Our daughter was turning five and wanted a "princess party". I typed up an invitation and copied onto parchment type paper that read in the form of an announcement (i.e.: hear ye hear ye...calling all princesses and princes) and rolled them up and tied with ribbon (hand delivered to her classroom cubbies) We placed old oriental rugs on the party room floor and used tulle from a friends wedding to drape our breezeway. Old drapery sheers were hung from the sliding doors pulled back with metallic ribbon and all silver, white and gold balloons were flown on the ceiling (creating a canopy) I attached plastic vined flowers to the gutters by the doors to give it a "castle effect". We flew a home made (on a pillow case) "coat of arms flag from our flag pole on the house. I borrowed all my friends plastic ride on horses, wagons and boats and placed them in the "courtyard" for the children to play on while all the guests were arriving and to use in between scheduled games. Tables were all draped in white linens with baskets holding all finger snack foods. Large plastic frogs adorned those tables.  All children were asked to come dressed in their "regal finest" (parents also got into the spirit coming in tiaras, old prom dresses, homecoming crowns, capes and the like). We slayed a dragon pinata, threw horse shoes(we used dollar store plastic horse shoes), decorated castle picture frames (Popsicle sticks glued to cardboard with a few rhinestones from a craft store, to which a Polaroid of each child in their costume was inserted). While our daughter opened gifts she sat in a dining room chair covered with a round white tablecloth and tied with fancy ribbon to mimic a "throne". She used her wand to point to each child for "receiving of gifts". We filled metallic goodie bags with take home items: boys were given swords, shields, bubbles, gold coins(chocolates) and plastic frogs, girls were given crowns/tiaras, dress up shoes, magic wands, gold coins and bubbles.(All purchased from the dollar store) It was a wonderful time (relatively inexpensive) and one all the children continue to talk about. Cupcakes can be served in cake ice cream cones to mimic castle posts. This was great for a co-ed party.