DIY Dollar Store Photo Booth Backdrop

When I spied this AWESOME editorial photo shoot by JUCO for Alarm Magazine recently, I was completely inspired! So I endeavored to see whether something similar could be re-created affordably as a photo booth backdrop for a party.

Initially it turned out to be a trickier operation than I thought. It’s an interesting balancing act because buying each favor individually can get expensive, however, you don’t want your backdrop to end up being too repetitious. After some research I feel that this can be accomplished affordably. Here are some tips if you want to re-create it for your own party and not break the bank…

• Firstly, take a look at your own ‘party closet’, or around the house for bright and fun items that can be used. Do you have any favors from past parties stashed away?
• Start with sourcing inexpensive ‘big’ items that will use up a lot of real estate in your backdrop and therefore offer the most ‘bang for your buck’ e.g Party City sells these good-sized inflatable fish in packs of 3 for only $1.99.
• Some great sources for novelty toys and party favors that I used include dollar stores, Party City, Daiso (everything is $1.50!) and Amazon Prime.
• Variety is a key factor however the majority of value packs I found only offer multiples of the same item. However, Amazon sells a few 100 piece packs for around $15-$20 which provide a great deal of variety, like this one.
• Long balloons and mini slinkys are both good buys- you can create fun and dynamic shapes from them and they also use up a good deal of real estate.
• Simple balloons are also a great way to add a range of color and fun to your wall and they’re relatively cheap!
• This large inflatable monkey (a mere $2.99), that I found at Party City, provides a quirky element and also takes up a good deal of space.
• I personally love these giant inflatable crayons from Amazon! They come in a variety of colors and once again, take up a good deal of space.
• If you want to take a more curated and designed approach, Party City is excellent as they do offer individual favors. However, keep in mind this approach will make your wall a tad pricier.
• Finally, use gaffers tape or removable double-sided tape to attach your toys to the wall.

Also, just as a parting tip, it might be kinda fun to let your guests raid your wall for favors when the party is over!

Have fun!