Mardi Gras Party Planning

Mardi Gras will be on Tuesday, February 16th in 2010. With only weeks left to plan any parties, it will take a bit of special planning to achieve a real carnival atmosphere. Parties are generally thrown anytime during the week before Mardi Gras. If you are planning an adult party, you will have the best attendance on a weekend evening. Saturday evenings will usually net you the most friends. This is also an event where many people will be drinking. Consider this when planning your party and be sure to have safe rides for anyone that might need them.

Choosing decorations for your party should be at the top of your to do list. Mardi Gras parties are known for their colorful gold, green, and purple decorations. It is fine to use other colors but you should be sure to have plenty of the traditional colors in your decorations. A good start would be to go to a local thrift store and purchase balloons and ribbons in the three traditional colors. Go over the top with your decorations to be sure your party has an authentic New Orleans feel. One very unique decorating idea that will be sure to tickle your guests is a French Quarter Terrace plastic decoration. You can view this unique decoration by clicking here.

Deciding what to serve your party guests should be the next step in your party planning. There are a few foods that should be a part of any Mardi Gras party. King Cake is a must. It's absolutely fine to bake your own cake. The trick to King Cake is to be sure to put a small plastic baby doll into the cake. The person that gets the doll in their slice is supposed to buy the cake next year. Little Pink King Cake Babies can be purchased at many gift shops or by clicking here. Cajun foods are also a must. Consider serving gumbo, craw fish, shrimp, cornbread, and blackened fish. Cajun foods are often very spicy so be sure to have plenty of bread for your guests. A perfect treat to top off your evening would be cupcakes decorated with purple, gold, and green icing.

When throwing a party for Mardi Gras, drinks should also be traditional New Orleans styles. Hurricanes and Spicy Bloody Mary drinks are perfect for that southern Cajun feel. Be sure to have plenty of hot sauce and celery to go with your drinks. Top each drink off with a tiny umbrella to make them especially festive. Your guests will appreciate all the little added touches and the colors will give your party more of that Cajun carnival feel.

Music for Mardi Gras party should be all jazz. Try to choose very happy jazz songs and keep the volume at a mild level so that your guests can mingle comfortably. A very cute way to make sure all your guests arrive at your party with the proper frame of mind is to have a song such as Hello Dolly playing at the front door repetitively. Be sure to have feathered masks and glittery hats available for all guests somewhere very near the front door as well. You can find a great variety of these items at reasonable prices here.

There is one thing that is more important than all the other things previously mentioned in order to throw a truly successful Mardi Gras party. Nothing is more important than beads. It is not only important to have a very large quantity of beads, it's also important to have variety and special beads. Everyone attending your party should leave with a minimum of five strands of beads. If you can send everyone home with even more, that is even better. Plan party games and give away special beads as prizes. Be sure to have cameras ready and capture some of the wild things your guests will do to get more beads. Traditional and new bold styles of beads are available at most party supply stores. You can also find a terrific variety by looking here.

With all of these party planning tips it should be easy to throw a party that your friends will talk about for years. Remember to mingle with your guests, sample your cuisine, and enjoy a spicy drink. Have fun and participate in the party games with your friends. Happy Mardi Gras!

Sources :
http://www.partycheap.com
http://www.mardigrasday.com