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Looking for a way to switch up your normal game night with friends? Insert: mystery dinner party.
With fall and halloween festivities just around the corner, hosting a mystery dinner could not be more perfect timing. It’s such a unique and fun way to spend a cozy night inside with your closets friends.
However, knowing where to start and how to even plan for such an event can be a bit overwhelming. What invitations should you send? What kind of food should you serve? How do you set up a mystery scenario? We’re answering all these questions and more so you can successfully pull off one of the most memorable nights ever.
Keep scrolling to see how you can host a mystery dinner party with your best friends.
Want more hosting ideas? Check out these articles:
How to Host a Mystery Dinner Party
1. Send Out Invitations
First things first, you need to send out invitations. Whether that’s an e-vite over text or a mailed invitation to your guest list, the choice is up to you. We personally love the idea of sending a mailed invite, because you can play along with the theme of the party and make it mysterious.
Here are some cute mystery dinner party invites:
murder mystery theme birthday invitation
murder mystery party invitation
murder mystery dinnery party digital invite
murder mystery party e-vite
2. Create the Menu
A dinner party isn’t a dinner party without delicious food. You can get into the theme as much as you would like. Serving a variety of finger foods, entrees and desserts is great for a large group of people.
Here are some cute mystery dinner party food ideas:
fall apple cheddar charcuterie board
herby garlic white pizza
four cheese baked mac & cheese
elegant chocolate graveyard dirt cups
biscoff white chocolate macadamia nut cookies
sleepy hallow cocktail – Half baked harvest
3. Set the Scene
You’ve got the invites and menu ready to go, but now you need some decor yo make your home feel eerie for the night’s festivities. Everything from spider webs, foot prints, fingerprints and more. Your guests are going to absolutely love it.
Here are some dinner party decor items to set the scene:
top secret mini notebooks
crime scene decor
peel n’ place fingerprints
lineup backdrop
footprint decals
faux spider webs
4. Set the Mood
Not only do you have to set the scene, but you also have to set the mood. Turn off all the lights with the exception of some lit candles and some string lights around your home. Play some ominous music as guests arrive and throughout the rest of the evening.
string lights
floating candle lights
spy detective music
5. The Best Mystery Games
Now, it’s time to prep for what everyone came for…solving the mystery. There are so many different scenarios to choose from, so you can choose the one that you think your group of friends would best prefer. However, any one of these are so good!
unsolved case files
10+ case options
6. Give Out Prizes and Party Favors
While giving out prizes isn’t necessary, it’s always fun to reward the person who solved the case with something little. Whether that be a small amount gift card to Starbucks or a small gift.
Lastly, making something little for your guests to take home is always an easy thing to show your appreciation. Whether it’s a packaged cookie, brownie or truffles, your guests will absolutely love the sweet gesture.
