Use the shapes, colors and textures of Mardi Gras masks as inspiration for your flower and cake decorations.
Bring the flair of a New Orleans parade to your Mardi Gras flowers, decor and cake with vivid green, deep purple and bright gold pieces such as doubloons and masks. Luster dust and real beads add sparkle to your cake while brightly colored, glitter-spangled wooden "tings" accent tiered cakes or individual mini-cakes and cupcakes. Create masks from gum paste and modeling chocolate, or use plastic and feather masks for authenticity.
History of Mardi Gras
According to the History Channel website, Mardi Gras was introduced to America by the French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville when they landed near New Orleans on March 3, 1699. The holiday encompasses both Christian and pagan influences and is awash in symbolism, from the shapes and colors of masks to the traditional krewes and king cakes. Additionally, according to NOLAimports.com, the colors of Mardi Gras -- purple, green and gold -- were selected by Rex, the King of Carnival, in 1872 in the "Symbolism of Colors" parade and represent justice, faith and power, respectively.
Flower Ideas
Combine glittery wooden "tings" (spiral craft sticks), Mardi Gras masks, doubloons (artificial gold coins) and feathers with fresh and artificial flowers to create bold, dynamic flower arrangements. Use blossoms made from feathers for unusual color combinations and accent petals or flowers with glitter dust.
Arrange flowers in towering vases for stunning statement pieces or use clusters of low vases and vessels for more subtle effects. Christmas ornaments in purple, green and gold work well as an alternative to filler in vases of artificial arrangements. Add doubloons to the vases of natural flower arrangements and affix ribbon to the outsides to contrast with the bare stems.
Cake Ideas
Create a three-tiered cake with each tier representing a color or symbol of Mardi Gras. Combine colors and patterns on each tier or opt for a solid gold, green, purple or white cake augmented with gum paste, sugar and fondant decorations. Cupcakes or molded cakes shaped like Mardi Gras floats, decorated to look like doubloons and throws, or garnished with symbols for a specific krewe, personalize the cake for a specific ball, while toppers made from Mardi Gras masks, "tings" and foil decorative items create bold, eye-catching designs.
Other Decor Ideas
Feather boas, inexpensive Mardi Gras masks, doubloons and dozens of beads can augment your decor throughout the venue and double as party favors. Use feather boas in between centerpieces as a way to accessorize tables without using table runners, or use individual feathers for a less overwhelming approach. Decorate the edges of tables with feather boas to hide tablecloth seams and add glamorous flair with twisted strands of beads in purple, green and gold.
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