Looking for a unique idea for celebrating a special occasion? If you’ve done all of the usual cocktail evenings and garden parties to death, then a murder mystery night is a great way to mix things up a bit and promises a fun-packed evening that all of your guests will be talking about for a long time to come.
Delivering the perfect blend of glamour, intrigue and suspense, a well-executed murder mystery night has the power to whisk your guests away into a different world and allow them to escape reality for a few hours. An immersive experience in which they get to become characters in a dramatic story whilst trying to determine the culprit of a terrible fictional crime, glamorous get-ups and a thoroughly realistic setting come together to create an evening they will never forget.
To plan a truly show-stopping evening that will have your guests gasping with awe and delight, here are some tips and ideas to guide you through the process of bringing your vision to life from the experts at murder mystery party providers, Masters of Mystery.
Setting the scene
A great murder mystery night requires an exciting theme, so this should be your first port of call when it comes to getting the ball rolling. Popular themes to consider range from 1920s Great Gatsby and Hollywood red carpet to a masquerade ball or a vintage noir detective story, and each offers a chance to really have some fun as you set the scene and tone for the evening ahead.
For a Great Gatsby theme, go all out and set a glamorous dress code that requires your guests to don sophisticated flapper dresses and feather headdresses or dinner suits and bring in a jazz band to create the perfect soundtrack. Think feathers, pearls and art deco accents, with no expense spared when it comes to opulent décor and touches.
If a Hollywood theme speaks to you a little more, then roll out a red carpet to welcome guests to the venue and ask them to come in their best film star get-ups – while for a masquerade ball, beautiful masks will add an additional air of mystery to the evening.
For a vintage noir theme, channel the classic detective films with trench coats, fedoras, and dark, moody lighting, and add props like old-fashioned telephones, typewriters, and magnifying glasses strategically around the venue to really bring it to life.
Setting the tone
The invitations to your murder mystery evening should begin to set the tone for the night ahead even before guests arrive, and despite the fact that we’re now well and truly living in the digital age, traditional physical invitations promise to add an extra touch of sophistication and will help to build the excitement in the lead-up to the big day.
Choose invitations that align with your theme of choice and that include the time, date and location, as well as details of the dress code. And to really create a sense of anticipation, if you’re using a scripted murder mystery kit then assign characters, too, providing background details and costume suggestions for each of your guests.
Creating the atmosphere
Creating a realistic and convincing setting is the key to a winning murder mystery event, so once the venue is decided, get to work with creating just the right atmosphere. Lighting is a major consideration; dim lighting, fairy lights, or candles can all be used to create a mysterious and glamorous atmosphere, while the right choice of music – for example, jazz for a 1920s party, classic Hollywood soundtracks for a red carpet event, or eerie, suspenseful tunes for a noir theme – will add an extra layer of authenticity.
Incorporate theme-appropriate props and decorations, too; for example, use vintage suitcases, old books, and black-and-white photos for a noir theme – or gold accents, Champagne glasses, and feather boas for a Great Gatsby party.
Playing the game
The success of your murder mystery night hinges on the structure and flow of the game, and using a scripted kit is a good way to ensure that the evening goes smoothly and without a hitch. Masters of Mystery offers a range of different murder mystery games to suit a host of different themes.
Once you’ve selected your kit and assigned roles, you can also distribute character information to your guests well in advance to ensure they have ample time to prepare their costumes and familiarise themselves with who they are supposed to be.
Arrange your space to facilitate the game. Create separate areas for different scenes or rooms if your script requires it. As the host, you’ll need to guide the evening, so be sure to Introduce the game, explain the rules, and keep the story moving, encouraging guests to stay in character and interact with each other as the evening goes on.
The bottom line
When it comes to sophisticated soirees with a difference, it doesn’t get much better than a glamorous murder mystery evening, which offers an exciting way to entertain friends and create lasting memories. With careful planning, attention to detail, and a commitment to immersing your guests in the story, you can create an unforgettable evening of intrigue and elegance; don’t be afraid to go all out as the more authentic the set-up, the better.
