Planning a 50th Birthday Party: Mardi Gras Style
Dear Penelope,
I want to host my own 50th birthday party. What can I do to make this fun and grown-up (I don’t feel 50)? We have a new home with a huge patio and would like to have it outside. I also want a theme. We live in South Louisiana and Mardi Gras is a lot of fun. Am I being selfish by wanting to do this myself?
Christine
Via e-mail
Dear Christine,
Of course not! 50 is an age at which you should never feel like you have to apologize for where and how you have fun, especially when it comes to planning your own birthday party. Plus, you take the stress of planning a 50th birthday party off your friends by doing it yourself. Instead of worrying that they've over- or under-played the fact that you're turning 50, your friends will be free to attend a fun, fabulous party that will suit your birthday needs perfectly.
As for your theme: given your location and available party space, an outdoors Mardi Gras party sounds just right for your 50th birthday. While Mardi Gras certainly has some Girls Gone Wild-type connotations, I think it’s the perfect theme for your party because it allows you to be young and a grown up all at once. It’s also an ideal theme because Mardi Gras is, quite simply, already a party complete with its own pre-selected color palette (purple, green and yellow) and traditions.
For Mardi Gras party food, I suggest serving your favorite typically New Orleans dish (mine’s jambalaya) for dinner and moonpies for dessert. For those of my readers who don’t know, Moonpies are delicious treats eaten at Mardi Gras that consist of a mixture of cookie and marshmallow and will be the perfect dessert for a Mardi Gras theme. When it comes to drinks, the first party beverage that that comes to mind is the New Orleans classic: the Mint Julep. If you’ve grown tired of Mint Juleps after too long in Southern Louisiana, you could always go the classic birthday route and serve lots of champagne.
Masks and beads (and what’s more Mardi Gras than beads?) can be found at any party supply store and will make the perfect party favor for your guests. For decorations, stick to the Mardi Gras colors for your color template and you can’t go wrong. I suggest using Mardi Gras beads and large white pillar candles for a warm, fun table setting.
Have a very happy 50th, and remember that fun is at the heart of Mardi Gras. Take pleasure in both planning and celebrating your 50th birthday fête, cherie.
Enjoy Planning.
Penelope
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