In Estonia the Halloween party has lately moved from children’s events to company parties, birthdays and evenings with friends. The reason is simple: a costume gives the evening a theme straight away, the decoration is cheap, and guests arrive already in the right mood. But that is also why Halloween is an easy format to get wrong — a dark room, half the guests without costumes, photos nobody wants to see afterwards. Here is how to avoid that.
Halloween is celebrated on 31 October, and in 2026 that is a Saturday. The more popular venues, private restaurant rooms and equipment get booked out fast that weekend — sort it out in September or early October, not two weeks before.
If the Saturday is taken or too expensive, there are two good alternatives. The first is Friday 30 October — for company parties even more convenient, as the evening starts straight off the working day. The second is a week later: Estonia marks St Martin’s Day on 10 November and St Catherine’s Day on 25 November, and their mumming and dressing-up tradition fits a costume party naturally. The result feels Estonian rather than borrowed.
It works best in three situations. At a company party where the team already knows each other and a costume helps soften the hierarchy. At a birthday or milestone where people want something other than the usual restaurant table. And among friends, where everyone knows in advance what to expect.
It works badly when the group is very mixed — a new team, say, where half the people have never met. The costume then becomes a source of embarrassment rather than an icebreaker. If you are unsure, take a look at our selection of team event formats instead and save Halloween for next year.
The most common mistake is writing “costumes welcome” on the invitation. The result is always the same: three people turn up in costume and feel awkward. A costume is either compulsory or it is not a thing.
What works:
Halloween decoration is dark: black backdrops, orange light, candles. A phone camera cannot cope with it, and by morning your guests’ galleries hold a couple of dozen blurry shots. That is why a proper photo zone makes more sense at a costume party than usual — professional lighting makes the costumes visible.
A couple of practical notes on backdrops. A completely black backdrop swallows dark costumes — either leave a contrasting element (orange, deep red, silver) or use a reflective surface. Our sequin backdrop, the “living backdrop”, works well here because it reflects light and gives the image depth; it is an add-on for 150 €. The standard backdrop is 1.5–2 m wide and 2.5 m high, which fits three to four people in the frame at once.
Heavy smoke is the single most rewarding add-on at a Halloween party. Low-lying smoke covers the floor in fog that makes every shot cinematic and that guests come back to shoot in on their own. Agree two things in advance: the smoke detectors in the venue, and whether anyone in the room should avoid smoke.
With props, the rule is that less is more. Ten well-chosen objects — masks, an old-fashioned lantern, one good hat — give a better result than a table piled with plastic. The guest already has a costume, so props should complement it, not overshadow it.
As for the output, think about what the guest takes home. A printed 10 × 15 cm photo is the one that ends up on the fridge door; a 5 × 15 cm strip of four frames works especially well at a costume party, showing the same person pulling four different faces. Digital files go out by email too and reach social media the same evening.
Timing at a costume party differs from an ordinary one. People want their picture taken while the costume is still intact — the first half of the evening.
If nobody in the room is holding that rhythm, the costume round easily stretches to forty minutes. Our host and DJ service — evenings are led by Ersto Põlluaas — covers exactly that part: someone says into the microphone what happens when.
A photo booth needs about 1 m² of floor space and an ordinary 230 V socket. The photo mirror is roomier, with controls built into the mirror itself and a full-height vertical frame — which matters here, because shoes and dress are often the best part of the outfit. The 360° platform spins around the guest, records in slow motion, processes the clip automatically and sends it by email or social media; with costumes and smoke it gives the most shareable content of all.
Before signing anything, ask the venue three questions: where the sockets are, how high the ceiling is, and when the equipment can be set up. If you are unsure which device suits your room and your group, our comparison of the photo booth, photo mirror and 360° camera will help.
A costume party’s budget differs in one place: less goes on decoration, because guests bring most of the visuals themselves. That money is better spent on lighting, sound and the photo zone — on whatever decides if anything is left of the evening.
In practice the booking order looks like this: first the date and the room, then catering, then equipment and entertainment. Late October in Estonia is also when Christmas party bookings begin, so the same venues and suppliers sit between two waves. Planning two events this autumn? Ask for a quote for both at once — the logistics get easier too. You will find ideas for the second evening in our overview of Christmas party themes.
We work across Estonia — in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Narva, Kohtla-Järve, Jõhvi, Viljandi and Rakvere. If your late-October date is already set, send it with the venue and guest count and we will put together a package that fits.
If you are planning a photo zone for your party, have a look at photo booth rental in Tallinn — prices, packages and booking on one page.
Get in touch and request a quote — info@picme.ee or +372 5982 3499.
