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It's Mardi Gras Party Planning Guide
Ideas, Invitations, Decorations & Favors

Picture yourself in the middle of the French Quarter wearing a colorful mask, an elegant costume and, of course, Mardi Gras beads. You are a stranger in the crowd of masked faces, and the smell of spicy Cajun cuisine is so close that it makes your mouth water. The upbeat sounds of New Orleans carnival music are everywhere. Everyone is offering you beaded necklaces of all shapes and colors. People are in the streets celebrating the fun, colorful and exciting carnival that is Mardi Gras.

Then, you snap out of your dream and realize you have neither the means nor the time to travel to the crazy festival in New Orleans. Yet, there is a part of you wanting to break out and celebrate. Let us show you how to create your own Mardi Gras Masquerade. Turn your house into Bourbon Street with our Mardi Gras Decorations.

More Mardi Gras Themes and Ideas

• Mardi Gras Super Bowl Bash  - Mardi Gras 2008 and Super Bowl XLII are over the same weekend - a perfect reason to celebrate!

• Cool Jazz Party

• Mardi Gras Madness

• Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball - A Corporate Event 

• New Year’s Eve Mardi Gras Celebration

Mardi Gras Party Invitations

What could be more fun than making your own Mardi Gras masks? Use construction paper, glitter, sequins, feathers and anything else that will add sparkle to your works of art. Visit your local art supply store or craft store for some ideas and assistance. (You can also order masks from MakesParties.com just for this purpose). Put all of the party information on the reverse side of the masks. (Make sure to use a pen that won't show through on the front of the mask.) Recommend that your guests wear your masks as they arrive at your door. Make sure to tell your friends to wear costumes with their masks, too!

Sound like too much work? Personalize your invitation and let us do all the work. We have some fun Mardi Gras invitations and Mardi Gras ticket invitations that allow you to personalize your message. Or simply order some Mardi Gras invitations from MakesParties.com. 

Mardi Gras Party Decorations

We have some great scene setters for Mardi Gras.  I like the French Quarter Terraces best but there are several good options.  As your guests arrive, let them hear the sounds of a Dixieland jazz band or the best of zydeco playing in the background. Give them some beads or maybe a mask.  I’ve never met people at a Mardi Gras party that weren’t ready to have fun and music, beads and masks sets a great tone.

For many more Mardi Gras props and decorations visit Mardi Gras Decorating411.

Purple, green, and gold are the traditional colors of the celebration, and can be displayed throughout the house (along with any other colors you choose). Hang crepe paper on the walls, along with masks, balloons, etc. Try brightly colored replicas of jazz band instruments such as saxophones and horns. Hang feather boas and Mardi Gras beads around mirrors. Make sure you have plenty of beads on hand for your guests to wear. Make king and queen crowns available for your guests. There’s a new jester balloon available this year that’s lot’s of fun.

Don’t forget life size cutouts  for picture ops or to greet your guests.  We can place the head of the host or hostess on the cutout or use the photo ops to create some excitement and then give your guests their picture as a favor.

Centerpieces

Make different bouquets of Mardi Gras noisemakers to use as your centerpieces. Tie purple, gold, and green helium filled balloons to the bouquets to give them some height. Your guests can use the noisemakers later to join in the festivities too. Drape different color beads around the table. Use Mardi Gras doubloons and masks or musical note confetti or garland to scatter across tables.

Menu

You don’t want to have to wash dishes so use some paper plates (at least for the appetizers).  Use this twist as a napkin ring.  You can even add some confetti. 

Can't you just smell the zesty spices of the traditional New Orleans cuisine? Well if you can't, visit Mardigrasstore.com to purchase all the ingredients to serve a compete meal from Crawfish Etouffee, to Seafood Gumbo or Jumbo Shrimp, and who can resist pecan pralines for dessert? Yum! You can also check out www.foodtv.com and see what Emeril, the king of New Orleans himself, has to say about Cajun and Creole cuisine.

The Recipe Source has over 500 recipes for you to peruse. Check it out! And last but not least a King Cake for dessert!

And finally, it's not a Mardi Gras party without Pat O'Brien's Hurricane Mix.

Activities

Have a costume contest! Whoever has the most elaborate and creative costume is the winner!

Another fun game that you can play is "Hidden Treasure." Divide everyone into two teams, and have a treasure hunt for gold Doubloons and beaded necklaces. You can hide a bunch of stuff with or without giving the teams clues as to the whereabouts of the "treasure." The team that finds the most "treasure" wins a prize! We suggest the grand prize be a coveted Mardi Gras sequin hat.

We've got more great Mardi Gras Party Games

Party Favors and Prizes

Always a great favorite, try a personalized Mardi Gras candy bar wrapper. It's sure to get the party rolling. 

A bag of chocolate Doubloons are always a nice treat for your guests to take home. Also, different colored beaded necklaces, boas or hats or masks are a fun way to remember your time in your very own French Quarter.

But, if you want to go all out, why not serve up a traditional New Orleans drink, the Pat O'Briens hurricane in an authentic Pat O's glass that they can take home as a memento of your unforgettable event. 

 

Mardi Gras Planning and Decorating Ideas from Party411.com

Mardi Gras Party Planning Guide

 

Creations For You!

Mardi Gras Creations for You

 

Decorating411

Mardi Gras Decorating411

 

Mardi Gras Themes

Cool Jazz Party

Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball - A Corporate Event

 Mardi Gras Madness

New Year’s Eve Mardi Gras Celebration

 

Great Mardi Gras Games

Mardi Gras Party Games

 

If you have questions about throwing your “Carnivale” ask the Party Girl

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