Decorate a Mardi Gras party with bling!

While the Mardi Gras parties are typically held between February 3 and March 9th, the actual Mardi gras celebration begins on January 6th! As outlined in the article, "What is Mardi Gras?", January 6th is referred to as “Twelfth Night” marking the start of the celebration which  "ends midnight the day before Ash Wednesday, known as “Fat Tuesday”, (literal translation of the French term Mardi Gras). The purpose of Mardi Gras was to get the partying out so lent could begin!"

Mardi Gras is a fun party theme which reflects colorful and lively decorations. Here are the elements of Mardi Gras to incorporate in to the party theme and in decorating to create the right ambiance.

Mardi Gras party elements

• Parades - Picture lavishly decorated floats traveling down Bourbon Street or in Rio deJaniero!
• Costumes - Dress is elaborate, provocative and over the top!
• Beads - Beads are handed out or thrown in payment of outrageous behavior!
• Masks - Mardi Gras masks are adorned with bling: feathers, sequins, glitter and beads.

Mardi gras colors

The colors for Mardi Gras celebration were chosen by King Rex and each color has a significance: Purple for Justice, Green for Faith, and Gold for Power.

Decorations for Mardi Gras

When decorating for a Mardi Gras party, use color, sparkle and glitz!

• Drape purple, green or gold swags from windows.
• Wind Berry Mardi Gras garland around doorways, pictures and columns.
• Hang a Mardi gras wreath on the front door in the colors of the celebration.
• Hang Mardi Gras tassels on door knobs, chandeliers and drapery rods.
• Cover tables with gold tablecloths and fill a glass urn or bowl with purple, gold and green ornaments or party favors for the center.
• Fill glass vases and bowls with throw beads and scatter them throughout the party area. (The Mardi Gras Outlet is a good resource for Mardi gras throw beads)
• Hang colorful garland or foil streamers from corner to corner on the ceiling.
• Use Mardi Gras lights to light corners, in baskets and wound through the table setting.
• Exchange a few pictures for a Mardi Gras mural or poster.

Creating a Bourbon Street Parade look

To create a Bourbon Street celebration, fill latex and foil balloons with helium and crowd the party area with them, allowing some to rise to the ceiling (be sure to attach long foil curling ribbon from them first!) Include decor that uses the design of popular Mardi Gras characters such as the multi-headed dragon creature, Hydra, the mythological evil siren with hair made of snakes, Medusa, the one horned Unicorn, the Greek Sphinx, the bulldog or King of Barkus, and colorful Jesters!

A Mardi Gras Bourbon Street backdrop can be created on any wall through the use of removable wall decals. Partycheap.com has a Mardi Gras balcony backdrop that is 48 inches tall by 36 inches wide.  Use several to cover a wall and add float decals,  light props, and Mardi Gras characters to create a festive Mardi Gras scene on the wall.

Dress for a Mardi Gras party

Encourage party guests to dress in their best Mardi gras costume.  The costumes can include Royalty figures in their best purple velvet, clowns or circus characters, colorful flamenco dancers,  even show girls.  The more outrageous, the better. As well, masks are an integral part of a Mardi gras celebration..  Guests should come ignognito complete with their own mask, but as a host, have a few extra for those who show up without one.

Create the Mardi Gras experience in your home with color and bling. If you just decorate with abandon and take it over the top, it will be just right!

Resources:

The Mardi Gras Outlet