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Few things are more iconic than a roaring 20s, Great Gatsby themed party. The novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald was originally published in 1925 and it didn’t take long for the mystery and opulence to make their way to the big screen.
The film was made and remade from 1926 to the most recent iteration in 2013 with a star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan.
The lavishness of the theme, along with the unique clothing, makes it a super popular theme for celebrations. When else do you get to wear a gorgeous flapper dress except maybe on Halloween?
Not that you need an excuse to throw a party — according to Psychology Today, there are tons of perks and pleasures to throwing a party. Some are more subtle, like that post-party sense of quiet or the fact that your house is likely to get a good, deep clean ahead of time.
Then of course the obvious benefit of spending time with people you like! Invite all your friends and family to celebrate nothing at all, if you so choose.
If you’re looking to throw your own Great Gatsby themed party, chances are you’ve got some questions and are looking for inspiration. What is Great Gatsby themed party? How do you throw a party like Gatsby? This well-loved theme party idea has been done in so many ways that the stage is set for you to host a spectacular event.
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- Unique Great Gatsby Party Themes
- Best Great Gatsby Party Food Ideas
- Fun Great Gatsby Party Outfit Ideas
- Glamorous Great Gatsby Party Ideas on a Budget
Unique Great Gatsby Party Themes
1. Play a Murder Mystery Game
There’s nothing wrong with throwing a party just to throw a party, but if you’re looking for some holiday party ideas or adult birthday party ideas, consider a Great Gatsby themed party with a murder mystery twist. This 1920s Murder Mystery game kit has everything you need to host an engaging event.
Having your guests participate in a murder mystery game adds some excitement and a built-in activity. Your guests won’t have to fret about making small talk, they’ll be busy solving a mystery! Dressing up is very much encouraged.
2. All Gold Everything
Wondering What are the colors for the Gatsby party? Unofficially, shades of silver and gold seem to go perfectly with any Great Gatsby themed party. So why not make it official? Whether you’re renting out a space or turning your home into party central, make it all about gold.
Gold balloons, streamers, chargers and plates. The rich hue and hint of shine is just in line with the ritz of the novel. Bonus, this is the perfect golden birthday idea or 21st birthday party idea!
3. Feathers & Burlesque
Add a slightly sexy edge to your Great Gatsby themed party idea by going with a feathery burlesque theme. Go all out with mirrored tabletops and over-the-top feathery centerpieces around the dinner table.
This special take on the famous novel is a great girls night idea or New Year's Eve party. Curate the perfect playlist and set the mood lighting low. Guests can wear flapper dresses or dramatic feathery robes with satiny slips.
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4. Lean Into Art Deco
The classic Art Deco font is a hallmark of the decade and the film, so celebrate it! Order beautiful Art Deco name cards, signs for the bar and table then stick with other classics of the time like dramatically fluted glassware and a high-contrast color palate.
You can also add an accent wall for photo ops or try to plan around a beautiful dance floor with gold and black designs all over. It’s the little details that make your Great Gatsby themed party truly memorable.
5. Sounds of the Times
The Roaring 20s is just as much about jazz music as it is anything Gatsby related. Celebrate the Jazz Age by hiring a jazz band to add a lively touch to your Great Gatsby themed party.
This upbeat style of music is always entertaining to listen to live, plus it gives the perfect sounds and syncopations for flappers to shimmy and shake in their dresses.
6. The Age of Prohibition
The nationwide ban on alcohol started in 1920, but that didn’t stop people from wanting to drink and party anyway. In the novel and films, Jay Gatsby’s parties were known for being lavish and alcohol-fueled.
Come up with fun, secretive names for signature co*cktails or mocktails for your Great Gatsby themed party to truly honor the way guests would have felt in the 20s. Serve alcohol from wooden casks or other means of concealment and have fun with the speakeasy vibe.
Best Great Gatsby Party Food Ideas
7. Get a Decorative Cake
If you’re a talented baker, then, by all means, make one yourself, but finding a local bakery to prepare a gorgeous art deco showstopper will be the focal point of your dessert table. Choose your favorite type of cake and go white, gold or black for a dramatic finish.
8. Crab Cakes
Always a crowd-pleaser, crab cakes scream old money, just like the movie. Whether you’re hiring a catering company or doing the cooking yourself, crab cakes or even little crab croquettes are perfect for a Great Gatsby themed party to showcase the opulence that Jay Gatsby loved.
9. Shrimp co*cktail
A shrimp co*cktail is one of the easiest and most well-liked appetizers you could have. Serve them out of little martini glasses for an added touch of elegance at your Great Gatsby themed party.
10. Deviled Eggs
Another easy but delicious finger food for your Great Gatsby themed party is deviled eggs. There’s something that feels fancy about deviled eggs, not to mention they’re pretty easy to prepare and even easier to eat on the go.
11. Sugar Glazed Ham
A classic food of the time, sugar-glazed ham goes perfectly at a sit-down meal or a buffet. Serve it alongside some roasted root vegetables and covered in a spiced glaze made with rum, brown sugar and spices and you’ve got a winner.
This Great Gatsby themed party food is perfect if you’re throwing a winter party as it’s very cozy and warming.
12. Red Velvet Cake
Along with the general theme of “richness” at your Great Gatsby themed party, few desserts sound as rich or as fancy as a red velvet cake.
That deep red hue along with a tangy cream cheese frosting is a classic combination that goes great as a cupcake or a slice of cake.
13. Champagne Tower
Champagne or sparkling grape juice is a tell-tale sign of a classy party, and that’s the main focus of any Great Gatsby themed party.
A champagne tower is a fun and visually stunning way to serve lots of people at once. Keep the bubbly flowing all night long as guests mix and mingle.
14. Spiced Mixed Nuts
A simple and inexpensive snack to serve alongside alcoholic drinks, a big bowl of spiced mixed nuts is a great thing to serve at your Great Gatsby themed party.
Add a few decorative crystal bowls filled with salty nuts scattered across the bar or room for people to snack on while they sip and chat with fellow partygoers.
15. duch*ess Potatoes
If you’re opting for a sit-down dinner for your Great Gatsby themed party, duch*ess potatoes are a beautiful way to elevate root vegetables.
Mashed and piped into neat little swirls then baked until golden brown, they are a quick way to make any dinner spread appear fancy.
Fun Great Gatsby Party Outfit Ideas
16. Fedoras
Wondering What do you wear to a Gatsby themed party? Enjoy a popular masculine style of the time, donning a fedora will place you right back in the 1920s.
Anyone can rock a fedora and a suit or dress to their upcoming Great Gatsby themed party. You can even grab a bunch of fedoras from the party supplier or from a thrift store for an easy, Great Gatsby party favor idea on a budget.
17. A Nice Tuxedo
Gatsby’s parties were all about showing off, and if you want your Great Gatsby themed party to be as authentic as possible, request for your guests to wear a tux. A clean, black tuxedo that’s well-fitted is an easy way to look like you come from old money.
18. Anything Sequined
In line with the dramatic black and gold color scheme and Art Deco style, anything that’s sequined is a great choice for a Great Gatsby themed party. It could be as simple as a sequined headband or a fully sequined dress. Decorative beads achieve a similar look as well.
19. Feathers
In line with the burlesque theme previously mentioned, something about decorative feathers adds a rich touch to any outfit. Feather-trimmed sleeves or feathery shoes are a fun, festive accent to wear to any Great Gatsby themed party.
20. Blush Pink, Royal Purple, Silver or Gold
Whatever you feel most comfortable wearing, you can still fit in at a Great Gatsby themed party with a fabulous jewel-toned or silver and gold outfit.
Whether it’s a dress, suit, a colorful necktie or any other manner of clothing, you look your best when you feel your best.
21. Classic Flapper Dress
For the ladies, the flapper dress is an iconic piece of fashion history that screams 1920s. There are very few occasions other than a Great Gatsby themed party where a flapper dress is called for, so seize the opportunity.
You don’t have to spend a fortune, and they’re readily available online in many colors and styles.
Glamorous Great Gatsby Party Ideas on a Budget
22. Tossing Tinsel
If you want to transform your home into a festive Great Gatsby themed party on a budget, grabbing a bunch of gold tinsel will quickly and affordably transform your space.
Sheets of long, sparkly gold tinsel can be hung across walls to add some ritz to even a basic room.
23. Plenty of Balloons
We can’t say for sure whether the real Jay Gatsby had balloons at his parties back in the day, but having a bunch of balloons at your Great Gatsby themed party makes it feel very fun and full. The balloons don’t even have to be floating to add to the ambiance.
Getting a kit from Amazon and scattering gold, white and black balloons all over the floor or taping them artfully to the wall is an easy and affordable way to add some flare to your space.
Go a step further and dangle them from the ceiling with some fishing line for an elegant touch.
24. DIY Art Deco Signage
Add a little homemade flare with the help of a chalkboard or a black poster board and some gold markers. The iconic “a little party never killed nobody” line drawn out in bold, Art Deco lettering makes a great and affordable sign at the entrance or prop for photos at your Great Gatsby themed party.
25. Put Up Chandeliers
Whether you’re hosting at home or in a rented space, adding a few extra chandeliers adds some glitz and glam. You can check out your local thrift stores for some cheap, extra chandeliers or create your own candelabras with crystals and tea candles.
Anything with crystals that will sparkle and reflect the light will add a touch of old money glam to your Great Gatsby themed party.
26. Faux Pearls
Another inexpensive way to add some flare to your Great Gatsby themed party is with faux pearl strings. Drape them over chairs, along the bar and over countertops to add some quick, easy opulence to the affair.
A few decorative glasses with pearls hanging out of them make a nice table topper as well. This Great Gatsby party idea can be re-used for other special occasions too, so hold onto those strings of pearls!
27. Large Faux Feathers
Yet again, feathers are making the list for must-have items for a Great Gatsby themed party. Large, white ostrich feathers can be found online, at the dollar store or your local party store.
A big handful makes for a dramatic centerpiece in a vase, or laid flat on a tabletop. Adding height to your tablescape is an easy way to add drama, which this theme is all about.
There are a million small details that go into throwing (or attending!) an amazing party. From Great Gatsby food to Great Gastby outfits and party themes, this list is a great starting point for your special event.
Whether you’re going classic roaring 20s or spooky murderous Halloween party ideas for your Great Gatsby themed party, hundreds if not thousands before you have gone down this road with amazing results.
Wondering how you make a Great Gatsby themed party memorable? Go all in on the food, décor and costumes. Encourage your guests to dress up with as much creativity as they are willing to put into it. Play the music and drink the drinks that Gatsby himself would love!
Whatever your budget, you can make the night fun and festive so you and your guests will have amazing memories to share.
For even more fun party ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
