Periodical Themes

Renaissance Party Theme

Rewind time to the Renaissance Period with these party ideas:

For authentic-looking invitations, buy brown scroll paper at any Kinko's or paper supplier.  Write the party information for the royal ball in calligraphy. Tear the edges to make them look genuine, much like an old treasure map. Dress in renaissance costumes or have someone in medieval garb to deliver the invites.

Clothing in the Renaissance era was a marker of one's social status.   Wealthy, important people wore clothing made from ornate fabrics with fine detail.  A lady's clothing consisted of up to five pieces (bodice, underskirt, skirt, overbodice, hoop, and collar).  Costume ideas for partygoers include dressing as a court jester, peasant, a lord, a merchant, a knight, a lady, a bar maid, a gypsy, and of course, the king and queen.   Renaissance period costumes also include the town letter opener, gargoyles, dragons, mermaids, and fairies.  A Knight's clothing should include the sword or dagger,  combat armor, fencing mask, and helmet. Peasant women should wear long flowing skirts, bloomers, corsets, and blouses.

Encourage guests to speak in Renaissance-era dialect throughout the party. Play Renaisance board games like chess and tic-tac-toe.

Take your party space back in time with renaissance-era decorations from a prop store. Make or buy a wooden sign to hang above your door.  It can say "The Pub" or something similar in calligraphy. For added effect, light torches in front of the entrance. Hang tapestries and shields, and place large rugs on the floor.

Enjoy a large feast with turkey legs, chicken with spinach, sweetened mustard, and big loaves of bread with potatoes.  Have guests drink merrily from large mugs and goblets.  Serve the feast in wooden tableware.  For dessert, enjoy fruit tarts, cream flan, and walnuts. 

For entertainment, hire tarot card readers and gypsy belly dancers. Have younger guests decorate their own shields. If space allows, hold a jousting match.