I’ve grown quite fond of celebrating the Kentucky Derby over the last couple years. I mean, getting dresses up in bright colors, fun hats and eating delicious food, what’s not to love?! Any sport that involves such an elaborate stylized event, I’m all in!
In the spirit of the season, I thought I’d throw together some ways I curate my perfect Kentucky Derby party!!
First and foremost, I like to focus on picking out my decor. Pastels and spring colors are always a classic, but you can always have fun with your own style as well. This year, I went with a pastel palette of pinks, purples and blues. I’m absolutely in love with how it turned out!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Kentucky Derby party without horses. So, I added a few horse details with this gorgeous golden centerpiece and sweet little napkin place holders. You can also never go wrong with florals. I made sure to add as much color and life with my floral arrangements as humanly possible!
Secondly, you want to establish a dress code for the event. This way anyone who is invited will show up ready to feel like they’re actually at the derby! I always love going all out in this department. I went with this quintessential small derby hat and lace gloves to really make my floral dress pop and feel like it’s derby-ready.
Lastly, it wouldn’t be a party without food and drinks! I love Kennedy-Jackson’s Kentucky Derby wine selection. Having my wine match the theme is always a huge plus. It doesn’t hurt that their wines are also absolutely delicious!!
Some classic drinks and food you can add to your menu are Mint Juleps, deviled eggs, flatbreads, tea cookies and charcuterie boards. You basically want to choose food items that are elegant and filling, but can also be lightly snacked on throughout your party.
I hope this helped give some inspiration for your next Kentucky Derby party or maybe even inspired you to start hosting for the first time this year! We always have such a wonderful time and it’s so fun putting together such a beautiful event for myself and my friends to enjoy together.
