Kentucky Derby Party: Part 1 of Party Ideas for May

Party time!  Need a reason to have a party?  May has several opportunities to throw a party and I will have a series of party posts to give you some fun ideas.

The Kentucky Derby is next weekend. I just love a Derby party. Make sure to wear a big fabulous hat and pick a long shot to root for!  Here is my Mint Julep recipe.  Now I am a Kentucky girl so it just isn't a Mint Julep unless you use good ole Kentucky Bourbon.  This is a must.

4 fresh mint sprigs
2 ½ oz of Makers Mark bourbon
1 tsp powdered sugar

2 tsp water

Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar and water in a Collins glass. Fill the glass with shaved or crushed ice and add bourbon. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw.  Enjoy!

My dad has been collecting Derby glasses for as long as I can remember so I have great glasses to serve them in.

                                                                                                                                                                           

Decorate with fun accessories like horse shoes and of course it is the run for the roses so red roses are a must.

Increase the fun at your Derby party by taking bets on the race.

Cut the current Derby odds out of the newspaper and display for everyone to look at when they arrive.  Then pass out Derby tickets and have everyone choose their favorite horse or horses. Charge two dollars for each ticket turned in.  Close the betting a half hour before race time and then divide the money for every person who picked the winner, or simplify things and have each guest pay $5 to pull a horse’s name out of a cup. The winner takes all.  This makes the race so much more exciting to watch!

                Have fun!

Before the I Dos, some don'ts!

Everyone wants to give advice to the Bride and Groom to be and I am no different.  But I am a professional....or at least I play one on the internet. Here are just a few of the blunders I have witnessed.

Don't go cheap.  Cut costs not quality or style.  There is nothing worse than a tacky wedding and I mean nothing.  You want to be proud of your special day so think carefully about where you spend your money.   Plan within your budget. Don't expect your vendors to come down on their price because you want a bigger wedding than you can afford.  Treat your guests well.

tackyweddings.com

Don't be a ugly (sourthern talk for bridezilla).  Pretty is is pretty does....that's what my Mama always said.  It is your day but it wouldn't be happening if you didn't have your family and friends to support you.  Be nice to your vendors, they are vital to your wedding and will bend over backwards to help you if you treat them well.  No one likes the temper tantrums and you will mess up your make-up.

abcnews.com

Don't stuff the wedding cake into each other's face....it is just gross!

Don't get drunk.  It's just trashy.  You can have a great time and a few glasses of champagne during the evening but doing shots of tequila during the reception is really a bad idea.  No one likes to see the bride fall down on the dance floor....except maybe the older bitter single sister of the bride and in some cases the mother in law but that is a whole other blog post!

tackyweddings.com

These aren't photos you want in your wedding album....so mind you manners!


Party on,
Kelly