Temu helps a DIY host throw big parties with minimal effort
When Vancouver-based Evelyn Martin hosted her first themed party, she didn’t imagine it would grow into a full-grown creative outlet spanning more than 50 celebrations.
“Parties are my love language,” the 31-year-old says. “I absolutely love hosting. For me, it’s all about creating really elaborate decorations and giving people the kind of parties they wish they were invited to.”
From brand work to personal passion
Like many creative passions, Evelyn’s took root early. She served on her elementary school’s dance organizing committee and later worked in brand activations for alcohol companies like Budweiser, Johnny Walker, and Don Julio. Her job was literally to throw parties — happy hours, trivia nights, and other branded events — but on her own time, she preferred hosting celebrations that were more personal than anything she was paid to produce.
The challenge of going big
Throwing dozens of parties a year comes with several challenges. According to Thumbtack, professional event decorators typically charge between $80 to $100 per hour, while decor costs can escalate quickly. For example, uplighting a wedding ballroom alone can cost up to $2,500.
Even when Evelyn had access to a personal expense account during her brand rep days, the budget still couldn’t cover the elaborate themes and décor she envisioned. “I always wanted to go bigger, but I just couldn’t justify the cost,” said Evelyn.
Beyond cost, sourcing the right materials posed another hurdle. Party supplies are often scattered across different stores, with limited options for unique or themed items, making it difficult to find everything needed in one place.
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That pressure could have forced Evelyn to scale back, but instead it pushed her to get creative about sourcing materials. She began experimenting with DIY, repurposing household items, and eventually turned to online marketplace Temu, which made it possible to find a wide range of themed décor in one accessible platform.
Making immersive experiences accessible through Temu
Evelyn is dedicated to shaping a fully realized experience for each theme, ensuring guests are completely immersed. Her Harry Potter-inspired Hogwarts bash, for example, featured potion-making stations, house banners and floating candles.
And the annual Valentine’s Day single party, complete with candy-coloured décor, interactive games, and Instagram-worthy installations, has become a tradition with her friends.
Floating candles, decorative crows, and small pumpkins from Temu bring Evelyn’s party theme to life (Evelyn Martin/Temu)
Evelyn describes the creative process as part treasure hunt, part creative puzzle — something she loves solving with the help of Temu. “If I can imagine it, chances are I can find it on Temu,” she says. Whether it’s a neon sign to set the vibe, fairy lights for ambiance, or quirky details like oversized props, she’s able to source items that bring her vision to life.
The most rewarding part for Evelyn is seeing people’s faces light up when they realize how much thought went into every detail.
Viral moments, shared inspiration
Evelyn’s gatherings have always been popular with friends, but documenting them on TikTok has taken things further. More than 31 of her videos have garnered over a million views each this year, showing how creativity can capture widespread attention.
A clip of her “party bathrooms” — mirror spaces she decorates as photo backdrops — went viral with 2.5 million views. Comments on her videos often highlight not just the beauty of the setups but also how achievable they feel for ordinary hosts. A big part of that accessibility, she shares openly, comes from Temu, where she finds everything from disco ball drinkware to Hogwarts-inspired décor.
Evelyn’s “party bathrooms” have garnered millions of views on social media (Evelyn Martin/Temu)
For Evelyn, hosting is about more than just throwing parties, it’s about turning imagination into experiences that people truly remember. “It’s not just about the parties,” she says. “It’s about creating moments people remember and inspiring others to do the same.”
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