Mardi Gras is almost here, and just because you may not live in the Big Easy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t celebrate in style. “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday” and will fall on February 12th, this year. While the day was originally a faith-based holiday, it has now evolved into a celebration of cultural uniqueness and different cultures “uniting under the common theme of being people who like to have fun and enjoy each other and have a great time.”
Brazil, Venice, and New Orleans are known for throwing the most famous Mardi Gras celebrations around the world. While we can’t give you a plane ticket to one of those cities to enjoy the festivities, we can share ideas on how to bring the party atmosphere straight to your TriBridge apartment.
Invitations
First impressions are the most important, and the first impression of a party is the invitation. Make sure your invitations signal the right mood. If you are planning a small get-together of just your closest friends and family, a phone call or email will suffice. If you’re setting your sights a little higher and planning to host a larger gathering or a more formal affair, festive invitations are a great way to set the tone. Pinterest is a great place to go for a little invitation inspiration.
Neighbor relations are very important in an apartment. If you know and enjoy your neighbors, send them an invitation as well. That way they can enjoy the festivities instead of just hearing them. If you don’t want to invite neighbors, consider letting them know you’ll be having guests over and when you plan to end the party. A little consideration can go a long way!
Food
The invitations will bring guests to your Mardi Gras party, but the food will make them stay. The most quintessential Mardi Gras cuisine is the King Cake. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to bake your own cake, you might find this video tutorial from All Recipes helpful. You can also order king cakes online if you prefer to stay out of the kitchen.
Décor
Now that you have festive invitations and a proper king cake, it’s time to bring the atmosphere to life. There are two routes you can take here; the traditional route or the eclectic route. The first option focuses on Mardi Gras traditions: lots of gold and purple and green, beaded necklaces, and feathered masks. This Mardi Gras wreath from Etsy makes a fun and beautiful welcome. For a whimsical twist, try these sparkly gold mustache cupcake toppers
The eclectic route lets you think a little outside the box. While you should still incorporate the traditional elements of Mardi Gras, your party can also strive to celebrate New Orleans’ style. Use the iconic New Orleans jazz music as your backdrop for the evening. We love these jazz instrument cut outs as décor options as well. The fleur de lis is an official symbol of Louisiana and is particularly associated with New Orleans, so it also makes a great decorative flourish. You can even wear them in this festive headband!
We hope these tips help you plan the party of the year. If you have other ideas for throwing the perfect Mardi Gras party, share them with our other residents on our Facebook page.
Image via Morguefile
