How to Throw a Killer Murder Mystery Party

HostingCostumes

Sep 26

1920's theme murder mystery party costumes

Tips from My 30th Birthday Bash!

For my 30th birthday, I decided to go all out and plan the perfect murder mystery party with my closest friends and family. And let me tell you, it was a blast from start to finish! If you're thinking of hosting one yourself but feel overwhelmed by the logistics of it all, don't worry—I’ve got you covered with all the tips and tricks you need. From planning to execution, I'll help you think of every detail to make sure your party is a hit!

Why a Murder Mystery Party?

I've always been a mystery lover and a strategist to my core. I spend many solo nights playing murder mystery games and puzzles, trying to solve "whodunits.” So, naturally, for my big 3-0, I decided to throw my own murder mystery party. If you’ve ever dreamed of attending one, why not take the plunge and host it yourself?

gatsby 1920's party themed decor for murder mystery party with faux pearls, ostrich feathers, and gold bottles

Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Date and Guest List

First things first: pick a date and start figuring out your guest list. The number of players will help determine which game you choose, as some require a specific number of participants. Getting a general ballpark of your guests will also help with planning other details, like food, decor, and seating.

Step 2: Select Your Game

Once you know how many guests will be attending, it’s time to pick a game! We purchased our game from MyMysteryParty.com, and I can't recommend it enough. They have hundreds of themed games to choose from—think luau, hillbilly, disco, and more. I opted for a Gatsby Roaring 20s theme because who doesn't love the idea of flapper girls and gangsters? Plus, this theme is perfect for Halloween or New Year’s Eve, as the decor options blend well with those holidays. I threw mine in May, but hey, it's your party—do what you want!

The great thing about My Mystery Party is that it comes with detailed instructions and pretty much everything you need (minus food, decor, and costumes). You’ll get the storyline, character bios, signs, handouts, and more. All you need to do is follow the script!

1920's theme murder mystery party couple costumes with gangster and flapper girl

Step 3: Assign Your Characters

Assigning characters might just be the most fun—yet tricky—part of planning! It’s crucial to assign your most reliable, 100%-yes people to the most important roles. Think about your guests' personalities—are they outgoing or more reserved? This will help you decide who gets which character. A good match can make or break how much fun the game is, so choose wisely!

Step 4: Send Themed Invites

Once you’ve assigned characters, create a themed invite to send to your guests. Include details about their character, wardrobe suggestions, and any other party info they might need. This gives them plenty of time to find a costume and gets everyone excited! There are also some optional pre-game tasks in the instructions, but we decided to skip those—do what feels right for your group.

30th birthday murder mystery party invite design with art deco gatsby theme

Step 5: Shop for Costumes

The costumes for a murder mystery party are crucial for an immersive experience. I was pleasantly surprised with everyone embracing the Gatsby-era and going all out for their characters! Girls arrived in flapper dresses, accessorized with feathered headbands and pearls. Men wore suits and suspenders, with fedoras and pocket watches, creating a very dapper look.

Some added playful touches like faux cigarette holders and toy weapons! The collective effort in dressing up not only elevated the party's authenticity but also brought the roaring 20s vibe vividly to life.

Shop Womens Costumes

Shop Accessories

Shop Mens Costumes

You don’t need to spend a ton on a new outfit you’ll only wear once, get creative with what’s in your closet already, or shop affordable sites like Amazon (with generous returns) and check out your local thrift stores. If you want an even more authentic 20’s look, and don’t mind spending a touch more, check out Babeyond’s collection, they have gorgeous flapper girl dresses and accessories.

Step 6: Plan and Shop for Decor

The decor is key to creating an immersive experience that makes your party both memorable and visually stunning. I knew I wanted the vibe to feel elegant, mysterious, and grand! I opted for a black and gold color scheme, mixing in some antique finds, DIY crafts, and of course, affordable Amazon finds.

Shop all my murder mystery finds below!

Shop Murder Mystery Party on Amazon

I found an art deco backdrop that I hung up in front of my built-ins, and put up these temporary black velvet curtains to add a little drama. We hung gold and black foil fringe, starry garlands, and this perfect sign, “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody.”

We got crafty and spray painted some old liquor and wine bottles gold and then dressed them up with faux pearls and ostrich feathers, using them as center pieces throughout. I placed these gorgeous dark red roses in bud vases along the tablescapes, as well as, plenty of candles to set the mood.

1920's theme murder mystery 30th birthday party decor

I also added gold fringe to my existing pendant light in my dining room. We cleared out the furniture to make room for mingling! Everything turned out great and felt right on theme. The more you can do to transform your space, the better!

Shop Murder Mystery Decor

Step 7: Plan the Menu

Your meal planning will depend on whether you want a more formal sit-down dinner or a casual gathering, as this will affect your approach. We opted for a more relaxed setup, as we didn't want the hassle of cooking for over 20 guests or worrying about the oven while the game was underway. Instead, we chose finger foods and had pizza delivered around dinnertime. A few friends pitched in to prepare delicious appetizers like shrimp cocktail, pigs in a blanket, a charcuterie board, meatballs, caprese skewers, and chips with salsa. For drinks, we whipped up a big batch of Moscow Mules in a dispenser and also offered beer and wine to keep everyone refreshed. We capped off the night with some key lime pie for dessert.

Step 8: Prep All The Materials

There’s loads of printable materials needed to play the game and make sure you give yourself plenty of prep time. I’m a graphic designer (and a perfectionist) so I took the extra-steps of redesigning some of the game materials like name tags and signs.

As the host, you need to read through everything and make sure you understand the game, unless you want chaos. If you want to host and play the game, there’s a way to do that, you just need someone who isn’t playing to help you prepare the print outs. I did this, however, I wouldn’t recommend it (more on that later.)

There’s lots of fun ideas for how to display the signs and clue cards. I thrifted a silver tray for the name tags and antique frames for the character lists. I also opted to scroll each of the characters clue cards for privacy (and theatricality).

Step 9: Game Time!

When party day finally arrives, get ready to have some fun! I was thrilled to see that everyone came in perfect costumes, fully embracing their roles.

After everyone arrives, the host explains the instructions of the game and passes out materials. The game has three rounds. In the first round, everyone gets a card with talking points and names of other guests to chat with. We sipped drinks, ate finger foods, and gossiped. Everyone was getting into their character and getting to know the other players!

In the second round, we played a required group activity, ate pizza, and received more cards with more scandalous information and clues. A murder then ensues and the victim is revealed. In the third round, everyone plays detective to deduce who the murderer is before the final reveal.

It was such a blast! Everyone got super into their characters and it was hilarious.

Final Tips and Thoughts

Dedicated Non-Player Host

A major tip for anyone thinking about hosting a murder mystery party: it can be a bit tricky to be the host and play the game at the same time. There’s a lot to manage, and I found it hard to fully immerse myself in the game and get to all the conversations while also ensuring the game flowed smoothly and everyone had enough food and drinks. Next time, I’ll have a dedicated non-player host to handle the logistics.

Smaller Guest List

The larger your guest list, the more “un-important” characters you’ll have. In our game, there were only 8 required characters and the rest of the characters are optional, meaning they aren’t crucial to the story. This becomes obvious as the game progresses and so some guests may feel like their character doesn’t matter or their boring. This will depend on the specific game that you choose though!

Ready to Throw Your Own Murder Mystery Party?

I hope these tips help you plan a fun, stress-free murder mystery party of your own. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate with friends, and trust me, you’ll be talking about it for years to come. So go ahead, put on your detective hat, and get ready to solve some mysteries!