRICELESS!!!
GIRLFRIEND TIP: Whenever I’m styling a video game party I always go to my local Game Stop store to ask if they have any leftover video game posters for the game I’m featuring. They usually always have some and they are FREE! What??!! I know…they usually just throw away boxes of posters after their promotional time has ended and if you’re lucky they’ll have the game poster you’re looking for. I totally scored on BOTH of these Call of Duty Advanced Warfare posters to add that wow factor I needed for my party decor! Best thing…I rolled them up at the end of the party and gave them to my nephew to take home.
Call of Duty Laser Tag!
Once everyone was “Geared Up” it was time for Laser Tag! Outside we went to a full laser tag course set up by Games 2 U complete with bunkers and digital laser tag guns that make it possible to play outside in the daytime. They actually count down and vibrate when you get tagged so you can keep track of your progress. This was SO MUCH fun for both kids and adults.
To make it even more fun, I ordered these cool velcro-backed Skull Patches from Magplates.com in 2 colors (green and tan) so each team had their own color. The 2 team captains wore these cool Bastion t-shirts that have velcro on the sleeves so they could place their teams’ patch on their sleeves. The rest of the team simply adhered their patches to their shirts or hats with velcro tape.
GIRLFRIEND TIP: Magplates also makes custom patches! So you can send them your artwork and they’ll make your own custom patch. The minimum order for custom patches is 50 though so this option may only work for large parties.
The ENTIRE FAMILY had a BLAST! What a way to send off my son to the military and celebrate my nephew’s birthday. “Fair winds and following seas” my son! May you serve and defend our country honorably as you answer your REAL CALL OF DUTY!
I hope you found some inspiration for your next Call of Duty party. If you are located in here in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, be sure to check out our local Games 2 U Twin Cities for all your mobile entertainment needs!
SHOP THIS LOOK
CLICK HERE to check out my Pinterest board for a virtual shopping list of most of the items I used in this party’s design along with prices and links to purchase them.
Follow Soiree Event Design’s board Call of Duty on Pinterest.
WHERE DID SHE GET THAT?
– Styling & photography: Soiree Event Design
– Video game truck & outdoor laser tag game: Games 2 U
– Army tank standup, camoflauge hats, sunglasses and backpack, army hardhat: Birthday Express
– Skull and military patches, Bastion shirts with velcro: Magplates
– Camouflage netting, “Armed and Dangerous” t-shirt and dog tags: JM Cremps The Boys Adventure Store
Yolanda says
I loved this theme. I could see this working for an adult male easily. Men would love this type of party.
Tonya says
OH yes! My hubby & brother in law LOVED it (maybe even a little more than the kids!) LOL!
Blanca says
AWESOME party!!! It looks like so much fun 🙂 Thank your son for his service to our country on behalf of myself and my family!!!
Tonya says
Thanks Blanca! It’s so emotional! He left yesterday and waiting for that first phone call was torture! I will thank him when I can (8 weeks from now!)
kelly says
Omg…finally a BOY party! As mom to two boys and a total tomboy myself, I thought this was your best party yet! And the kids can still wear the accessories after the party. My boys love dog tags! 🙂
Tonya says
OMG! This was so much fun! The great thing about this party was that EVERYONE from my 2 year old to my husband had a BLAST! There’s nothing like good ol’ fashioned run around fun!
Tonya says
I know right?! AND…didn’t use any sparkle and bling! I know you were happy about that. Those accessories were awesome. Great quality to kids can wear them after the party. Love that!
Christi says
I absolutely love this party. I could feel your nephew’s excitement through the pics. Lol This theme would totally work for father and son day as well. I know my hubby and boys would love it. Thanks for the awesome tips and inspiration. P.S. I’ll keep your son in my prayers. Im sure he will do well 🙂
Tonya says
Thanks Christi! It was so much fun for us all. Thanks for praying for my son…He’s in his 2nd day of Boot Camp!
Monique says
Love this party! Thanks for the tip on posters
Tonya says
Thanks Monique!
Glenda says
I am a Call of Duty fan thanks to my hubby! My this party was so much fun! Loved the decor and thanks for that Game Stop tip! Sure will come in handy.
Tonya says
Thanks Glenda! It was fun and I didn’t use ANY BLING! What??!!! LOL!
Fizzy Party says
Too much FUN! What a great party and great memories created that none of you will forget. Fabulous tips too!
Tonya says
Thanks! It was super fun!
Keisha - Cupcake Wishes & Birthday Dreams says
Now THAT is a fun time to be had by ALL! I loved see a fun and interactive boy theme and all the fatigues and army gear was just perfect!
Susan Noble says
What a brilliant party and such fun. I know your family enjoyed every minute and I can just imagine the look on your Nephews face when he saw the Game truck. GREAT GREAT PARTY loved it!
shauna krantz says
This party looked so fun! You had every detail planned to a T! Love the laser tag.
Christy says
Ah man! This is so awesome! My family loves Call of Duty. Definitely a great idea to surprise them with.. Thanks for sharing!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
My oldest keeps asking to play this, but he is only 10, so he’s much too young. This would be fun when he’s older.
Mrs. Sarah Coller says
Wow! This is an amazing party. You obviously put a lot of effort into it and it looks like your family had a blast!!!
Amanda Love says
My 13 yo would have a field day with this. He’s a huge COD fan and we’ve already pre-ordered the newest one for his Xbox One. Now you have me thinking about this for his birthday in November. 🙂
Kaitlin says
Such a great party idea! I’m sure everyone were in video game heaven! It looks like being in the game!
Kristen says
Just love this party! My husband and boys would never leave that video game truck!
Ashley says
My husband would love this! Looks like such a fun party!
Dee says
Hands down one of the best parties I have seen. The details are amazing!!!
I am going to share on my blog FB page.
Dee from http://www.thecsiproject.com
Cristy says
Wow! I think you won the most awesome mom award! Any boy would love to have a party like this!
Barbara says
This is awesome!!!
Heathe Lawrence says
Ok, that does look like a lot of fun.
Love that everyone is involved outside running around!
To my knowledge we don’t have anything like that here.
Lindsey Silvestrini says
What an amazing party! That would be my husbands dream come true! 🙂
Trisha says
This is so cool, my nephews would be really into a party like this! It seems like it’s becoming a popular trend!
Jennifer B says
Wow this looks like a super, amazing fun party!! Looks like everyone had so much fun!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
Oh my this is so up my boys alley! Love the theme, looks like a blast!
maria @ close to home says
that is quite the party wishing your son well.
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
So fun!
Maria Oller says
This looks like the best party ever! in my family we are all gamers specially my husband, my son and I, even my daughter some what we have long COD sessions on weekends =)
Ann Bacciaglia says
My 19 year old son would love a party like this. He loves playing COD and this looks like something his friends would enjoy.
Lois Alter Mark says
The kids look like they’re having a great time! My son would have loved this when he was younger!
Kristin says
Wow! You took that theme to a whole other level. Amazing!
Debbie Denny says
Hubby Loves Call of Duty. This is fantastic.
Liz Mays says
That was pretty much the coolest party ever. I love that it sort of had a dual purpose!
Rosey says
This would be right up my son’s alley when he was a teen and at home. Call of Duty was his game! I think he and his older brother would still play if they weren’t working all of the time. 😉
Janeane Davis says
This sounds like such a great idea. My husband and son really like this game and the two of them would go crazy for this party.
Ave says
Wow! Looks like an amazing party and seems that you all had a lot of fun! My husband would like the video game trailer for sure.
Rebekah says
You’re such a cool mom! I bet the kids LOVED that.
Amy Desrosiers says
Holy crap! This looks like an awesome party that my husband would love! We play COD and love the game..super awesome party! Great job!
Brett says
i want you to plan MY birthday party! or any party!
eliz frank says
Wow Tonya! That was quite the party. I can see your supreme event planning skills were at work. It doesn’t get better than this. 🙂
Debi says
Oh so cool. My son would have been over the moon. He loves Call of Duty.
Tonya says
Hope this gives moms some ideas on throwing a cool Call of Duty party
Karissa | Sweet as a Cookie says
What an awesome party! My boyfriend is obsessed with Call of Duty!
Tonya says
So was my son and my nephews still play.
Danielle says
My husband would love this. He is crazy about all things Call of Duty!
Tonya says
My husband too Danielle!
Pam says
Looks like a party my son would love! That video game trailer is seriously neat.
Tonya says
Yes! The video game trailer was surely a hit!
Giveaways 4 Mom says
This looks like it was a super fun party. It is awesome you have the experience documented in photos.
Tonya says
I will cherish those photos for sure!