A unicorn and rainbow party is all about colour! The balloons, the cake, the tableware and the favour bags all revolve around bright and happy shades. Lean toward pastels and gold accents and the shopping list falls into place. The end result looks like something out of a storybook, everyone heads straight for the photo wall, and the dessert table sparkles.
Below you'll find decoration ideas for every level of effort, cake inspiration, favour picks and a complete shopping checklist to bring it all together.
Unicorn Party at a Glance
- Best for: kids aged 3 to 8, baby showers, gender reveals, adult birthdays and hens parties.
- Colour palette: blush pink, butter yellow, mint green, sky blue and dusk purple, with gold or silver accents.
- Must-have decorations: a unicorn banner, pastel tableware, pastel rainbow balloons and one gold accent.
- Cake ideas: a classic unicorn cake, rainbow layer cake, unicorn drip cake or rainbow cupcake tower.
- Party favours: pre-made favour packs, fill-your-own rainbow lolly bags or small unicorn keepsakes.
- Classic game: pin the horn on the unicorn.
Who Is a Unicorn and Rainbow Party Suitable For?
Unicorns and rainbows are a firm favourite for kids' birthday parties, especially for children aged three to eight who are deep in their sparkle phase. The theme suits any child: rainbows are for everyone, and a unicorn party can lean into mint and sky blue as easily as pink and lilac.
It's also a popular pick for baby showers and gender reveals, with soft pastels that feel gentle and celebratory. And for grown-ups, a unicorn 30th or hens party brings plenty of tongue-in-cheek fun. Swap the plushies for gold balloons and set up a glittery cocktail station!
Unicorn Party Decoration Ideas
Start with the colours, then decide how far you want to take the theme.
Colour Palette: Pastel Rainbow + Unicorn Gold
A pastel rainbow uses softer versions of the classic spectrum: blush pink, butter yellow, mint green, sky blue and dusk purple. Gold and silver bring the unicorn shimmer, so use them as an accent across the balloons, the table and the cake. Pick four or five pastel shades and one metallic, then repeat those colours in every space you decorate.
Pastel rainbow balloons in mixed shades set the palette at the front door, and gold or silver metallic streamers add shine to doorways and walls. You'll find balloons, streamers and plenty of matching pieces in our party decorations collection. Carry the palette onto the food with pastel rainbow or sparkle sprinkles and a dusting of gold edible glitter over cupcakes, cookies and the cake.
4 Unicorn Decoration Levels & Essential Items
Unicorn decorations can be as simple or as over-the-top as you like, and each level below builds on the one before it. Every level starts with these essentials:
- A unicorn banner
- Pastel themed tableware
- Pastel rainbow balloons
- A gold accent, like streamers or a cake stand
Level 1: Sweet and Simple
A few well-placed pieces set the theme. Hang a rainbow or unicorn banner over the main table and tie a cluster of rainbow balloons to the back of the birthday child's chair. Our party tableware range has plates, cups and napkins in pastel and gold, so lay out a matching set across the tables and food stations.
Level 2: Rainbow Room
Add colour at every height. String multicoloured buntings and banners along the walls or across the ceiling and drape a honeycomb garland over a window or doorway. Unicorn posters or cardboard cut-outs give younger guests something to pose with, so position them near the entrance or beside the dessert table.
Level 3: Photo-Ready
A backdrop kit creates a dedicated photo spot. Hang a gold or holographic foil curtain from our foil curtains and backdrops range behind the cake table and frame it with balloons. Set the backdrop up where the cake will be cut, so the candles and the birthday child are front and centre in every photo.
Level 4: Full Unicorn Magic
For the showstopper version, add a pastel rainbow balloon arch. Build your own with mixed balloon sizes and a balloon arch strip. Place a gold cake stand at the centre of the dessert table, scatter a few extra unicorn cut-outs around the room, and load up on every element from the first three levels.
Unicorn & Rainbow Cake Ideas
The cake is the centrepiece of the dessert table, and the theme offers plenty of ways to decorate it. If you're making your own cake, our cake decorating supplies have toppers, colouring and tools to cover every idea.
Classic Unicorn Cake
Ice a tall round cake in white or pale pink and push a unicorn horn cake topper into the top. Pipe a mane of pastel buttercream swirls down one side and brush gold edible glitter over the horn. For added dimension, fill the top and sides with clusters of glitter ball toppers.
Rainbow Layer Cake
Tint each layer of sponge a different pastel shade and stack them for a rainbow surprise inside. Keep the outside clean with white icing, press pastel rainbow sprinkles around the base, and finish with a glitter or pastel cake topper.
Unicorn Drip Cake
Melt chocolate buttons and drip them over the edge of a chilled cake. Add a unicorn horn topper, a few meringue kisses and a sprinkle of gold edible glitter across the top.
Rainbow Cupcake Tower
Arrange cupcakes on a tiered cake stand and top each one with a swirl of pastel icing and a pinch of unicorn sprinkles. Use a range of baking cups in different pastel colours.
Unicorn Party Favour Ideas
Favours give every guest a little rainbow or unicorn souvenir to take home.
Pre-Made Favour Packs
Favour packs can be made far in advance, which saves time in the busy days before the party. Choose paper or cello bags or treat boxes and fill them with fun little toys and lollies. Browse our party favours to find packs and toys that match your colour palette.
Fill-Your-Own Rainbow Bags
Buy pastel-coloured lollies in bulk from our lollies and confectionery range and empty them out into a few big bowls. Provide empty favour bags labelled with each little guest's name so the kids can find their own and fill it with what they like. Add Unicorn Pop Candy Lollipops or other novelty lollies for an extra treat.
Unicorn Keepsakes
Small unicorn plushies in pastel colours, rainbow slime bottles and unicorn hair clips with rainbow sparkles are special touches that kids will appreciate after the party. Tuck one keepsake into each bag with a handful of sweets, or set them out on a favour table and let kids choose their own.
Unicorn Party Shopping Checklist
Tick these off your list and you'll have everything you need for a unicorn and rainbow party:
- Pastel rainbow balloons
- Metallic gold or multicoloured plates, cups, straws and napkins from our tableware range
- A few banners, buntings and garlands from our party decorations
- A unicorn cake topper and other accents from our cake decorating supplies
- Pastel rainbow or unicorn sprinkles
- Gold edible glitter dust
- Favour bags and toys from our party favours
- A range of pastel rainbow lollies
Unicorn Party FAQ
What colours should I use for a unicorn and rainbow party?
Use a pastel rainbow of blush pink, butter yellow, mint green, sky blue and dusk purple, with gold or silver as the metallic accent. Pick four or five pastel shades and one metallic, then repeat them across the balloons, table, cake and favours.
What age is a unicorn party best for?
A unicorn party is most popular with children aged three to eight, but the theme also works for baby showers, gender reveals, adult 30th birthdays and hens parties.
Is a unicorn party only for girls?
No. Rainbows are for everyone, and a unicorn party can lean into mint and sky blue just as easily as pink and lilac, so the theme suits any child.
What decorations do I need for a unicorn party?
The essentials are a unicorn banner, pastel tableware, pastel rainbow balloons and a gold accent such as streamers or a cake stand. For a bigger setup, add buntings, a honeycomb garland, a foil curtain photo backdrop and a pastel rainbow balloon arch.
What is the easiest unicorn cake to make at home?
A classic unicorn cake is the easiest: ice a round cake in white or pale pink, add a unicorn horn cake topper, pipe pastel buttercream swirls for the mane and finish with gold edible glitter. A rainbow cupcake tower is another simple option.
What should I put in unicorn party favour bags?
Fill paper or cello bags with pastel lollies and add a small keepsake such as a unicorn plushie, rainbow slime bottle or unicorn hair clip. Unicorn Pop Candy Lollipops are a fun extra treat.
What games can I play at a unicorn party?
The classic choice is pin the horn on the unicorn, a unicorn twist on pin the tail on the donkey that works well for young kids.
Over the Rainbow
Once the balloons are up, the cake is on its stand and the favour bags are packed, add a round of "pin the horn on the unicorn" and the party is ready to go! You'll find the decorations, supplies and favours to pull it all together right here on our online shop.