The Designer Celebrates in Bridgerton Style
So, I just had a milestone birthday, and decided, with my husbands blessing, to throw a bit of a silly party to celebrate! I have been a fan of the romance novel genre since I was a teenager and thought people might get into a themed event - and it turns out, we were right! I took a break from some of my jewelry designing for Everwild to plan this thing out. It took a lot of time, creative effort and investment but it was worth every bit! The end result was so much fun and I wanted to share the pathway to party passion with you. So here you go:
How to Host a Romance Novel-Themed Extravaganza: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Night of Love, Laughter, and Lace
‘Bring The Bridgerton Party!’
Ah, romance novels! The steamy, heartfelt, and sometimes delightfully cheesy tales that have swept us off our feet, made us swoon, and convinced us that true love is only one passionate kiss away. But what if I told you that you could create a whole event based around those sweeping romances? That’s what I did for my 60th birthday! Whether you're hosting a birthday bash, anniversary celebration, or simply a book lover's fantasy night, a romance-novel-themed extravaganza is the way to go. Here’s how to plan a night full of passion, fun, and all the right tropes!
Step 1: Save the Date - Set the Scene
First things first: you need to let your guests know about your upcoming romance novel soirée. A Save-the-Date notice should make it clear that this will be no ordinary event. You’re inviting them into a world where every detail is designed to make them feel like they’ve stepped into the pages of a beloved romance novel.
Your Save-the-Date could read something like this:
"An evening of passion, drama, and romance awaits. Mark your calendars for [Date], and prepare to indulge in a night of heart-throbbing intrigue and dazzling gowns. A world where every guest is a hero or heroine from your favorite love story awaits. Come ready to fall in love (again).”
Here is my Save-The-Date - I used Starry - ai to create an over-the-top image then tweaked the verbiage to set the tone and get people excited.
Step 2: The Intriguing Invitation – Setting the Tone
Next up, the invitation itself should be dripping with romance! Consider sending out formal invites that look like an old-fashioned love letter or scroll. Include all the essential details (location, time, RSVP), but don’t forget the all-important dress code.
The invitation can say something like:
"Dearest [Guest Name],
You are cordially invited to an evening of seduction, mystery, and more than a little bit of scandal. Come dressed as your favorite romance novel trope: Whether you fancy yourself a dashing rogue, a swooning damsel, a Regency beauty, or a Victorian hero, let your imagination run wild. From Baroque to Victorian, and Regency to steamy modern-day passion, all styles are welcome. This will be a night where the lines between fantasy and reality blur. Prepare for the romance of a lifetime.”
Here are sections from my actual invitation - I worked it through Paperless Post but Evite works very well. If you can stretch the budget, a delivered/mailed scroll would be super fun!
Step 3: Plan the Setting – Romance Awaits
Now for the fun part: the atmosphere. Transform your venue into a scene ripped straight from the pages of a romance novel. Think floral teacups, glittering chandeliers, stacks of classic romance novels, and overflowing bowls of elegant snacks. Being into jewelry, I paid extra attention to certain areas and accented with jeweled crowns, strands of pearls and glittering tiaras. Arrange tables with delicate tea cups, gold-edged plates, and vintage-looking cutlery. Set the mood with floating candles, soft-palette floral arrangements, and twinkling lights that create a dreamy ambiance.
For an extra touch, consider a photo booth with a "palace" or "romantic garden" backdrop where guests can snap pictures in their costumes. This was absolutely a winner! Imagine their excitement when they get instant prints of themselves as a dashing hero or a swooning heroine! I purchased several backdrops from amazon - palace scene, the Library, the moonlit staircase and the Old World kitchen for the catering area - it adds a LOT of fun to the ambiance. I called it The Swoon Room - made a little sign and everything :) The border was designed to look like the cover of a romance novel as a fun keepsake!
Staff: We hired 2 bartenders, 3 servers, a DJ, Chef, Photo Booth operator and photographer. What I wish I had also planned for was an event coordinator for the day-of to handle the list of all details - this event was stellar but this would have been a nice help. My sister, hubby and a couple of friends helped with so much of the set up which was huge!
Step 4: The Dress Code – The More the Merrier
This is a party where everyone’s inner book character comes to life! Encourage your guests to go all out with their costumes. Maybe someone wants to dress as a brooding, long-haired Fabio, while another guest could be a sultry Regency lady or an adventurous rogue in knee-high boots. Let the fashion from every era of romance novels make an appearance—Victorian, Regency, Baroque, and beyond! I provided some extra billowy shirts, corsets and gowns plus an array of wigs for people who needed a little extra help - well worth the cost to see how much fun they had. I made available jewelry from my Saints & Saviors collection as well as the Everwild grouping to add some extra glam.
Pro tip: Provide costume ideas for your bartenders, caterers, serving staff, DJ, and even your photo booth operator! Imagine your bartender dressed as a dashing, love-stricken Duke, or your DJ channeling the effortlessly cool vibe of a Regency rake. This ensures that every single detail is part of the fantasy.
Step 5: The Menu – A Feast for the Senses Every romance novel needs a luscious feast, and your menu should reflect the same tantalizing energy. Here are some ideas:
Appetizers
- Passionate Crab Crostini – Perfect for the guests who love to indulge in a bit of decadence.
- Crispy Love Bites – Bite-sized hors d'oeuvres with a touch of spice, as fiery as your romance novel hero.
- Romantic Roasted Vegetables – Serve these in heart-shaped cutouts to get guests swooning.
Main Course
- A Lover’s Feast – Something sumptuous like a tender roast with a side of velvety mashed potatoes or a seafood platter for an elegant touch. WE served up the local favorite Cardiff Crack open seared on a grill - fabulous!
- The Raging Heart Steak – Juicy, perfectly cooked steaks with a special sauce (perhaps an aphrodisiac-inspired one for some added fun).
Dessert
I created a dessert table with a range of cakes, petit fours, and other treats - the main cake was an almond vanilla wonder in blush pink with rainbow confetti and a sparkling crown topper.
Cocktails
The drinks will absolutely steal the show! Serve in fancy glassware and get creative with names like:
- The Bodice Ripper – A dangerously delicious red cocktail made with pomegranate or cranberry juice, gin, and a hint of spice.
- Furtive Glances – A subtle, flirtatious champagne cocktail with a twist of elderflower.
- The Drawer Dropper – A sultry dark rum and ginger beer concoction, as mysterious and exciting as a midnight rendezvous.
- Taking Liberties – A daringly strong whiskey-based cocktail that will leave your guests hot under the collar.
(I included my favorites: St. Germaine’s, Empress Gin and Rebel Vodka)
Step 6: Music & Dance – A Night of Passion
A well-curated playlist is crucial for creating the right mood. You should hire a skilled DJ to spin music that fits the romantic vibe. Get inspiration from Bridgerton—those stunning classical covers of pop songs (think “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish or “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran, reimagined as classical violin symphonies). We played a couple of hours of these tunes through guest arrival, appetizers, drinks, and getting into the spirit in the Swoon Room. Aka photo booth room.
For a truly memorable moment, surprise the guests with a special dance for the birthday girl or guest of honor. This is the time for her grand dress reveal, where she changes into a second stunning gown (perhaps with sparkly jewelry) and wows everyone with her dramatic entrance. Hands down, when I emerged through the crowd at the dance floor in a completely different dress and jewels (went from Victorian pink pom pom to dazzling dark queen) it was so much fun! My hubby andI planned a cute short dance with the classic ‘they saw each other across the ballroom floor’ start, then a little cat and mouse until the swooning dip finish - makes for great fun and photo moments!
Step 7: Fun Games – Romance Novel Tropes in Action
I wanted to inject some fun into the night with a round of Bad-Decision Bingo! Guests can mark off squares that reference the best (or worst!) romance novel tropes, like:
- "Walk of Shame"
- "Big Package"
- "Hopeless Romantic"
- "Furious Lust"
- "Over-the-Top Confession"
The person who fills their card first can win a "passionate" prize (like a box of chocolates or a cheeky romance novel). We didn’t get this to happen but it seems like a hysterical thing to do - steal my idea, please!
Step 8: Favors – Send Guests Home With Romance
As your guests make their way home, send them off with a sweet (or spicy) reminder of the night. I created custom ‘Scandles - yes, candle plusthe 's' the perfect S-candle! - rosebud-infused candles, personalized with cheeky labels like “I Burn For You” or “She’s Reading Trashy Romance Again”. These little details will hopefully leave your guests with a lingering sense of romance.
Step 9: Treat Yourself – Glam Up!
You’ll want to look the part of a romance novel heroine yourself, so treat yourself to a professional hair updo and makeup. After all, this is your chance to sparkle like a character straight out of a Regency ball or a Victorian love story. Trust me—it’ll be worth it.
Step 10. A Night to Remember
By the end of the night, hopefully, you and your guests will feel like you’ve stepped out of the pages of your favorite romance novel. With the perfect mix of costumes, delectable food and drinks, themed music, and memorable activities, your romance-novel-themed extravaganza will be a night to remember—a love story in its own right. My parting gift, aside from the funny S-Candles and the memories is to gather the photos from the night as quickly as possible and to send batches out to the guests so they can savor memories from my own photographer’s view and gives me the chance to thank them again :)
It’s been a week since the party and I have the props and decor in what I call: Bridgerton in a Box - so if anyone is planning to get a romantic soiree of their own rolling, just reach out!
How to host a Bridgerton party
How to throw a Bridgerton themed party
