When you think of Mardi Gras you probably think of crowded streets, the flash of cameras, beads being thrown from balconies, revelers seeing what they can get away with (or show off). Right? But I bet you don’t always think of Mardi Gras centerpieces.

The street part is an important part of Mardi Gras, but like any holiday, a lot of it happens inside. If you think about it, people need to eat and they want somewhere to sit down, right? That means that people will spend a lot of time at your Mardi Gras party milling around your house or venue, not just outside throwing beads and dancing in the streets. So how do you make the inside as memorable as the outside?

This is why the Mardi Gras centerpiece was invented. Like any other centerpiece its purpose is to hold down the middle of the table and look stylish doing it. It needs to impart a certain atmosphere. But since Mardi Gras is such a unique type of celebration, the decorations you choose have to be just as unique.

A good centerpiece for Mardi Gras is tall and dominates the room. It should have a central pole, with all the decorations wrapped around it often in a spiral pattern. Some say this design is based on the central pillars of New Orleans Voodoo temples. Balloons, feathers, masks, and streamers can be added to the pole but you don’t want to overdo it. If it looks crowded it will not look elegant. The end result should almost seem like a dance rising up from the middle of the table. If you nail it your venue will look amazing!