Amy asks, "Hey Rachael! I'd love to throw a theme party, but I have no idea how. Can you help?" Rachael loves matching up people who have questions with those who've got answers. So Amy, meet Leslie and Richard, who've been throwing theme parties once a month for five years! From the decorations and costumes down to entertainment and themed food, no details are forgotten.

Leslie's & Richard's Top Tips

Want to have a dinner party club that meets often and enjoys making a special night of it? Find out how to do it from Richard and Leslie, who take a movie night and dress it like a Hollywood production.

• Get a little help from your friends. Richard describes their parties as "potluck on steroids!" It's fun to do it all together, and also helps keep the cost down. Get your friends to help out in any way, from bringing food and decorations to cleaning up afterward. They then can look at hosting not as a chore but as a group effort to create a night of make believe, to share some great food & drink, and to see movies like they were meant to be seen.

• Hit the dollar store. It doesn't have to cost a fortune to get fun decorations or little costume pieces. Setting the right mood for a movie is in the details.

• Be creative with costumes...and make sure your friends know you mean it when you tell'em to dress up! Even the most timid gets into the act when their friends arrive in theme with the movie. When choosing a theme, pick a movie with exotic locations and larger than life characters!

• "Pick a theme that involves wonderful costumes, terrific decorations based on international locales and cuisine that challenges the cooks," suggests Leslie. Since it will be a potluck, what better fun than to choose a theme that gives the cooks in the group a chance to exercise their creative juices.

• Tie in an activity or special entertainment with the theme. So, for example, at Richard and Leslie's "The King and I" party, they had ballroom dancing lessons and everyone learned how to waltz! On other occasions, they have had the local high school orchestra play to set the mood.