Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday, is celebrated in New Orleans with parades, costumes, food and drink. New Orleans (“its naw-lins honey”, as one local pointed out to me!) is a wonderful city. I look forward to returning someday. Since it won’t be next week, I decided to make my own “Fat Tuesday” party at home.
I started with a gold vinyl table cloth I found at Goodwill for $2.99. Since everything about Mardi Gras is over-the-top, this in not the time to show restraint!
Gold chargers bring on more glitz. I’m a big advocate of white dinner plates, since they go with everything. If I see a set of 8, 10 or 12 at a bargain price, I scoop them up. You can never have too many dishes.
These even have little fleur-de-lis around the border. So appropriate!
If I had gold trimmed napkins, I would have brought them out. I like to reuse what I have, so I rolled plain white, cotton napkins and wrapped strands of colorful beads around each. Purple, green and gold are the colors of Mardi Gras, so limit your palette to those three colors.
Along with beaded necklaces, it wouldn’t be Mardi Gras without masks. You can find inexpensive beads and masks at a party or discount store. I left mine as is, but you might want to add bling and feathers to yours.
In keeping with my philosophy to re-style and re-use almost everything, I dug out purple Christmas ornaments and gold candles from a holiday party. Don’t you love it when you can find more than one use or purpose for something you already own? Divide the cost by the number of times you use it and it’s practically free!
Cluster the ornaments, candles and more beads in the center of the table for a festive centerpiece.
I didn’t have to purchase one thing for this dinner table (the beads and masks are left over from another party).
If this isn’t a full costume party, dig out that feather boa you are dying to wear. Pour yourself a hurricane drink and serve up a bowl of jambalaya. If you can’t be on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter next week in person, you can be there in spirit!
Laissez les bons temps rouler! (How much high school French do you remember?)
How fun is it when you can pull off a wonderful tablescape such as yours and not spend any money! I just LOVE this! And your table is so interesting and “over the top” with the beads, gold cloth, gold candles and boa!! We have few true huge celebrations in life and so why not treat yourself to the “spirit” of an event in this manner and have a party every day!!! Smiles and laughter are good for us!
This is a GREAT Mardi Gras table and I LOVE the price!! Napkins with the colorful beads is such a great idea!