diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index 02e238c..3d8c666 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import sqlite3 from 'sqlite3';
 import { open } from 'sqlite';
 import dotenv from 'dotenv';
 import path from 'path';
+import multer from 'multer';
+import fs from 'fs';
 
 dotenv.config();
 
@@ -45,26 +47,62 @@ app.get('/api/events/:slug', async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     if (rows.length === 0) {
       return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Event not found' });
     }
-    res.json(rows[0]);
+
+    // Parse needed_items from JSON string to array
+    const event = rows[0];
+    try {
+      event.needed_items = event.needed_items ? JSON.parse(event.needed_items) : [];
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.error('Error parsing needed_items:', e);
+      event.needed_items = [];
+    }
+
+    res.json(event);
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error fetching event:', error);
     res.status(500).json({ error: 'Internal server error' });
   }
 });
 
-app.post('/api/events', async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+app.post('/api/events', multer().single('wallpaper'), async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
   try {
     const { title, description, date, location, needed_items } = req.body;
+    const wallpaperPath = req.file ? `/uploads/wallpapers/${req.file.filename}` : null;
+    
     // Generate a slug from the title
     const slug = title.toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, '-');
     
+    // Ensure needed_items is properly formatted
+    let parsedNeededItems: string[] = [];
+    try {
+      if (typeof needed_items === 'string') {
+        parsedNeededItems = JSON.parse(needed_items);
+      } else if (Array.isArray(needed_items)) {
+        parsedNeededItems = needed_items;
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.error('Error parsing needed_items:', e);
+    }
+    
     const result = await db.run(
-      'INSERT INTO events (title, description, date, location, slug, needed_items) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)',
-      [title, description, date, location, slug, JSON.stringify(needed_items || [])]
+      'INSERT INTO events (title, description, date, location, slug, needed_items, wallpaper) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)',
+      [title, description, date, location, slug, JSON.stringify(parsedNeededItems), wallpaperPath]
     );
-    res.status(201).json({ ...result, slug });
+    
+    res.status(201).json({ 
+      ...result, 
+      slug,
+      wallpaper: wallpaperPath,
+      needed_items: parsedNeededItems
+    });
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error creating event:', error);
+    if (req.file) {
+      // Clean up uploaded file if there was an error
+      fs.unlink(req.file.path, (err) => {
+        if (err) console.error('Error deleting file:', err);
+      });
+    }
     res.status(500).json({ error: 'Internal server error' });
   }
 });
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/RSVPForm.tsx b/frontend/src/components/RSVPForm.tsx
index 8620be6..7c592d6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/RSVPForm.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/RSVPForm.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   OutlinedInput,
   Chip,
 } from '@mui/material';
+import { Event } from '../types';
 
 interface RSVPFormData {
   name: string;
@@ -49,23 +50,18 @@ const RSVPForm: React.FC = () => {
     const fetchEventDetails = async () => {
       try {
         const [eventResponse, rsvpsResponse] = await Promise.all([
-          axios.get(`/api/events/${slug}`),
+          axios.get<Event>(`/api/events/${slug}`),
           axios.get(`/api/events/${slug}/rsvps`)
         ]);
         
         // Process needed items
         let items: string[] = [];
         if (eventResponse.data.needed_items) {
-          try {
-            items = typeof eventResponse.data.needed_items === 'string'
+          items = Array.isArray(eventResponse.data.needed_items) 
+            ? eventResponse.data.needed_items 
+            : typeof eventResponse.data.needed_items === 'string'
               ? JSON.parse(eventResponse.data.needed_items)
-              : Array.isArray(eventResponse.data.needed_items)
-                ? eventResponse.data.needed_items
-                : [];
-          } catch (e) {
-            console.error('Error parsing needed_items:', e);
-            items = [];
-          }
+              : [];
         }
 
         // Get all claimed items from existing RSVPs
@@ -74,26 +70,18 @@ const RSVPForm: React.FC = () => {
           try {
             let rsvpItems: string[] = [];
             if (typeof rsvp.items_bringing === 'string') {
-              try {
-                const parsed = JSON.parse(rsvp.items_bringing);
-                rsvpItems = Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed : [];
-              } catch (e) {
-                console.error('Error parsing items_bringing JSON:', e);
-                rsvpItems = [];
-              }
+              rsvpItems = JSON.parse(rsvp.items_bringing);
             } else if (Array.isArray(rsvp.items_bringing)) {
               rsvpItems = rsvp.items_bringing;
             }
             
-            if (Array.isArray(rsvpItems)) {
-              rsvpItems.forEach((item: string) => claimed.add(item));
-            }
+            rsvpItems.forEach((item: string) => claimed.add(item));
           } catch (e) {
             console.error('Error processing RSVP items:', e);
           }
         });
         
-        // Filter out claimed items
+        // Filter out claimed items from available items
         const availableItems = items.filter(item => !claimed.has(item));
         
         setNeededItems(availableItems);
@@ -153,17 +141,11 @@ const RSVPForm: React.FC = () => {
       // Process needed items
       let items: string[] = [];
       if (eventResponse.data.needed_items) {
-        try {
-          if (typeof eventResponse.data.needed_items === 'string') {
-            const parsed = JSON.parse(eventResponse.data.needed_items);
-            items = Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed : [];
-          } else if (Array.isArray(eventResponse.data.needed_items)) {
-            items = eventResponse.data.needed_items;
-          }
-        } catch (e) {
-          console.error('Error parsing needed_items:', e);
-          items = [];
-        }
+        items = Array.isArray(eventResponse.data.needed_items) 
+          ? eventResponse.data.needed_items 
+          : typeof eventResponse.data.needed_items === 'string'
+            ? JSON.parse(eventResponse.data.needed_items)
+            : [];
       }
       
       // Get all claimed items from existing RSVPs including the new submission
@@ -179,12 +161,7 @@ const RSVPForm: React.FC = () => {
         try {
           let rsvpItems: string[] = [];
           if (typeof rsvp.items_bringing === 'string') {
-            try {
-              const parsed = JSON.parse(rsvp.items_bringing);
-              rsvpItems = Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed : [];
-            } catch (e) {
-              console.error('Error parsing items_bringing JSON:', e);
-            }
+            rsvpItems = JSON.parse(rsvp.items_bringing);
           } else if (Array.isArray(rsvp.items_bringing)) {
             rsvpItems = rsvp.items_bringing;
           }