14 Aug

REAL PARTIES: Wii Bowling Tournament

categories: real parties, theme parties

Wii Bowling Tournament Party

From the second i laid eyes on the ultra-creative “bowling lane table runner” pictured above, I knew this Wii Bowling Tournament was going to be a fun party to check out! Even better, the party’s hostess with the mostess: Robin Chowaniec put the tournament together as a mini fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Wii Bowling Tournament Party

Read on for more for more info on all the creative details – from Wii controller candy dispenser favors to Margamiitas and Mowiitos – straight from Robin herself!

***

“To get my husband more involved with Relay, I formed a team named: Team Wii Fight Cancer.  The bowling tournament seemed like a good excuse to have friends over to play the Wii, eat and raise a couple hundred $$ for ACS.”

Pictured above: (Image 1) The table runner was a kitchen cabinet liner that looked like bamboo with red masking tape added for foul line and cut for direction arrows. The plastic bowling pins & ball are from Oriental Trading Company. (Image 2) I glazed a handful of dense pound cake cubes to look like Wii remote controls, then used a frosting pen to duplicate power and home logos.

Below: a “Team Wii” sign made from cardstock:

Wii Bowling Tournament Party

For easy Caprese Salad on a Stick appetizers, I stuck the sticks into halved mini watermelons with printed Mii’s of those attending amongst the food:

Wii Bowling Tournament Party

I found *mini Wii remote candy dispensers at Walgreens, just repackaged in clear cellophane bags for favors:

Wii Bowling Tournament Party

Margaritas and Mojitos were labeled as “Margamiitas” and “Mowiitos” for more Wii friendly atmosphere:

Wii Bowling Tournament Party

Evite had a Wii Sports themed invite:

Wii Party Evite

Other things to note:
Etch-it Cups from Celebrate Express were a big hit.
• We used a mini white board to keep track of top 4 scores.
• Top score got mini plastic trophy from Party City and a restaurant gift card.

***

Thanks so much for the inspiration, Robin! I can already think of a bunch of my own Wii-addicted friends who will love all these ideas!

*Note – I had a hard time finding a good place online to purchase Wii Remote Candy Dispensers, but there were a couple on ebay, and someone on Yahoo! Answers said they’ve seen them at Cost Plus, and then Robin found hers at Walgreens, so maybe they’re more of an in-store thing…but if anyone knows of any good places online, please share!

  • 1 http://mommyhoodinc.blogspot.com/

    This is such a great idea. I been trying to think of something unique to do for my husband’s 40th birthday. THIS IS IT!!!!! Thanks so much!

    Now the big question…where do I rent a Wii?

    Aug 14, 2008 at 8:42 am
  • 2 denise

    What a fun theme. You put together a darling party and helped a worthwhile cause – great work!

    Aug 14, 2008 at 8:55 am
  • 3 jenn s.

    The best place to check for rentals is your local video store like Blockbuster…or maybe even borrow from a close friend.

    OR – you could make the Wii your husband’s b-day gift and keep it ;) Chances are good that you’ll want to keep playing once you start…and you can also use it to surf the web on your TV because it has built-in wireless internet capabilities (or you can plug it in)- and you can get a web browser for it for a couple bucks.

    You can also download old-school Nintendo games onto the Wii like Super Mario Bros, Frogger, Tecmo Bowl, etc. for a more “nostalgic” gaming experience, as my husband puts it :)

    Aug 14, 2008 at 8:59 am
  • 4 http://masterpieceweddings.blogspot.com/

    How fun! I so want to go to this party!

    Aug 14, 2008 at 9:08 am
  • 5 ajaschke

    What a great Idea for a great cause, there are so many other great games that you could expand on…golf, racing, etc.

    Aug 14, 2008 at 9:15 am
  • 6 Madelyn @ Southern Weddings

    I adore this party! The table runner is fantastic! I love how well thought the theme is and how well it is incorporated into every detail of the party! Fantastic!

    Aug 14, 2008 at 9:35 am
  • 7 http://stemparties.blogspot.com/

    This is fantastic!

    Aug 14, 2008 at 9:36 am
  • 8 http://maritessb.blogspot.com/

    this is one of the best theme yet! i’m doing it for my husband birthday as well!

    Aug 14, 2008 at 9:44 am
  • 9 Amanda

    This is a fabulous idea, does anyone know how to print out their mii like that? Can you email your mii to a computer?

    I think I know what our next party theme will be!

    Aug 14, 2008 at 10:09 am
  • 10 Robin

    So glad everyone likes it. The party was fun…perfect for all ages. Unfortunately you can’t email your mii to a computer. I’ll go find the website we used to create the mii’s and post it here.

    Aug 14, 2008 at 10:29 am
  • 11 Robin

    Here’s a couple of websites that will make the mii’s into jpegs. The second one makes tshirts! ah, I’ll have to remember that for next time.

    http://miistation.com
    http://www.miiware.com

    Aug 14, 2008 at 10:48 am
  • 12 mkhertzel

    What a great idea! Everyone loves food. Combine that with a little Wii bowling, some cocktails, and raising money for a good cause and you’ve got a party that can’t be beat!!

    I love the mini-Wii remote candy dispensers. And the drink names are adorable (as well as very creative!)!! Where did you come up with them?

    Aug 14, 2008 at 10:48 am
  • 13 Meg

    I must have those Wii remote candy dispensers!
    I am also doing a fundraiser using my Wii, only with Mario Kart. It is for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. These are the perfect touch!
    I hope someone can help find them online, as I have neither a Walgreens or a Cost Plus near me.

    Aug 14, 2008 at 11:48 am
  • 14 Robin

    I went searching and only found one site where you could purchase online and of course they are on back order. Sorry.

    http://www.metrocandy.com/Wii-KLIK-CANDY-DISPENSER-12ct

    I love the Mario Kart idea though. Maybe I’ll have a 2nd fundraiser as my Relay isn’t for a little while.

    Aug 14, 2008 at 2:17 pm
  • 15 Meg

    Okay I found some on amazon.
    http://www.amazon.com/Wii-KLICK-Candy-Dispensers-Pack/dp/B001CW8JIK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1218750265&sr=8-1

    I hope the link works!

    And I recommend the Mario Kart or a Mario Party 8 fundraiser. Anything with a Wii is fun!

    Aug 14, 2008 at 2:46 pm
  • 16 http://theblissfulbride.blogspot.com/

    Oh my goodness I just LOVE this! I know so many people that would go crazy for a party like this. And, kudos to Robin for doing it all for a good cause!

    Aug 14, 2008 at 3:04 pm
  • 17 http://moderneve.blogspot.com/

    this is wonderful! we just had our wii-lympics fundraiser party on 08.08.08, coinciding with the opening ceremony in beijing. check it out on my blog: moderneve.blogspot.com

    also, in regards to the party favors you had – you can find them at CVS as well as Toys R US.

    another idea our these adorable mii chocolats. available at: http://www.popgadget.net/2008/01/chocolate_mii_f.php

    Aug 14, 2008 at 9:37 pm
  • 18 Stacy

    This is a fantastic idea and so creative. I would have loved to have been there and to have had a mowiito.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Stacy
    http://www.kidsstuffworld.com

    Aug 17, 2008 at 5:59 am
  • 19 Kate

    I love this!! I am definitely making note of this and throwing one of these soon. In the meantime, I am busy trying to think up ides for a medical themed party for someone about to go into hospital for an operation on both his feet which will have him laid up for months – any help or ideas would be gratefully received!!!!

    Aug 19, 2008 at 5:32 am
  • 20 dee

    this is such a great idea, its brilliant! its so creative i think i will have to try get my university to run a wii-lympics as a fundraiser! i especially love the idea of the miis printed out! welldone!

    Aug 20, 2008 at 3:45 am
  • 21 http://www.dabbled.org

    You have such fun ideas! By the way, I linked to this, and a couple other of your posts in my latest ‘inspirations’ post… keep up the great party ideas! http://www.dabbled.org/2008/08/wednesday-linky-goodness.html

    Dot
    dabbled.org

    Aug 20, 2008 at 6:38 pm
  • 22 Robin

    Thanks Dot!

    Sep 2, 2008 at 11:57 am
  • 23 Staci

    This is great. My son is turning 10 and he wants a Wii party. You have some wonderful ideas. Thanks!!!

    Sep 7, 2008 at 10:11 am
  • 24 Coolest. Thing. Ever. « West Hartford Forums

    [...] eloquent about Wii Bowling. For example, over at the Hostess with the Mostess blog, they have a great post about a Wii bowling party complete with Margamiitas and Mowiitos (tell me you wish you [...]

    Sep 9, 2008 at 9:24 am
  • 25 http://wedding-palindrome-wedding.blogspot.com/

    i’ve been racking my brain for ideas for my nephew’s first birthday, but i’m just going to steal this one! it’ll probably be just wii/mii related and not necessarily bowling related. the DIY in me says i can make super cute onesies with my nephew’s mii on it! :) i’ll post pictures on my blog afterwards!

    Sep 10, 2008 at 9:47 am
  • 26 Janet

    We are setting up a Wii Bowling League in our neighborhood, but I am stumped on how to organize teams (6 teams of 2 people, or 6 people on each team). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks

    Sep 29, 2008 at 2:45 pm
  • 27 Anari Belpre

    A great thing you can do also is plan a nationwide wii bowling party. Using Gamezy.com you can play wii bowling online, all you need is a web cam. Create a league and compete against other leagues for cash and prizes.
    As a fundraiser its a great way to maximize your efforts and raise more money.

    Oct 3, 2008 at 5:27 pm
  • 28 kAREN

    We hve seen your MII people onm a stick on your website. Can you tell us where you got the images to use on the sticks

    Oct 21, 2008 at 12:18 pm
  • 29 sue

    I just invited a bunch of girlfriends over for a Wii bowling party, now I know how to make it even better!
    I also am in charge of a fundraiser and need some help. It’s an international theme, with a beautiful passport as the invitation. But we don’t know what to name the actual event. It’s an auction, with a sit down dinner. Each course will be a different country. The tables will be in india sari silk, auction tables will have decorations from countries like Japan, Spain, Africa. should we just say “Escape” since that conjours up something exciting and much needed these days? Ideas please!!

    Oct 28, 2008 at 7:06 pm
  • 30 Donna

    This is fantastic!!
    Where did you find the table runner?

    Nov 15, 2008 at 11:15 am
  • 31 jenn s.

    HI Donna –
    Robin actually made the table runner! This is what she said:
    “The table runner was a kitchen cabinet liner that looked like bamboo with red masking tape added for foul line and cut for direction arrows.”

    :)

    Nov 15, 2008 at 12:12 pm
  • 32 Wii Party Theme

    [...] Party Theme REAL PARTIES Wii Bowling Tournament Hostess with the Mostess REAL PARTIES Wii Bowling Tournament Hostess with the Mostess is also a nice [...]

    Dec 4, 2008 at 9:16 pm
  • 33 wedding-palindrome-wedding

    Hi folks, I finally threw the wii/mii party for my nephew and as promised I posted pictures on my blog. It was such a fun party- Thanks for all the wonderful ideas! http://wedding-palindrome-wedding.blogspot.com/2008/12/wiimii-partii-time.html

    Dec 7, 2008 at 8:43 pm
  • 34 Wilco

    Hey there, cool stuff. We want to setup some sort of Wii tourny for a fund raiser as well. I am curious about HOW you make it a fund raiser? Any insight would be appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Wilco

    Jan 3, 2009 at 1:38 pm
  • 35 Tammy

    Where did you get the Mill’s that you put with the food? I cannot find out how to print them out?

    Jan 9, 2009 at 6:35 am
  • 36 Rosa

    Wii parties are lots of fun for all ages. Come check us out at http://www.wiipartiescfl.com

    Jan 15, 2009 at 7:18 am
  • 37 Pumpkin Petunia

    Thanks so much for the inspiration! When my 10 year old son came to me requesting this exact theme for his party, I remembered this post and knew it would be a piece of cake!

    Check out our spin on this theme here: http://pumpkinpetunia.blogspot.com/2009/01/wiiiiiiiiiiii-party-recap.html

    Jan 23, 2009 at 11:37 am
  • 38 Superbowl-ing « the little things.

    [...] and check out another awesome Wii Bowling party over at Hostess with the Mostess.  [...]

    Jan 26, 2009 at 9:22 am
  • 39 Zoe

    I am trying to set up a Wii bowling league or tennis league. I have no clue as to how to make it fun with prizes etc. We are a bunch of “young” 50 year old ladies! Any ideas?

    Thanks.

    Feb 6, 2009 at 8:12 pm
  • 40 Donna

    How can i organize a wii bowling tournament as a HIV fundraiser. I want to have two college student groups competing

    Feb 10, 2009 at 2:08 pm
  • 41 Maureen

    I love this. what did you use to keep score? Is there a free printalbe sheet ? Is there a free printalbe for the miis?

    Thanks

    Feb 12, 2009 at 8:25 pm
  • 42 Krissy

    The wii candy dispensers are also at Rite Aid. Our Rite Aid had them on the “impulse buy” rack for 1.99 each. Thanks for all the great ideas!

    Mar 21, 2009 at 7:57 pm
  • 43 amy

    hello- I am interested in having a wii tournament at our senior center. We’re just getting going with this idea and I’m not sure where to start. I love the decoration ideas and will use them for our tournament but I have some other technical questions. We have a wii, do I need to purchase any additional software in order to have multiple players? If so, where do I go to do this? I think it will be a great party, I just need a little help getting started if you have the time.
    Thank you,
    amy

    Apr 9, 2009 at 10:46 am
  • 44 Becca

    This is awesome! I’m planning a Wii bowling tournament as a fundraiser for my 3day breast cancer walk – the information that you have provided here will be invaluable to me during my planning! thanks!!

    May 11, 2009 at 10:43 am
  • 45 Teresa

    You can rent Wii’s at Best Buy’s. Hope this helps

    May 13, 2009 at 6:07 am
  • 46 Jaznel

    Can people play from home online as well?

    Aug 5, 2009 at 2:59 pm
  • 47 Susan

    How did you raise money? Did you charge the guest to participate? How many people did you have and how much did you charge?

    Aug 12, 2009 at 11:32 am
  • 48 sharon

    http://www.sowhatruplanning.blogspot.com/

    I love this wii party idea, I am going to use some of the ideas for my son 13 year old birthday party.

    But do anyone no how to print the mii?

    Sep 7, 2009 at 4:21 pm
  • 49 jenn s.

    Hi Sharon –

    Here’s one tip suggested by a reader – go to this website: http://www.wiiplayable.com/playgame.php?gameid=157 and create a mii online, then print it out. You may need to take a screenshot of the mii though, because she noted having difficulty printing it out the “regular” way. If I hear of an easier way I’ll definitely pass the info along!

    Sep 8, 2009 at 9:44 am
  • 50 Carol

    I found the Wii KLICK-ON Candy Dispensers 12 Pack online at Amazon for $21.87.

    Love the party ideas. I am trying to incorporate them into our firm’s tax season activities. We will have a Wii bowling league in both of our offices to have some stress release for our accountants. We end the season with an after tax season party and I have gotten some ideas from this site! Thank you!

    Sep 17, 2009 at 12:27 pm
  • 51 Leslie

    BEST THING! Got for my nephew’s birthday and the kids and partents had a blast! The lanes can be walked on, and sofas are very relaxing! What a great idea!

    Oct 27, 2009 at 2:31 pm
  • 52 roberta

    Having trouble finding a place to create Mii ’s that can print.. Any sugestions?

    Jan 5, 2010 at 10:53 pm
  • 53 toni

    so where did the mii on a stick come from those are super cute and i wanna do them please let me know

    Jan 10, 2010 at 7:19 pm
  • 54 jenn s.

    Ton and Roberta –
    I’m not sure how Robin did these exactly, but here’s a site that looks like it helps with printable mii’s:
    http://www.miicharacters.com/

    Good luck! :)

    Jan 11, 2010 at 12:48 pm
  • 55 Brian W

    Anyone know if there are actual wii bowling tournaments?

    Jan 22, 2010 at 11:53 am
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