“Laissez les bons temps rouler” on Mardi Gras! We celebrated Fat Tuesday a little early at The Ainsworth’s Winter Masquerade Ball at their newest location in the East Village. We are excited to share our evening with you.
Mardi Gras, which translates into Fat Tuesday, celebrates excess and debachery. Festivities include rich, decadent foods before the 40 days of fasting during Lent. The largest Mardi Gras celebration takes place in New Orleans and features masks, food and music. The holiday is called Carnival in Brazil and Karneval in Germany. Last year, we cohosted an elaborate Mardi Gras dinner party with our friend, Scott. This year, we celebrated early at The Ainsworth’s Winter Masquerade Ball.
Our friends arrived to the party in festive attire and elaborate masks. Masks are the most important part of a masquerade ball. We recommend purchasing some extra masks for guests that forgot or misplaced their masks. Etsy is a excellent place to find Venetian masks, and our favorite vendor is Dora Marra. Don’t our guests look fantastic?
We incorporated the traditional colors of Mardi Gras into our decor. The colors have symbolic meanings:
Purple represents Justice
Gold represents Power
Green represents Faith
Archana baked a traditional King Cake for Mardi Gras. The King Cake is shaped in a ring and covered with green, purple and yellow sprinkles. Hidden inside the cake is a chocolate or plastic baby. The baby symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it. Since this was an open bar event, we decided to skip the baby (as it can be a choking hazard).
We secured a semi-private room, and the wonderful staff at Ainsworth brought us champagne and cocktails all night long.
We also celebrated our friend Eleni’s birthday. We placed a giant sparkler and sang her happy birthday. Guests loved the King Cake and the chocolate mask favors.
Thanks to Wicksie, Matt and the wonderful staff at Ainsworth. We had an amazing time, and are looking forward to the next collaboration.
“Masks are wonderfully paradoxical in this way: while they may hide the physical reality, they can show us how a person wants to be seen.”― Joanna Scott
This looks like so much fun! I've never been to a Mardi Gras party, but should do one!
Growing up in Louisiana Mardi Gras is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate! It's just so stinking fun- which now I feel like I'm missing this year after looking at your photos! Europe has Carnival though, and it's also a great time!
Oh wow! The masks, the cake… this looks like THE party to be at
Mardi Gras parties are the way to do it. Love the excitement on the girls face cutting the cake.
Wow, this looks like such a fun Mardi Gras Masquerade party! I've never been to one before but this looks so incredible!
Love Mardi Gras! It seems like you planned the perfect party – totally on theme but fun and flexible! And Kings Cake is the best! Plus, I LOVE the quote at the end of your post!
This looked like such a fun party! I’ve been to a few of these themed parties and the Mardi Gras ones are always the the best!
What a fun way to spend Mardi Gras!! That King Cake birthday cake sure looks amazing. Looks like everyone had a blast!
Mardi Gras! Looks like a super fun themed party. I love the masks that are really ornate. I wish black tie masquerade balls were still in style. Like the quote from Oscar Wilde too: "Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth."
Mardi Gras is a super fun time to celebrate, wear fun masks and a pretty dress. Looks like everyone really enjoyed themselves!
cool
Great time
This looks so fun! I love Mardi gras
I love the masks! I wonder where we can buy those fancy, classy masks…
The cake and the masks are lovely, it look like you had a wonderful time. thanks for sharing.
I miss physical events! I love masquerade as you get to be mysterious under a mask. So fun!