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| Carnival Party Planning |  The festive streets of Rio during Carnival or New Orleans during Mardi Gras provide great party inspiration
Invitations
• Send metallic confetti and gold wrapped chocolates in envelopes
• use postcards from New Orleans or Brazil instead of traditional card/envelope invites
• include masquerade masks with each invite
Venue decorations
• string up colourful paper cut-out flags
• hang streamers from banisters and windows
• include bright paper mache bowls filled with party poppers
• tie balloons to the backs of chairs, door handles and garden posts
• feature votive candles in different coloured glass holders (don't use scented candles as it will compete with the smells of the food!)
• hang silver metallic streamer curtains in doorways
Food and drinks
• serve lots of 'mingling' finger food -- blue corn chips with smoked sweetcorn salsa, crudités with guacamole dip, mini sweet peppers stuffed with rice salad, spicy mixed nuts
• serve brightly coloured cocktails -- use Ribena and blue curacao to tint drinks
• use lots of garnish in drinks, like pineapple spears, lemon and orange wedges, straws, paper umbrellas and plastic swizzle sticks
• have lots of brightly-coloured cocktail napkins on tables
Favours
• silver and gold chocolates strewn over tables, bars, everywhere!
• long strands of inexpensive Mardi Gras beads for guests to adorn themselves
• bowls of fresh exotic fruit
• toy musical instruments
• delicious chocolate balls wrapped in purple foil
• gourmet jelly belly beans in island punch purple and lemon/lime green
What to wear
This is a perfect opportunity for outrageous fancy dress. Choose to wear the brightest colours you can find!
• sparkly costume jewellery and feathers
• funky fluorescent wigs and jester hats
• glow sticks around neck and wrists
• colourful plastic party leis
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