10 Things You Can't Forget for Your Bridgerton Themed Party
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- blog
- Updated: 13th October 2023
In December 2020, nine months into the Covid-19 pandemic and at the height of a frigid winter, the romantic drama Bridgerton appeared on Netflix. The world fell in love with the clever anachronisms, the fully-drawn characters, the central mystery, and the will-they, won't-they romantic tension. Above all, however, the 82 million viewers who binged season one fell in love with the show's lavish balls.
Two years (and a second season) have passed, it's safe to gather again, and those isolated dreams of decadent ballrooms can finally become a reality. Everyone wants to throw a Bridgerton themed party. The key is to capture the ambience and aesthetic by honing in on the atmospheric elements that made the immersive world of the series so unique.
We've created this guide to ensure your long-awaited Bridgerton party goes off perfectly. We will discuss ten can't-miss elements that will set your ball, tea party, or promenade apart. Remember these details, and you're sure to get a nod from the Queen and a positive blurb in the society papers!
Read on so the season can begin!
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Start With A Scintillating Invitation
There were no texts, e-vites, or Facebook Events during the Regency period. Thus, the young, eligible characters in Bridgerton received all their news via post. All of the correspondence is exquisitely crafted, from Lady Whistledown's snarky Society Pages to the ornate invitations to the next important ball.
You can set the tone long before your guests set foot on the premises by sending out a quality, tangible invitation in the style of the show. Consider creating your own Society Papers featuring your guests' names. You can also order custom invitations from a service or get crafty and make your own with scrapbooking paper, cardstock, and vellum.
If fancy invites are not in the budget, consider elevating basic invitations with a small but thoughtful detail, such as a wax-sealed envelope. You can also save paper and the earth by creating a virtual invitation with calligraphic fonts. After all, the clever anachronisms contribute so much whimsy to the series!
A Posh and Stunning Venue
Bridgerton features sprawling hedge mazes, magical moonlit gardens, portrait-studded plush sitting rooms, and brilliantly appointed ballrooms. While you can't hold your party in the England of 1813, you can choose a venue that evokes some of the scenic splendour and makes guests feel like they've stepped on set.
A few different themed parties can evoke the world of Bridgerton, and you can hold each in a different type of venue. For example, you might host a promenade in a garden, a park, or other outdoor space. You can hold a tea party in a posh indoor venue, such as a gallery or hotel tea room.
The ultimate Bridgerton theme party is a ball, which should take place in a larger venue with a dedicated dance floor. Perhaps hire a marquee with a dance floor for outdoor events. Imagine a string quartet playing in a gazebo while your guests twirl beneath the stars.
A Postmodern Pop Orchestra
Bridgerton fans nearly went mad when they first recognised a string quartet playing Thank U, Nextby Ariana Grande in the middle of a Regency-era ballroom scene. The inclusion of recognisable pop hits in a classical style became a hallmark of the series, adding a posh, postmodern flair to the program. The pop-classical genre rose in popularity, becoming favoured as study music.
The genre is not new and has been a hit with brides who use classical arrangements of meaningful songs when walking down the aisle on their wedding day. Needless to say, no Bridgerton-themed bash would be complete without the sound of an orchestra plucking out a setlist of beloved pop songs.
Hire an ensemble that reflects the size of your guest list and venue. A grand Bridgerton-inspired event such as a gala might demand a full orchestra to fill the space. More intimate parties can successfully employ a dedicated professional string quartet. If you're short on space or only hosting a few rabid fans, a solo violinist, duo, or trio might be enough.
Our musicians will always come dressed for the occasion, whether it's afternoon tea or a lavish ball. They'll contribute to the decor and the ambience. They can come prepared with a dynamic setlist, or you can make requests to customise the night to your heart's content.
Organised Dancing
The balls in Bridgerton were formal, and guests carried tiny, delicate pencils and carefully curated their dance cards for the evening. These little antiquated details can add a sense of the period to your event. Consider setting each place with a dance card and a pencil and encourage guests to fill theirs up for the evening.
If your guests aren't sure how to dance at a Bridgerton-inspired party, you might hire someone to give a tutorial or teach a quick dancing lesson as part of the festivities. In the show, the characters participate in quadrilles and country dancing, occasionally performing a surprisingly contemporary routine to keep things fresh.
A Nod to Period Dress
You can't be the bell of the ball unless you dress the part! While your guests are unlikely to have regency ballgowns and suits in their closets, it's simple to replicate the spirit of these styles. A few accessories, such as long gloves, pearls, top hats, and canes go a long way toward transforming off-the-rack looks into Regency replicas.
Encourage your guests to shop at local thrift or charity shops. They should look for dresses with an empire waist and suits with tailcoats. A great wig can turn any guest into the picture of early 19th-century glamour.
Leisurely Lawn Games
In Bridgerton, everyone's goal is to find the perfect match before the end of the season. While dancing is a big part of the courtship ritual, couples need time to mingle and talk as they get to know one another. Lawn games allow guests to step away from the limelight and focus on mingling and conversation.
Consider some of the following:
- Oversized board games
- Quoits
- Classy beer pong with drink flutes
- Croquet
- Boules
- Swingball
Most games won't be strictly period-appropriate, but that matches the spirit of the show. Don't be afraid to embrace the clash of old and new that made the series so engaging.
Artsy Party Activities
The second eldest Bridgerton brother, Benedict, is a would-be artist and attended a few bohemian bashes that were quite different from the balls and tea parties. You can embrace that artsy energy by incorporating some hands-on, creative activities into your Bridgerton party. Consider bringing in a paint and sip instructor to lead your guests in an acrylic painting tutorial at the beginning of the festivities.
A Tasteful Tea Service (+Cocktails)
In the series, characters frequently share gossip and speculation over tea. If you aren't throwing an over-the-top ball, or want an option for an afternoon Bridgerton themed party, consider a tipsy tea party instead. Include all the fixings of your traditional tea service, including the food, with a few fun and flirty cocktails to loosen things up.
Delightful Decor
The venue itself will help create the mood and decor of the series. A few tasteful pieces of vintage furniture go a long way. If you're utilising an outdoor space, embrace the fairy lights and lanterns to make the world glow.
Flower arrangements are timeless and make excellent centrepieces. You can choose a more subdued colour scheme to evoke the soft, candy-coloured ballroom aesthetic or bright pops of coordinating hues to emulate the Featherington vibe. Even cloth tablecloths alone go a long way toward inspiring a touch of class, so consider hiring a few for the festivities.
A Phenomenal Photo Booth
If your guests are going through the effort of getting dressed to the nines, it's polite to provide an opportunity to capture and share their hard work! A photo booth is a fun element to include at any party because it offers both an activity and a souvenir in one. Of course, cameras weren't around in 1813 London, so you'll need to get creative to match the party's aesthetic.
You might consider hiring a caricature artist to "paint the portraits" of your guests in real-time. You could also go in the opposite direction and embrace the anachronism, creating a dedicated selfie station complete with custom party hashtags. Whichever option you choose, be sure to include plenty of fun photo props, such as tiaras.
Make Your Bridgerton Themed Party the Diamond of the Season
The beauty of Bridgerton is in the details—the internally consistent touch of whimsy that creates a charming, specific atmosphere. You can emulate the feeling of Daphne's world by incorporating these posh and playful details in your party planning. With enough thought, society will declare your Bridgerton themed party incomparable, and you'll become the talk of the town!
Without music, there can be no ball. Email us now to book a string quartet or orchestral act to play quirky, chart-topping hits in a classical style. Act fast, as our talented professional musicians have many balls to attend at the height of the season, and they book up quickly!
