Many of us see the Victorian era (the 1890s and early 1900s) as a time of romance, beauty, chivalry, and elegance. What better way to honor that era of bloomers and bicycles built for two than to throw a party with a Victorian theme? There can be many different types of Victorian parties, depending on budget size, type of entertainment, and goal.
#1: Victorian Gala
This is a more seriousparty where guests should be required to dress in authentic costume or at least wear appropriate trousers and vests or gowns. Very few people have Victorian attire, so the “next-best-thing” would probably be a good choice. If the gala is mostly for adults, plan side-line activities for any children who may be attending. It is always a good idea to make sure children will know the proper etiquette.
The food choices at a Victorian gala should be authentic . . . think along the lines of delicate finger sandwiches and an elegant dessert rather than chicken fingers, pizza, and burgers. Dancing is a wonderful idea if the party will be mostly comprised of couples. Period music should be fairly easy to find; the music should be subtle and soft.
#2: More Light-hearted Victorian “Get-together”
A less-strict Victorian celebration can be celebrated in a much different way; for instance, perhaps the decorations and food can be historically accurate but guests can wear more casual dress. Children will have more activities as well. Faster-paced games can be employed. For both the gala and the casual party, check online to find out which games were popular. Many people collect Victorian art like valentines, cards, and portraits. See if you know anyone who could contribute some of these items to the party. If you own some Victorian art or can find some at a reasonable price, it could create a beautiful decoration, table décor item, etc.
#3: Theme Party from a Certain Victorian Item or Holiday
A third option for your Victorian party is, instead of having a broad theme, choose a certain element of Victorian culture to theme the celebration around. For instance, the huge beribboned hats ladies wore at the turn of the century, or the huge bicycles that were so popular. Also consider doing a “Victorian holiday party“ rather than a regular “Victorian party.” Do a Victorian Valentine’s Day, centering the party on the red and white, ribbon and lace that was popular on Valentines of the day. “Victorian Christmas” could involve fancy ornaments and ribbons that were used to decorate the tree in that era.
Although there were certain games that were popular at *real* Victorian parties, that doesn’t mean you have to only stick with those activities. One option is to make up a game related to that era; “see how many lacy valentines you can find” and “pin the wheel on the old-fashioned bicycle” are some good ideas that should be particularly fun for younger guests. If it’s possible to procure magazines with pictures of Victorian valentines, children, clothing, or early cars, etc., consider having children make collages.
Food
In Victorian times, there were no casseroles, TV dinners, and the like. People liked garden parties and fancy get-togethers with elegant foods, so try to find some old cookbooks or research to see what kinds of foods are appropriate. Cakes, of course, were always popular! Pies would also be a good choice. There should be various descriptions online of what Victorian foodstuffs consisted of; if you know someone who had an ancestor who lived in Victorian times and may have passed stories down to their descendants (especially stories of what they did at parties in those times!) consult them first.
If you’re lucky enough to live close to a paper or party supply outlet, there should be many different cup, napkin, and plate sets that are floral, old-fashioned, or that have an appropriate theme. If not, consider ordering sets online. If you’re striving for a completely realistic experience, fine china or at least good dinnerware should be used. Victorians would have always used their best plates for such an occasion! It depends on how truly authentic the celebration is going to be. Ask yourself this: Is it going to be an “I-can’t-believe-this-isn’t-the-turn-of-the-century” party or will it turn out to be a less authentic but still memorable “Tribute-to-the-Victorian-age-but-I’m-still-wearing-my-jeans” party?
Entertainment
Is it possible to find CDs or cassettes with music from the Victorian era? Look for midis or other music files if this isn’t an option. Know someone who plays an old-fashioned instrument? This would also be a great choice for party entertainment. To further the atmosphere, ask folks not to use “modern” slang terms and stay as “in character” as possible. This greatly enhances the mood, especially if you mention a certain historical event as if it just happened. Guests could each choose a name that would have been popular around the Victorian era: Tiffany and Justin might become Millie and Clarence for one night.
Have fun planning your Victorian party, and feel free to add to the suggestions with research, the input of friends and family, and your own creativity!
