How to Throw a Great Gatsby Party

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 24, 2020

The Great Gatsby is a popular novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It features a decadent 1920s lifestyle, with flapper dresses, champagne towers, and glamorous settings. You can throw your own Great Gatsby themed party by finding a ritzy venue and creating a guest list. You can also choose themed decorations and food to serve your guests. Set up the party ahead of time so you can enjoy the glamorous theme with your party-goers.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Determining the Venue and the Guest List

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Get an indoor venue for a smaller party. You can host the party indoors at your home if you plan to have a smaller guest list of around 20-30 people. If you plan to invite more than 50 people, you may want to consider renting an indoor venue, such as a jazz club, a restaurant, or a community hall.^{[1]
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- You may go for an indoor venue if the weather is going to be unpredictable or too cold for your guests on the day of the party.
2
Go for an outdoor venue based on the weather. If you know you are going to have good weather for the party, consider an outdoor venue like your backyard or a park. Outdoor venues were popular in the 1920s. You can also rent out the patio at a local restaurant or an outdoor garden.^{[2]
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- It may be fun to find an outdoor venue where you can put up white tents so guests can enjoy the weather without being directly in the sun or the elements all party long.
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3
Schedule the party for the evening. A Great Gatsby party will be the most atmospheric at night. Parties in the 1920s were often scheduled late at night, going until the early morning. Make the start time for the party in the evening, such as 8 o’clock or 9 o’clock. Expect guests to arrive fashionably late.^{[3]
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- Having the party later at night will also give you time to prepare for the party that day.
4
Send out custom invitations. Go for a black and gold theme for the invitations to make them more Gatsby-esque. Choose art deco patterns and gold glitter. Pick font that is slim and glamorous looking. You can make your own invitations using your computer or an online invitation site. Send out the invitations at least two weeks before the party date.^{[4]
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- You can also order custom invitations from online print and design shops.
5
Note the time, date, and place of the party in the invitations. For example, you may write, "The party is on Thursday, March 4, at the Kelly Jazz Bar, from 8 pm to 1 am."
- You can also include a note about the theme of the party, such as, “Please join us for a Great Gatsby Party.”
6
Request Gatsby-esque attire from guests. Ask your guests to dress up based on the theme. Suggest flapper dresses, pearls, feathers, dapper suits, and silk scarves. Encourage your guests to dress in their best Gatsby style outfits for the party.
- You may note that dressing up is optional, but recommended in the invitation.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Choosing the Decorations and Entertainment

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Have metallic decorations. Put up gold streamers or ribbons. Have silver candle holders and gold balloons. Use metallic serving dishes and utensils to keep with the theme.^{[5]
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- You can also arrange metallic furniture like tables and chairs in the venue to add to the theme.
- Create metallic centrepieces with gold tinsel and silver baubles. Spray paint flowers gold or silver and use them as decoration.
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Put up feathers and strings of pearls. No Gatsby party would be complete without feathers and pearls in the room. Drape feather boas on the chairs and tables. Hang strings of pearls around the venue or at the tables.^{[6]
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- You can then encourage your guests to put on the feather boas and strings of pearls during the party.
3
Use string lighting and chandeliers. Set the mood in the venue by having soft, warm lighting like string lights and chandeliers. Put candles on all the tables and light them so they give off a soft, warm light. Use warm light bulbs and dim overhead lights. Make the venue look dark and sparkly using the lighting.
4
Make a custom Great Gatsby playlist. Put together a playlist for the party that features big band music, 20s jazz music, and even the Great Gatsby movie soundtrack. You can also include modern remixes of classic jazz music.^{[7]
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- Plan out the playlist so it starts high energy and upbeat. This will set the mood and tone for the party.
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Hire a band for the party. Another option for entertainment is to hire a swing band for the themed party. Ask a local band to play swing and jazz at the party. Look for a band that has percussion instruments and a singer to set the mood.
- Hiring a band for the party can be expensive. You may opt for a band if your budget allows.
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Have a casino table. Gambling was a big part of The Great Gatsby lifestyle. You can create your own casino table by hiring a dealer or asking a friend to play the dealer for the night. Offer games like poker, baccarat, and dice.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Planning the Food and Drinks

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Serve themed small plates. Make it easy for your guests to hold the food and mingle with others. Serve hor d'oeuvres, or small plates, that feel glamorous and 1920s like deviled eggs, stuffed mushrooms, roasted nuts, and olives.
- Oysters Rockefeller and salmon mousse on toast also make great snacks for a Gatsby themed party as they are very of the time.
2
Create bite sized desserts. Go for small desserts like macaroons or cookies. Make cake pops or a cake that you can serve in small pieces. You can make your own desserts or buy desserts to serve to your guests.
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Make a signature cocktail. Popular cocktails for a Gatsby themed party include mint juleps, gin rickeys, and spiked lemonade. Offer one signature cocktail or a few cocktails on the party menu. Make sure your bartender knows how to make the cocktails.
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Serve champagne. Champagne is a must at a Gatsby themed party. Have buckets of champagne throughout the venue, along with champagne flutes. Set up a champagne tower that flows all night long.
- You can also integrate champagne into the cocktails or drinks at the party.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Setting up the Party

1
Ask others to help you decorate the space. Setting up for the party can be a lot for you to do on your own, especially if you are hosting a lot of people. Ask friends and family to help you decorate the space the day of the party, or the night before. Get a few extra hands to make it easier for you to decorate the space.
2
Put up the decorations ahead of time. Set up the wall decorations and the table decorations the night before the party or several hours before the start time. Arrange the food and drink tables ahead of time in the venue so you know how the room is going to be laid out for the party.
3
Arrange the food and drinks. You should also set up the food and drinks before the party gets started. Prep the food and put it in the fridge so you can pull it out and serve it easily during the party. Have all the ingredients for the drinks on hand.
- Make sure you have a lot of ice for the drinks, especially if you are preparing custom cocktails over ice.
4
Greet guests as they arrive. Throw on your best 20s style outfit and stand at the door to greet your guests as they arrive. Offer them a glass of champagne or a cocktail. Make sure they know where the food is located. Encourage guests to play games or dance to the themed music.
- Keep the mood of the party upbeat and lively, just like how the Great Gatsby parties were known to be.
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Check on your guests throughout the party. Be a good host by checking in with your guests as the party rages on. Make sure everyone has access to enough food and drinks. Check that the bar is stocked and the band (or your playlist) is entertaining. If you have games like a casino table, check in to ensure they are running smoothly.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I look like a flapper girl on that night?

Giddygamergirl

Community Answer

Buy a flapper girl costume and get a wig. Look for a wig that is a short black bob with bangs. Get a fake pearl necklace for an accessory and wear some bright red lipstick.