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It might sound a little morbid, but we love the idea of throwing a murder mystery dinner party. And chances are, you do too! It\u2019s a wickedly creative twist on a birthday party and an immersive way of getting into the Halloween spirit. Or you could simply use it as an excuse to gather friends and family for an evening of intrigue and games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s your first time or you fancy yourself a bit of a party planning expert, here\u2019s how to host a murder mystery party that your guests will remember for a long time to come. We\u2019ve brought together theme ideas, food inspiration, planning tips, and more.\u00a0<\/span> Design: Jen Montgomery<\/p><\/div>\n One of the best parts about throwing a murder mystery dinner party is that you get to go all out with the theming and decor. It\u2019s the perfect opportunity to decorate your space like a grand hotel or transform it into a spooky mansion. Here are some of our favorite themed party ideas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can\u2019t go wrong with a classic murder mystery dinner party. Invite folks over to an intriguing crime scene set in the past. Allow the mystery to play out over an elegant dinner party that wouldn\u2019t look out of place in your favorite whodunit TV show.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Transport your party guests into a sinister 1960s scene, or head back to the Roaring Twenties for a glam (yet grim) <\/span>Great Gatsby-esque party<\/a><\/strong>. Ask invitees to dress the part in stunning formal wear, set out an epic feast, and style your space with warm lighting and rich fabrics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to head back to the past to throw an incredible murder mystery dinner party. Create a future world for your guests that\u2019s not filled with prosperity, but instead with dystopian nightmares and troubling crimes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Set the scene for a futuristic get-together with industrial decor and lighting, and create a sense of panic with a lack of electricity and ambient sounds. Let your party guests solve the puzzle as a crime scene unfolds in front of you and the world continues in chaos around you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you want a compelling spin on your murder mystery dinner party, consider a fantasy theme, monster theme, or <\/span>masquerade theme<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 all of these work especially well if you\u2019re throwing a <\/span>Halloween party<\/a><\/strong> or even a team-building event for coworkers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Create a world of witches, wizards, dragons, or ghouls, and give your party guests (and murder suspects) supernatural powers. This is a great way to add some whimsy to the murder mystery genre, and gives you plenty of ways to be creative with scenery, lighting, music, and storylines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Design: Claudia Owen<\/p><\/div>\n Before you can get your invitations out to your guest list, you need a rough idea of how your murder mystery game is going to play out. Decide which characters you\u2019ll need, what the crime scene is, and how you can get everyone involved. Here are the basics of what you\u2019ll need to build a murder mystery story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Every event needs a venue, and a murder mystery is particularly suited for fun theming and decor. It\u2019s the kind of party you don\u2019t throw every week, so you can invest a little more energy in finding the ideal venue to match your story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you have a small group of sleuths, your home or a friend\u2019s home could be the perfect place to set your murder mystery game. You can transform the space however you want, with no rules in place. Other great options include booking a private dining space in a restaurant, or renting a remote private residence or spooky setting for a truly immersive experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Every murder mystery party needs a crime scene, and your dinner party is where it\u2019s happening. Beyond that, there\u2019s plenty of freedom to create the kind of setting and ambiance you like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Think about how the crime will happen \u2014 will it be death by poison, a particular weapon, or perhaps an attack from a supernatural being? Once you know how the crime will happen, you can start designing your characters and working backward to give everyone a fun storyline that they can join in. If you have the budget, hiring professional actors is an impactful way to make your event feel even more interactive and immersive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With the crime scene imagined and an outline of the storyline done, you can now focus on creating your characters and really giving them some personality. Think about their names, how they\u2019d dress, their demeanor, their interests, and what they\u2019ll contribute to your dinner party.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can get as detailed as you like here, or keep things simple and let your party guests\u2019 imagination run wild. Sometimes you\u2019ll want to create scripted dialogue, other times you can simply suggest prompts \u2014 it depends on how comfortable your guests are with the concept.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve created your characters, it\u2019s time to assign them. While you could throw a surprise party and give your guests their character details on the night, you\u2019ll likely want to share this information with them in advance. Create a character profile, with a suggested outfit or styling ideas, and share it on your <\/span>digital invitations<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your murder mystery party game will take center stage at your dinner party, but it\u2019s still helpful to know how the rest of your night will take place. Beyond the story itself, think about other practicalities like the timing of the crime, what food you\u2019ll serve, any other activities, and how everything slots together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Consider who\u2019ll be at the party, what role you\u2019ll play, and whether you need any extra help. For anything other than a casual get-together, you\u2019ll likely want someone else on hand to help with aspects of the event that you\u2019re not covering personally \u2014 whether that\u2019s hosting, catering, setting up and taking down decor, or entertainment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/b> If you\u2019re not sure how to create a murder mystery story yourself, or you\u2019re not interested in this side of things, a party kit or free printable murder mystery party game is the perfect option. You can also try this <\/span>DIY approach to write a murder mystery party game<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Design: Claudia Owen<\/p><\/div>\n While you want the focus to be on your game, serving up a delicious dinner should also be a priority. Here are some ideas to help you plan a tasty meal for your party guests to enjoy together \u2014 even if one of them turns out to be more unsavory than the others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most murder mystery dinner parties are held over the course of a long, traditional, sit-down meal. This is where the story unfolds, characters develop, and the buildup happens before a tragic incident. Having a three-course dinner gives your guests time to get to know each other, and it\u2019s also a great excuse to get out your best tableware and fancy glasses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Take inspiration from the era that you\u2019re setting your story in, or stick to some of your favorite sit-down mains, sides, and desserts. If you\u2019re stuck for ideas, see which of these <\/span>main course ideas<\/a><\/strong> spark curiosity and create it as part of your menu.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cooking a full dinner and hosting a murder mystery can be a lot of work. Bring in some help or prepare as much as you can ahead of time. If cooking isn\u2019t your fort\u00e9 or you want to chill a little more, our next option might be more up your alley.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While traditional murder mystery games are played over a sit-down dinner, yours doesn\u2019t have to be. A more casual, buffet-style meal might work better for different themes and settings \u2014 like a birthday party gone wrong, or a dystopian gathering where you\u2019ve all brought a dish to share.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For a buffet-style experience to work well, give your guests plenty to choose from. Create a spread of finger foods and desserts for everyone to enjoy. For an ultra-relaxed experience, create a <\/span>pot-luck style event<\/a><\/strong>, or make ordering take-out part of your storyline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Design: Make and Tell<\/p><\/div>\n The key to getting your murder <\/span>mystery dinner party invitations<\/a><\/strong> right is to give your guests everything they need to feel prepared. For some people this might be their first time at this type of event, so keep that in mind as you prepare your invites.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\nDecide on a Theme for Your Evening<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"Murder](\"https:\/\/cdn.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Murder-Mystery-Invitation.png\")
Classic Murder Mystery Dinner Party<\/b><\/h3>\n
Dystopian Murder Mystery Dinner Party<\/b><\/h3>\n
Fantasy Murder Mystery Dinner Party<\/b><\/h3>\n
Create Your Murder Mystery Story<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"Murder](\"https:\/\/cdn.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Copious-Bones-Invitation.png\")
Choose a Venue<\/b><\/h3>\n
Set the Scene<\/b><\/h3>\n
Design and Assign Your Characters<\/b><\/h3>\n
Figure Out How the Night Will Unfold<\/b><\/h3>\n
Plan a Delicious Murder Mystery Dinner Party Meal<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"Vineyard](\"https:\/\/cdn.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vineyard-Classic-Invitation.png\")
Sophisticated Three-Course Dinner<\/b><\/h3>\n
Casual Buffet Dining<\/b><\/h3>\n
What to Include on Your Murder Mystery Dinner Party Invites<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"Hocus](\"https:\/\/cdn.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Hocus-Pocus-Invitation.png\")