How to Host an Elegant Masquerade Ball Party in 2025

Are you planning a masquerade ball party for your next big event? Regardless of the occasion, masquerade ball parties are a fun and creative way to celebrate with family, friends and colleagues. They’re even an excellent way to bring a lively and artistic touch to a kids’ birthday party or bat mitzvah. Think golden glitter, powdered pompadours and elaborate pannier dresses and, of course, ornate masks adorned with sequins, feathers and other decorations.

It can be challenging to organize the perfect masquerade ball party. Luckily, you don’t have to go to Venice, Versailles or even New Orleans to pull off one off. From invitation and decorating ideas to masks and attire, we’ve compiled a collection of masquerade ball party decorations and masquerade ball party ideas for adults and kids to get the ball rolling (pun intended). If you need a bit more help, check out our additional party planning guide.

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• History of the Masquerade Ball
• How Do You Throw a Masquerade Party?
• Masquerade Ball Party Attire
• Masquerade Ball Party Masks
• Masquerade Ball Party Decoration Ideas
• Masquerade Ball Party Invitations

History of the Masquerade Ball 

After originating in the 15th century and playing a huge role in the Carnival season, masquerade balls became even more popular during the Renaissance and the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in Paris, London and other European countries. Masquerade ball parties were held for weddings, festivals and other celebrations.

The big screen has dazzled with elaborate masquerade ball scenes in movies like The Phantom of the Opera, Marie Antoinette, To Catch a Thief, Van Helsing, Labyrinth and The Masque of the Red Death.

According to All That's Interesting, the Parisian masquerade balls of the 19th century promoted the most visual images and glamorous outlook. Masquerade balls encouraged the mixing of classes and brought wealthy and poor Parisians together.

How Do You Throw a Masquerade Party?

From the mysterious and magical to the goth, glamorous, fun and flirty, a masquerade ball will delight and entertain your guests. Despite what you may think, there is no one single way to host one; you can adjust your party to suit your occasion and desires.

Choose a Theme

The first step in planning your party is to develop a theme. A theme will set the pace and make it easier to choose items like decorations, invitations, food, music and games for masquerade ball party ideas for adults.

Before you ask yourself, “What do you do at a masquerade party?”, you need to have a sense of the theme that you're going for. There is a wide variety of ideas for a masquerade theme party that can set the tone for your event. We've broken down some of our favorites below, including the popular murder mystery party.

Choose Your Music

Music is a must. Even if you’re not going with an all-out ball gown bash theme, you’ll want to have a great playlist. For a classy and traditional affair, go with classical music like Vivaldi, Strauss, Beethoven or Mozart. Looking for a more modern sound? Don't be afraid to throw in some 21st-century tunes; that party is what you make it! Just make sure to consider the vibe you're going for and that includes the dancing.

Masquerade Ball Party Attire

What do you wear to a masquerade ball party? If you’re wondering what to wear to a masquerade ball, your theme is the best place to start.

If you’re planning a Great Gatsby-themed party, guests can don feathery flapper dresses, long strings of pearls, tuxedos and glittery masks. Go with gleaming gold, sleek silver or lush purple for a royal theme.

A kids’ birthday party is an excellent time to break out the pirate and princess attire. Dress them up in ripped pants, swashbuckling boots and a parrot on the shoulder. Princesses will enjoy getting gussied up in flowy dresses and glittery tiaras. A quinceañera celebration is another occasion when guests will enjoy dressing up in all their finery.

While costumes are not necessarily required for kids or masquerade theme party ideas for adults, they serve as a way to make the event more fun and creative. Encourage everyone to participate!

Masquerade Ball Party Masks

Along with knowing what to wear to a masquerade ball, masquerade ball party outfits are made all the better with the perfect mask. Masquerade ball masks range from full-face to eye-covering and hand-held masks on sticks. Choose traditional masks like Greek, Venetian and Mardi Gras outfit ideas or go with jesters, plague masks or a steampunk theme for your masquerade ball party.

Are you looking for kids’ birthday or Halloween party ideas? Have the kids make or decorate their own masks. This serves as an artistic activity they can enjoy together and take home.

Masquerade Ball Party Decoration Ideas

So now that we've got masks sorted, what are the best masquerade ball party decorations? Explore decorating ideas that use lighting, photo props and more to create a stylish ambiance at the party.

Elegant decorations include luxurious velvet drapes and vases filled with beads, feathers, sequins, glitter and sparkling glass balls. Use dramatic lighting, fairy lights or candlelight for simple to elegant masquerade ball decorations. Use photo props like royal-inspired thrones, crowns and candelabras to go along with your elegant masquerade ball decorations theme.

Masquerade Ball Party Invitations

Masquerade ball invitations can be found in retail stores and online. While e-vites are all the rage, paper invitations offer a personalized touch. You can find simple, elaborate and customized pre-printed invitations on sites like Amazon, Shutterfly and Etsy. Invitations with glittery masks and sparkly bokeh effects give a glamorous touch.

Whether you’re planning an extensive guest list or a small and intimate soirée, this masquerade ball party ideas list was designed to be a springboard to plan the perfect party by providing a variety of masquerade ball party ideas for adults, teens and kids.

Your next bash — whether it be as a bachelorette party idea, a sweet 16, a 50th birthday idea or a golden anniversary — will be remembered by all as a fun, thoughtful and entertaining occasion as they don their royal masquerade ball party outfits and conjure up images of Versailles, Rio de Janeiro and Bourbon Street.

For even more fun party ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!