Black and White Party Ideas: Food, Decor, Invites

It’s time to celebrate, and you’ve picked a black and white theme for your party — we love it! Black and white parties have an air of effortless class and elegance while leaving room for creativity. Any occasion can fit into this theme, be it a baby shower, birthday party, retirement party, or New Year’s Eve bash.

These black and white party ideas will help you fit this theme into your unique celebration. We have ideas for decorations, dress code, food, dessert, and invitations so your party is practically perfect.

Black and White Party Decoration Ideas

Black and white themed parties are super easy to decorate for because of the limited color palette. No guessing at which color balloons will go with your table linens and which plates will match your napkins. You have two colors to choose from, and any subtle pops of color you may use are guaranteed to look good.

Here is some black and white party decor inspo:

• Checkers: Checkered items haven’t gone out of style yet, and a B&W check is super easy to find for plates, napkins, tablecloths, and photo backdrops. A checkered look will bring a modern feel to the party, whereas black-and-white-striped or chevron party supplies might appear Halloween-y or a bit outdated.
• Bows: An affordable way to accessorize what you already have is to tie black or white bows on everything using thin ribbon. Tie them around champagne glass stems, the base of balloons, taper candle holders, birthday party gift bags, and menus. Use black velvet for a moody look or shimmery white satin for something bright. Add pompoms if you want even more pizzazz.
• Balloon arch: Balloon installations liven up a room and give you a focal point for a photobooth. Use black and white balloons with pops of silver balloons, and use foil letters or numbers to add a message. Put a Polaroid camera on a nearby table and guests will flock!
• Mesh balloons: Cover helium-filled white balloons with black mesh and tie them off with a ribbon. Let them float on the ceiling for a DIY decoration that sets the tone for the whole room.
• Flowers: Find any white flowers at Trader Joe’s and create bouquets to scatter around as table decorations. Anemone flowers are white with a bold black center, and they’d look gorgeous paired with delicate baby’s breath.
• Disco balls: This is a given if you’re having a New Years Eve party, but hang a disco ball or use disco ball decorations to bring a glittering boogie energy to the monochrome room.
• Cupcake or cake toppers: Use jumbo black and white sprinkles, cute edible eyeballs, blackberries, candies, or edible pearls to top black and white cakes. You don’t have to stick to plain vanilla and chocolate sponge, either: Try coconut, salted caramel, Black Forest, coffee, peanut butter, banana, or lemon cake for the same color effect.
• Candy jars: Set out glass bowls of brown M&Ms, white Good & Plenties, Sno-Caps, black and white saltwater taffy, milk- and white-chocolate-covered anything, mints, or jelly beans to fill out your dessert table.
• Edible flowers: Adorn your cocktails, cupcakes, and charcuterie boards with edible white flowers like nasturtium, chamomile, roses, and chrysanthemums.
• Subtle color pops: Just because it’s a monochrome party doesn’t mean you have to stick to pure white and the blackest black! Soft pastel tableware would look stunning against all that black and white. Confetti-decked cups or iridescent white table cloths can bring shine. Gray, silver, and gold would add to the environment without distracting.

Black and White Dress Code Tips

Your guests will act as living, breathing decor when they all arrive dressed in black and white! Give a specific dress code on your invitations so everyone knows what to wear. Here are some possible themes:

• Cocktail: Indicate a cocktail party dress code if you want guests to arrive in dresses, pantsuits, heels, collared shirts, bow ties, and slacks.
• Casual: Let everyone know to go for a casual B&W if you want everyone to feel comfy in T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers.
• Costume: If it’s a Halloween party or a birthday party, maybe you want to ask for costumes that fall in the black and white theme. You might see people dressed up as Beetlejuice, Three-Hole-Punch Jim, Holly Golightly, angels, bank robbers, or the Kung-Fu Panda. Your guests will love getting creative within the black and white boundaries.
• “I Have Nowhere to Wear This”: This viral party theme asks guests to bring something out of the back of their closet that they have kept but have no occasion to wear it to. This could be an old prom dress, a wacky costume, a wedding dress, a very niche graphic tee, or a polka-dot pantsuit. It’s hilarious to see what guests show up in!

Black and White Food Ideas

The food is the most fun part of party planning, in our opinion, especially when you’re working with a specific color palette. Here are some yummy black and white food ideas that will look stunning on display.

Savory

• Mozzarella and black olive skewers
• Black sesame crackers with goat cheese
• Mini white pizzas (garlic, mushrooms, onion, and ricotta)
• Deviled eggs with black sesame seeds as garnish
• Brie and blackberry crostini
• Mini rice balls with black sesame seeds or a seaweed wrap
• Fettuccine alfredo with blackened chicken
• Mashed potatoes in martini glasses with white cheddar and well-done bacon bits 
• Potato chips topped with crème fraĂ®che and caviar
• French onion dip
• Mini black bean tacos with a sour cream drizzle
• White bean hummus with a black olive garnish

Sweet

• White chocolate dipped Oreos
• Popcorn in paper cones
• Cupcakes or layer cake
• Black licorice twists
• Mini tiramisu
• Fondue with dark and white chocolate
• Coconut, chocolate, or cookies-and-cream macarons
• Brownies dusted with powdered sugar
• Whoopie pies
• Vanilla panna cotta with black cherry compote
• Cake pops
• Mini cheesecakes with Oreo crust

Stylish Black and White Party Invitations

Ready to throw a B&W party to be remembered? Start customizing these digital invitations that will fit perfectly with your theme.

1. Oil and Charcoal Invitation

Design: Robinson Creative House

This abstract, artsy invitation features an oil and charcoal painted background that instantly sets the mood for a creative party. The matching liner and stamp will make this invitation stand out in their inbox. 

2. Stripes and Scallops Invitation

Design: Lissa Anglin

Capture attention with this whimsical scalloped invite that has a playful, vintage aesthetic with on-trend calligraphy features. You can lean into the pop art look by incorporating stripes and scallops into your decor, dinner party tableware, and paper goods at the party.

3. Sweetheart Ribbon Border Invitation

Design: Kid Collective

This hand-drawn heart invitation is wrapped up in a ribbon illustration with a calligraphy font that looks like real handwriting. Lean into the coquette with ribbons and hearts all over your party venue. Rather than looking childish, it’ll give “sophisticated” thanks to the sleek B&W aesthetic.  

4. Disco Night Invitation

Design: Signature Greenvelope

We can hear the Shania Twain guitar riff now — let’s go girls! This disco invitation channels nostalgia, glamour, and modern trends all at once. Set the tone for a fun girls night full of dancing and laughter with this scroll-stopping invite.

5. Tiled Invitation

Design: Ellen Schlegelmilch Design

This checkered invitation makes the black and white theme clear, and gives you designated squares for all the need-to-know information. The “Celebrate” letters take center stage and fit any occasion so you can quickly customize and send this out to your guest list.

Invites That Are Black, White, and Read All Over

You’ll have so much fun throwing your black and white bash! Channel the aesthetic you love into your decor, food, and invites to create a party that’s uniquely you. When you’re ready to send your invitation, browse our full collection of black and white party invites to make sure everyone you love is in attendance.