If you have never been a part of a murder mystery dinner party before, this bucket list item is a must. Murder mystery parties are super fun, create lots of memories, and best of all, allow you to wear some of your favorite vintage costumes. If you are brand new to the realm of murder mysteries, here are the basic steps for how to host a murder mystery party.
Find a Murder Mystery Kit
First, you’ll have to find a murder mystery kit. These usually come with a host manual, character descriptions, costume and meal ideas, invites, some sort of audio track, and manuals to be used by players during the game. There are hundreds of different plot lines, settings, and player group sizes that are available for purchase. We recommend Shot in the Dark Mysteries and Playing with Murder because of their high reviews, but it doesn’t hurt to do some research to find the perfect kit for your party.
Send Out Invites
Once you’ve received your murder mystery kit, it’s time to decide on a date, venue, and who you want to invite. It can be helpful to choose people who already know each other so that everyone feels comfortable getting into their characters. When you’ve chosen a group of people for your party, check with them before sending out invites and character roles as most kits don’t include extra player supplies. Usually, you have to assign character roles before sending out the invites, and your guests may appreciate some extra costume suggestions specific to their character.
Plan the Dinner Menu
Many kits come with a suggested menu to fit the theme, but feel free to get creative. Look up recipes that would fit the time period and venue where the murder mystery will be taking place. You can either serve a full meal and eat while staying in character or simply offer appetizers while you play.
Decorate
Now you’ll need to prepare the setting for your party from your stash of vintage decor. Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot, even the most minimalist setting can be brought to life by good acting. However, the more decor you have, the more your guests will be excited to get into the plot line of the mystery. Make sure to save enough time to get yourself decorated in your vintage costume before the party starts.
Party!
Last, but not least, enjoy the fruits of your preparation, and have a party “to die for”.