How to throw a centuries party!

For my 25th birthday last fall, I decided to throw myself one last party (figuring I'll probably not have another one until thirty because, honestly, ain't nobody got time for that). I wanted to do something really unique and different and ended up focusing on the number 25. I immediately thought of the 1920s as a theme, and from that the idea of a centuries party was born!

What is a centuries party?
A centuries party is a dinner party where each course jumps a century. Mine started in 1625 with tea, crackers and cookies. The second course was in 1725- vegetable soup and cornbread. Our next stop was the main course, an 1825 platter of sliced turkey and root vegetables (and birch beer to drink!). We ended the night with Prohibition Brownie Sundaes, a 1925 treat served in martini glasses!

How do I know what to serve?
A simple google search made it easy to find typical colonial dishes. The key is to prepare as much as possible in advance so you can heat up the next course in the oven or crock pot and have smooth transitions.

How else can I set the mood for the century?
Music! My husband created a playlist on YouTube with songs from each century. He also timed it so the music would let us know when we needed to move to a new century. We also changed rooms with the passage of time. Tea was served in the living room, the next two courses in the dining room, then back to the living room for jazz dancing and dessert.
We also created menu cards with famous quotes from the time. Lastly, I switched out the tableware for each century. Dainty tea cups, pewter pitches and platters, tinted blue martini glasses (from the Dollar Tree!) helped change the setting.

For the history nerd in me, this was the perfect theme party! Way better than just going out to a restaurant!

Menu Cards for each century.

1625 Tea being set up!

The main course!

Delicious sundaes in martini glasses!