Murder Mystery Dinner Party — Planning Timeline

Hosting a party can feel very intimidating and time consuming. Adding layers of a mystery, planning for clues and sending out characters in advance, murder mystery parties are a larger commitment than simply ordering a cake and some appetizers. But don’t let the minutiae discourage you from hosting a murder mystery party.

I’ve put together this outline to ensure each element is prepared for in advance, so you can fully enjoy the event and your guests on the day of the party.

If you’re deciding what kind of party pack to purchase, check out this blog post for details. Once you purchase a party pack, you can begin the advance preparations listed below.

Before scheduling a date for your party, consider fully reading through the host materials of your party pack to give yourself an idea of how much time you will need/want to plan. I typically like to have more than a month to plan, so I can manage the preparations without feeling crunched for time. 

4-5 Weeks in Advance

Prepare a guest list about five weeks in advance, then set a date and send out invitations. If you’re renting an event space for the party outside of your home, you would want to look for and reserve it as soon as you have a date picked.

Request RSVPs within the next two weeks so you can send out character cards to confirmed attendees two weeks before the party.

2 Weeks in Advance

In the two weeks leading up to the party, you can set out to prepare anything you may need to order online or find in store. I’ve had fun purchasing some physical representations of clues, if applicable, and/or buying decorations.

I like to have a set menu and drinks prepared that go with the theme of the evening. It is helpful to consider foods that have minimal day-of prep so that you don’t have to work on it for multiple hours before guests arrive. Remember that you will want all the food to be ready around a similar time, so you don’t want to have multiple items that would all need to be baked at different temperatures, for instance. Some murder mystery party packs will include suggestions for refreshments you may serve.

Week of

Now is the time to print off any materials, such as character cards and clues. They may need to be cut out or folded. If you don’t have a printer, you can head to your local print shop. The party pack may suggest a type of paper to print on. I like to print my materials on cream 32lb cardstock so that the materials have a nice feel and more authentic look.

Day of

You can put final touches on decorations, hide the clues, and get food and drinks ready for guests. Once guests arrive, you can enjoy the party along with them!