We’re right in the heart of crawfish season and what better way to celebrate than a down home crawfish boil. Hosting a crawfish boil is one of the best ways to feed a crowd and bring them together. Those Louisianians really know how to bring family and friends together and throw one heck of a party. Nowadays, crawfish boils have become popular for couples’ wedding showers, birthday parties, family reunions. Oh, who am I kidding? Just hosting a crawfish boil is reason enough!
The best part about hosting a crawfish boil is it is super easy to decorate. Personally, I always like to add a little of my own touch to any party that I host. You know, just add a bit of snappiness to the décor. In my opinion (and this goes for any event you are hosting), the invitations set the tone. I love sending invitations the old-fashioned snail mail way. I mean who doesn’t love to get a pretty envelope amid the junk mail and bills. It’s like a little pre-party in your mailbox. 
First things first, before the invitation, you need to decide on colors. When I think of a crawfish boil, I for sure think of red with accents of white wood-tone browns, yellow and a touch of navy blue or black. Ok, now we can focus on the invitation. You can either design and print your invitations yourself or you can buy pre-made invitations and handwrite them. One suggestion if you handwrite, go ahead and purchase a nice pen to make the writing a bit more special. Also, if you buy plain handwritten invitations why not put a little surprise in the envelope, like a little bit of confetti or you could attach a bit of burlap to the invitation to jazz it up.
Since the menu is basically done when you host a crawfish boil (you know, crawfish, corn on the cob, potatoes, onion all thrown in the giant crawfish pot), you can spend all of your time focusing on the decorations. I like to start with the tables and go from there. Typically, newspaper is spread on the table for a boil, but I prefer to use a plastic tablecloth underneath the newspaper. A red and white large gingham print or a solid red look great. Next, you’ll need paper towels, lots of paper towels. Although I add a roll of paper towels to each table, I still like pretty napkins. This is where you can add a pop of color like the navy or yellow. Roll the utensils in a napkin, tie with a piece of jute, attach an individually packaged wet wipe and then place in a galvanized bucket or Mason jar.
Of course, you can’t forget plates for your guests. For the crawfish, boil theme I think either a solid red, brown or clear look the best. For the silverware/plasticware I like to use either clear plastic or the faux silverware. I like things to match but not too much. It’s a fine line when it comes to being too matchy. It’s more pleasing to the eye if things flow and blend rather than identically match.
Adding a few flowers is always nice to soften the look and often unexpected at something like a crawfish boil. Keep it simple with just one type of flower. For example, sunflowers or daisies. Use a few small vases and add a single bloom to each. Balloons are also a great addition. Again, like the plates I would go with groups of solid red balloons. Lemons also make a great accent for your touch of yellow and your guests will need them. Add a few crawfish-themed beads for your guests and the table is all set. 
I love setting up a photo op area for guests. Some of my favorite party pics are the ones that have some kind of backdrop. For a crawfish boil photo op all you need is a plain plastic tablecloth for a solid backdrop or a nice brick wall will work well too and red fans. 
Don’t skimp on the fans that are available at The Party Place. The picture will look better if they are layered rather than sparsely place. For instance, make one side heavier than the other. Twotwentyone.net has a great tutorial for making this amazing photo backdrop. 
If you want to amp up the fun factor add a few props for your guests.
Finish your look off with hanging paper lanterns or a crawfish banner.
, both of which are available from The Party Place. Now that you’ve got all your decorations, it’s time to get down to business. When purchasing crawfish, you’re better off to purchase fresh crawfish from a local supplier. You don’t want to pick it up until the day of your event or the evening before if you plan to start the boil the next morning. If you purchase from a reputable, local supplier they will be able to give you all the proper seasonings and tips on having the perfect boil. Turn on some music, relax and enjoy the day with your family and friends.
Get in touch with your local Party Place (Fort Smith, Rogers or Conway) to get your supplies (except the food) for your upcoming crawfish boil! Remember, they can even ship the supplies to you if you’re not close to a store!
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