Bid Day Everything Guide: Themes, Outfits, Decor & Gear

What's in this guide (6 min read)

•       The most popular bid day themes for NPC sororities

•       Outfit coordination ideas that work for any budget

•       Decor essentials: flags, banners, balloons, and signage

•       How to plan the reveal moment for maximum impact

•       Photo tips that actually make chapter Instagram look good

•       What the social chair needs to order before bid day

The best bid day themes are visually cohesive, easy to pull off with chapter colors, and photographable. Avoid themes that are too specific — the simpler the concept, the better it executes at scale.

Top theme ideas for NPC sororities

•       Classic for a reason. Coordinated chapter-color outfits photographed against a chapter flag or banner backdrop is timeless and looks incredible on Instagram. No props required. Bright and Bold (chapter colors only).

•       White or pastel outfits with UV accessories under black lights for an evening reveal. High visual impact, easy to coordinate. "Glow Up" theme.

•       Think '70s sunglasses, '90s windbreakers, or '60s go-go boots in chapter colors. Highly photographable and fun to execute. Retro / vintage.

•       Whites and pastels, visors, mini skirts, and rackets as props. A consistently popular theme that photographs elegantly. Country club / tennis.

•       Linen, lace, and chapter-color accessories. Relaxed and summery — works especially well for fall recruitment. Coastal / beach vibes.

•       Each pledge class gets a different decade, creating visual variety across the chapter while keeping the overall event cohesive. Decades theme.

The most visually successful bid days have two tiers of outfit coordination: actives wearing one look, new members wearing another. This creates a clear visual distinction that makes photos dynamic and the reveal moment obvious.

For active members

•       The most common approach — easy to coordinate and cost-effective. Order officially licensed chapter tees from GreekLife.Store to make sure colors are accurate. Matching chapter tees or hoodies.

•       Give actives a color (e.g., "dusty rose") and let them express it individually. More personality, less expensive, still looks cohesive in photos. Coordinated color palette (not identical outfits).

For new members

•       The classic new member look — simple, universally flattering, and creates strong visual contrast against the chapter's colors in photos. All-white outfits.

•       If the chapter wears navy, new members wear white tees with navy letters. Unified but distinct. Chapter tee in a different colorway.

You don't need to spend a fortune on bid day decor. The items that actually show up in photos are simple and repeatable:

•       The most important item on this list. An officially licensed flag with accurate chapter colors becomes the backdrop for every photo. Order at least 2–3 for a multi-location setup. Chapter flags and banners.

•       Order in bulk from a party supply store. Foil letters spelling the chapter name or just a balloon arch in chapter colors — both look great. Balloons in chapter colors.

•       Cardboard signs held by actives during the reveal are classic and free. Coordinate the message across the chapter so photos have visual consistency. Handmade signs ("You're a [Chapter Name]!").

•       Handing every new member a chapter-branded tumbler or mug the moment they arrive is a high-impact, practical touch. It photographs well and it's a gift she keeps. Matching drinkware for the reveal.

The reveal is the emotional center of bid day — the 30 seconds every new member will remember and every parent will want photos of. Here's the structure that works:

1.     Choose a location with good light, a clean background (your chapter flag hung on a wall or fence works perfectly), and enough space for the whole chapter to be present.: Set the reveal staging area early.

2.     This creates a "tunnel" effect that gives new members a clear path to run through — and it photographs dynamically from both ends.: Actives line up in two rows facing each other.

3.     Don't leave this to whoever has their phone out. Assign one person to capture the wide shot of the tunnel and one for close-ups of reactions.: Designate a photo/video person before the day.

4.     Don't have new members simply walk up. Create a count-down, a signal, or a chapter chant that builds anticipation for the 5–10 seconds before they're revealed.: Build to the moment.

5.     After the reveal, give everyone 5–10 minutes of pure celebration before moving into any organized activities. The unscripted moment is often the one that looks best on camera.: Let it breathe.

Everything on this list needs to be ordered with enough lead time for shipping. Standard shipping is 3–7 business days from GreekLife.Store — plan for at least 2 weeks if you're ordering apparel in multiple sizes.

•       for the reveal backdrop and multi-location setup Chapter flags (2–4)

•       to mark the reveal area and chapter house entrance Garden flags (4–8)

•       (one per new member — order after bid numbers are confirmed) New member tumblers or mugs

•       (a low-cost gift to hand out alongside the tumbler) Chapter keychains

•       (in chapter colors — officially licensed) Matching chapter tees for actives

•       for any new member who needs to size their own apparel Gift cards

Q: What is bid day in a sorority?

A: Bid day is the final day of sorority recruitment when potential new members (PNMs) receive their bid cards — official invitations to join a chapter. It's a celebration event where new members run to their new chapter and are welcomed by the active membership.

Q: What should I wear to bid day as a new member?

A: Most chapters coordinate new member outfits for bid day — usually all-white, a specific color, or a chapter tee. You'll typically receive outfit instructions from your Panhellenic council or from your new chapter in the bid day packet. When in doubt, wear something comfortable in a neutral color.

Q: What are the best bid day theme ideas?

A: The most successful bid day themes are visually cohesive and simple to execute: all-chapter-colors, glow/UV, retro decades, coastal vibes, or country club aesthetic. Avoid themes that require props most members won't own or that are too niche to photograph well at scale.

Q: How do sororities coordinate bid day outfits?

A: Most chapters assign a color or dress code to active members and a different look for new members. Officially licensed chapter tees from GreekLife.Store are the most common solution — accurate colors, consistent look, easy to order in bulk.

Q: What decorations do you need for bid day?

A: The essentials: chapter flags or banners for the reveal backdrop, balloons in chapter colors, and handmade signs. A few officially licensed flags go a long way — they're reusable, they photograph well, and they're immediately recognizable to the new members running toward them.

Q: How early should you order bid day gear?

A: Order at least 2–3 weeks before bid day for apparel, and 1–2 weeks for flags and accessories. For fall recruitment (August), order in July. For spring (January), order in December. GreekLife.Store standard shipping is 3–7 business days, but peak season demand means earlier is always better.

Ready to plan bid day? Start with the gear.

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