Hey, Daddy-O! Grab your best girl and get to the Daddy + Daughter Sock Hop Dance! You’re going to have a rockin’ & rollin’ good time! A dad is a daughter’s first love and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate this special bond. We’re throwing it back to a simpler time for a 50s style Daddy + Daughter Sock Hop Valentine’s Day Party.
When I was a kid growing up, I remember our church hosting a Daddy Daughter Sock Hop dance and I can still remember twirling around the dance floor doing the swing and jitterbug with my dad. I fondly remember dressing up in the pink poodle skirt my mom made for me, and I loved having that special memory with my dad. I wanted my daughters to have that same experience, so I decided to recreate it with a Daddy + Daughter Sock Hop for my girls and their friends.
The 50s were iconic for their cheerful vibe where a jukebox song only cost a dime, poodle skirts were all the rage and everyone had a rockin' and rollin' good time. This special Valentine's Day party evokes all that nostalgia and creates special memories while dancing the night away.
I brought the sock hop to life with a custom Sock Hop Soda Shop sign. When it comes to dessert tables at my parties I like to keep things simple and interactive. I decided a self serve soda bar would be perfect, since it's fun for everyone. Add a few jars of nostalgic candy and coke float cupcakes for a simple and sweet soda shop.
I purchased a few different varieties of syrup and soda to stock our Soda Shop. Fill a few containers with garnishes like lime, cherries, strawberries, and mint, and let your guests create their own flavored sodas. We also let guests make their own Italian sodas. To make them, add 4-5 pumps of flavored syrup to the bottom of your glass. Fill halfway with ice, add sparkling water or your favorite soda. Add a splash of heavy cream (about a Tablespoon) and then stir with a striped paper straw. Enjoy!
To make the soda shop feel like it was straight out of the 50s, I added some fun retro decorations. I made a light-up marquee Soda Shop sign for the backdrop and added a few hanging records and musical notes to make it pop. I love how balloons can brighten up any space, so I added a small bouquet of balloons to each side of the dessert table.
A sock hop just wouldn't be complete without a jukebox, now would it? A giant inflatable jukebox sat off to the side of the dessert table to keep the 50s vibe going strong.
Before the girls got rockin' and rollin' on the dance floor, they had dinner. As guests arrived, they found their seats at the table with the DIY Soda Cup Place Cards I created. On the table, I used large black chargers and layered them with pink plates and retro record plates. Reminiscent of a 50s diner, I served burgers and fries in red baskets.
Once everyone was nice and full it was time to get the party started. I held dance lessons so the girls could learn the hand jive and jitterbug. We had a hula hoop contest and a daddy and daughter photo op so the girls will always remember their special night with dad for years to come. I didn't have time to sew my daughter her own poodle skirt like my mom did for me, but she loved this retro poodle skirt costume.
This 50s themed party was perfect for our Valentine's Day celebration, but all of these ideas would be great for a 50s themed birthday party too! For more ideas and inspiration, make sure you check out my Coke Float Cupcakes, Retro Record Cupcake Stand, and DIY Soda Cup Place Cards.
