Not going to the Kentucky Derby this year?? No problem! Throw your friends and family a fashionable Derby party they’ll never forget.
We have teamed up with our food and party planning expert Heather Coonradt at “Loon Cliff Specialties” to bring you some great ideas for the perfect Derby party!
The running of the 138th Kentucky Derby always takes place the first Saturday in May which this year is the fifth. But make sure you send out your invites a couple weeks in advance if you can, otherwise get on to that phone!
Like most invites include date, time, and place but don’t forget to tell them to arrive in their best racing wear! Hats, heels and all ladies! And of course, we want our men looking good in those suits!
**The “Something Extra” Tip: You can go to the Kentucky Derby website and add some of their photos to your invites. If you need to get them out faster…use Evites! Dress up your invites and people will realize that it’s a stylish occasion!
As it gets closer to your party date don’t save everything to the last minute so it becomes a stressful experience! This is about fun! Heather says “Do your grocery shopping on Thursday so you can prepare most of your menu on Friday. Then you can wake up relaxed and excited Saturday morning!”
Heather’s put together a fantastic menu to leave your guests calling you the Iron Chef! It’s quick and easy and anyone can do it! Check out the “Derby Menu” blog for all the step by step recipes.
If you’re preparing your own menu, our advice is to create light finger foods for your guests to pick at throughout the day. Make it easy for yourself and get as much prepared the night before as possible.
**The “Something Extra” Tip: On your buffet table, print out a menu of the food you are serving and place it in a nice photo frame. It gives it a clean and professional look, and your guests will come back asking for the dish by name again and again!
Decorations for your Derby party are pretty easy. The most important aspect…a TV! First post time for the first race is 10:30am on Derby Day, however many of your will choose your parties to start around two, three, or four pm. The big race, the Kentucky Derby’s post time is at 6:24 pm (ET). By this point, you want to make sure that all your guest have had drinks, and both the appetizers and the main. Then when the Derby finishes, you can put out the dessert and more drinks!!
Depending on your choice of using your dishes or paper plates, just pick a simple but elegant theme. If all you have is snowman dishes (like my family) you may want to purchase plastic plates (much more fashionable than the paper). For the Derby, the theme is Roses, a.k.a. The Run for the Roses, so you can choose white and red colors or if you’re really into racing and you have a favorite Derby pick…theme your party in their “silks” colors!
***If you don’t know what some of these terms mean, please leave a comment and we will explain!!
Regardless of the invite, the menu, or the color theme, a Kentucky Derby party is a great reason to get family and friends together and celebrate each other’s company. For me, any excuse for a party will do, and a Kentucky Derby Party?? It’s a MUST HAVE! 🙂
Happy Kentucky Derby Everyone!!