Mardi Gras Party - Mardi Gras Party Supplies and Ideas!

Masquerade Party - Masquerade Party Party Supplies and Ideas!

 

Mardi Gras - the ultimate party. Choose from the following decorations, party supplies, Mardi Gras beads, masks and accessories to bring Bourbon Street to your event.

 

So, start planning your Mardi Gras party with the following ideas for your themed event:

MARDI GRAS PARTY and MASQUERADE PARTY INVITATIONS:

 

Try the "Masquerade" invite or the Shimmering Mardi Gras Invitation.

Make your own Invitations! Mail out metallic or colored masks with a hand written or computer generated tag attached with all the details of the party as your invitation. Request that each guest customize their mask to match their party attire, and wear the mask to the party. Suggest that they can embellish them with feathers, tulle, rhinestones, paint, sequins, etc. Award prizes for different categories … "biggest", "most creative", "best match with attire", etc.

MARDI GRAS PARTY and MASQUERADE PARTY ATTIRE:

 

Ask guests to dress in black-tie formal wear. If you expect that some people will be reluctant, make the party "Black-tie Optional". That way, most people will come dressed up, and those who are reluctant won't avoid the party. For something more informal, give your guests Mardi Gras or Masquerade Hats, vests, beads or glow items as they come in the door - transport them to New Orleans the right way!

 

MARDI GRAS and MASQUERADE MUSIC:

 

A string quartet or harpist would be the perfect musical accompaniment for this party, especially during the cocktail hour and dinner. Or for a more informal party, transport your guests to Bourbon Street with the Mardi Gras CD!

MARDI GRAS and MASQUERADE DECORATIONS

Before you select your decorations, choose a color theme to work with.

Generally, working with at least two colors, but no more than three works best. For a masquerade theme, choose one solid color, and complement it with either silver or gold. Visit the "Mardi Gras" store for additional decorations, as the harlequin pattern lends itself perfectly to a masquerade theme. A large selection of Mardi Gras Decorating Kits can be found here. Check out the perfect "Masquerade", "Masks Extraordinaire", Mardi Gras Mask Mylar, centerpieces. These are located in the "Mardi Gras" store.

Use the All That Jazz Mardi Gras decorating kit!

Decorate in silver and gold. Glittery curtains, huge inexpensive "chandeliers", draped gold and silver gossamer, and zillions of silver and gold balloons just to start with! To add some extra flare to your party…purchase several cans of silver and gold spray paint, and cover anything and everything (not living) in your theme colors. A few suggestions? Cover disposable cameras, serving dishes (even inexpensive plastic can be sprayed), old chairs…the possibilities are endless.

Decorate your table with this colorful collection of Mardi Gras Paper Goods. Or with shiny gold or green paper goods on a purple tablecloth!

These no-helium-needed centerpieces will make your guests smile!

Decorate with gossamer. It drapes, hangs and holds its shape beautifully. In the Decorating Section, we have an entire tip devoted to "Decorating With Gossamer" containing professional advise and "how to's".

 

If you are decorating a large area, or want to make any area look more intimate and festive, use gossamer to drape, swag, or cover just about anything. Ceilings, walls, doorframes, edges of table skirting, or tabletops all look terrific when accented with gossamer. Create a tent-like appearance by gathering the gossamer at a central point in the ceiling and draping it to the walls. Many unsightly gymnasiums and banquet halls have been transformed into fantasy locations using our gossamer. Twist or braid two colors together for a stunning look. Wrap gossamer around columns, stair rails, or balloon arches in your theme colors.

One of the hottest trends today is to cover banquet or reception chairs with chair bows…and it is quite costly! With metallic silver or gold gossamer (at a budget price), you can drape a piece of 19" gossamer across the top of each chair back, and then tie a gossamer streamer bow around the back of the chair. The bows can be cut to any length, and even look lovely with tails trailing on the floor.

Columns provide an elegant decorating touch. There are several ready-made columns that can be accented with gossamer, streamers, or garland. They also look sleek and sophisticated standing alone or grouped together. Columns provide a grand entry-way or a great photo backdrop, and also work well to section off a large room (dance area, food area, etc.)

Think romance and mood lighting…candles, candles, and more candles in a shade to match your color theme. Use tapers, balls, and votives to pull together a sophisticated color theme. Fill all the tables with various sized candles and keep them lit throughout the evening. Prior to the party, put your candles in the refrigerator or freezer. Cooler candles will burn for a much longer period of time.
 

Add twinkle lights to balloon arches, strands, columns or clouds, to gossamer and ceiling tents, table edges, or around the perimeter of a room.

Floating candles look absolutely lovely and elegant. Color the water with food coloring to match your color theme. (Just like painting in elementary school, the food coloring can be mixed to achieve just about any color you need!) Place a glass bowl, or several different sized wineglasses filled with water on a mirror. Add candles, and colored or clear gemstones (found in the All Occasion Store) and enjoy the dreamy look you have created!

MARDI GRAS and MASQUERADE TABLEWARE:

 

More and more hosts and hostesses are using paper goods. Plastic and paper goods are now acceptable even at fun themed formal events. Our metallic silver or gold paper goods appear to be quite formal. Many country clubs and reception halls are using these products as a method of serving a large group with matching tableware, at a fraction of the cost of renting china. Cleanup is also much less costly.
 

For tables, use super-shine table covers and skirting in silver or gold.

Use glass bowls in the center of your tables and drape some of amazing beads in and around them for a fabulous centerpiece!

Add an original touch on your party table by using a paint pen in a color to complement your theme colors to draw random dots or squiggles on the handles of plastic cutlery. Tie the plastic cutlery together with satin ribbon.

Order napkins imprinted with your special theme slogan, and wording to recognize the individual or event you are celebrating. Select a metallic foil, holographic foil, prismatic foil, or traditional ink imprint.

Use custom imprinted glassware. Flutes, goblets, mugs, and snifters in a multitude of sizes, shapes, style and color options. Tie a small piece of satin ribbon, curling ribbon, or gossamer streamer to each stem for a festive look. The glassware can also hold a gathered cloth or paper napkin to create a dramatic look at each place setting. Glassware filled with candy, mints, or chocolate treats or with metallic shred to match your theme colors also creates a terrific centerpiece.

 

MARDI GRAS and MASQUERADE FOOD:

 

Serve a formal sit down meal, complete with placecards. A Venetian "flavored" meal works perfectly with this theme. Garnish food with edible loose-leaf gold, and cover dessert in tiny edible silver and gold balls. Serve dry snacks and appetizers in metallic top hats turned upside down. Sheer glitz and glamour, this party will shine and sparkle in the memories of your guests.

At the entry to the area where guests will be dining, place a large ornate, gilded mirror on a standing easel. On the mirror, in a removable paint marker, write the menu for the evening in a calligraphic hand.

Mardi Gras Party Recipes

Shrimp Creole
1/2 C oil
1/4 C flour
2 lbs. raw shrimp, cleaned
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 C onion, minced
1/2 C green bell pepper, finely chopped
2 T fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 cans (8 oz. each) tomato sauce
1/2 C hot water
salt, pepper and hot sauce (preferably Tabasco) to taste
2 C steamed rice

Directions:
Make a light roux with flour and oil. Add shrimp and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, green pepper and parsley and saute for about 2 minutes. Increase heat and add water and remaining ingredients, stirring to mix. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve over steamed rice.

 

Mardi Gras Hurricane Recipe!

2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
juice of a half a lime
1 Tbsp simple syrup
1 Tbsp grenadine
orange slice and cherry for garnish

 

Directions:

Squeeze juice from half a lime into shaker over ice.  Pour the remaining ingredients into the shaker.
Shake well. Strain into a highball glass.

Mint Julep
3 oz. bourbon
2 oz. simple syrup
3-4 fresh mint sprigs
crushed ice
Fill a glass with crushed ice. Pour in bourbon, syrup and mint, stir gently and serve.

Mississippi Mudslide
1/2 oz. Stolichnaya vanilla vodka
1/2 oz. dark creme de cacao
1 oz. Baileys Irish Cream liquer
 

Jambalaya
2 ham hocks
4 carrots, diced
3 C chopped onions, divided
3 C chopped celery, divided
2 bay leaves
1 whole chicken (3 lbs), giblets removed
3 T canola or peanut oil
1 green bell pepper
6 green onions, chopped
1 can (28 oz) tomatoes, chopped, reserve the liquid
4 T tomato paste
1/4 C chopped fresh parsley
4-6 cloves garlic
1 tsp. thyme leaves
2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. cayenne
T Worcestershire Sauce
1 lb. smoked sausage, sliced
salt, pepper and hot sauce (preferably Tabasco) to taste
2 C uncooked rice

Directions:
Place ham hocks, carrots, 1 1/2 cups onion and 1 1/2 cups celery in a large pot and cover over with water. Cook for about 2 hours then add the chicken and 1 bay leaf. Cover and simmer for about an hour, or until chicken is tender.

Allow pot to cool for a bit and remove chicken and ham hocks. Remove the skin and bone and chop meat from chicken and ham hocks. Reserve the stock, you'll need about 3-4 cups of it overall (add water if you need to).

In a large Dutch Oven, heat the oil and add remaining onion, and pepper and sauté until tender. Add remaining celery green onions and tomatoes and cook until vegetables are soft. Add the chopped ham and tomato paste and cook until the mixture just begins to brown. Add remaining ingredients, except sausage and chicken. Add 2 cups of the reserved stock. Cook for about an hour.
In a hot skillet, brown sausage slices. Add browned sausage slices to Dutch Oven and drain excess grease from pan. Return skillet to heat and add chopped chicken meat. Deglaze with 1 cup reserved stock, then add contents to skillet to Dutch Oven. Add rice, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until rice is tender, about 20-25 minutes. Watch carefully that your Jambalaya doesn't dry out. You might need to add additional stock or water in order to for the rice to finish cooking.

King Cake

King Cakes are a huge part of Mardi-Gras traditions. The cake's origins date back to the Feast of the Epiphany or Twelfth Night, which honors the three kings present at the Christ child's birth. In today's Mardi-Gras celebration, tradition calls for the person who gets the "lucky" piece of cake with the baby doll inside, to throw the next party -- or on a simpler note, buy or make the next King Cake.

Cake
1/2 C warm water (100-115° F)
2 T yeast
1/2 C sugar, plus 2 tsp.
3 1/2 - 4 C flour
1 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. lemon zest
1/2 C warm milk
5 egg yolks
1/2 C butter
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg beaten with 1 T milk, for egg wash
Icing
3 C confectioner's sugar
1/4 C lemon juice
3-6 T water
additional sugar & food coloring for decoration
1 tiny 1" baby doll
Directions:
Sprinkle yeast and 2 teaspoons sugar over warm water in a small, shallow bowl. Allow to rest for 3-5 minutes, then mix thoroughly. Set bowl in a warm, draft-free place until yeast starts to bubble up and mixture almost doubles in volume, about 10 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, mix 3 1/2 C flour, 1/2 cup sugar, nutmeg, lemon zest and salt. In mixing bowl of a heavy duty electric mixer or food processor, combine yeast , milk and egg yolks. Gradually add dry ingredients, and softened butter, adding additional flour, as necessary to achieve a medium-soft ball. Knead dough, again adding flour if necessary, until smooth, shiny and elastic, about 10 minutes.
Place dough in a covered, buttered bowl , in a warm, draft-free place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.

In the meantime, butter a large baking sheet and set aside.
When dough has risen, remove and punch down. Sprinkle with cinnamon and form into a cylinder, then twist this cylinder into a circle. Pinch the ends together to complete the circle. Once again, cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Pre-heat oven to 375° F.

Brush top and sides of cake with egg wash and bake for 25-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack completely before hiding baby doll inside or icing and decorating.

Icing
Mix sugar, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of water until mixture is smooth, adding more water as necessary to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency. Spread icing over cake and immediately sprinkle colored sugar in alternating color rows

MARDI GRAS and MASQUERADE FAVORS:

 

Under our Decorations section, we have a section labeled "Decorating with Party Favors". Even the most limited of budgets will find a suitable favor! Attendees of a black-tie Masquerade affair are most deserving of a favor to remember the evening by!

One element that is essential to a Mardi Gras Party or Msquerade Party is to have a photographer available to take plenty of pictures to capture the magic of the evening. Fancy clothing, highly adorned masks and a festive atmosphere…all deserve to be documented and preserved. Create a photo backdrop, and encourage all the guests to stop by to have a "formal" picture taken. The photographs can then be used as a party favor, along with a frame imprinted with your event slogan to commemorate the evening.

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