A lot of times when someone wants to throw a masquerade party, they have concern about their guests showing up in appropriate attire.
This can include the mask, which is the most crucial element of the costume.
It seems like it would be a great idea to provide masquerade masks as your guests enter the party.
Below are the pros and cons of doing so.
Cons Perhaps the most important negative aspect of providing masks in bulk for your guests is the additional costs involved.
The host is already expected to provide food, drinks, entertainment, and a location--often with no reimbursement from any of the guests.
Adding an extra cost of masquerade masks for every attending guest could prove overwhelming for the budget.
Another con of providing masks is that a layer of disguise is automatically removed.
At a typical masquerade, the guests face is never revealed.
However, if you provide masks as guests enter the party, their faces will be visible for a short period of time.
People will have a chance to judge them based on appearance which ruins one of the best aspects of a masquerade party.
In addition to disguise being reduced, providing masks can reduce the fun and creativity experience by attendees.
Part of the fun of masquerade parties is choosing or creating a unique mask and costume.
If you provide a standard mask for every guest, the masks won't be as much of a conversation topic for strangers.
Since mask and costume design are a built in conversation starter, it could remove a fairly large social element from the party.
Pros However, there are a few key things that are really solid benefits of providing masks.
The most obvious is that you will know that all of your guests will be appropriately dressed and costumed.
No one will show up in a scary mask because you are taking that element out of getting ready for the party.
Taking that element out of party preparation can make it much easier on the guests.
They don't have to worry about browsing through costume shops in the off season (that is, outside of October).
They won't have to take the time to make masks themselves.
This is great for the free time starved attendees of corporate type parties This is also a helpful tactic for masquerade balls for things like weddings.
Guests already have to plan for travel, hotels, wedding gifts, and other arrangements.
Allowing them not to have to focus on details like masquerade masks can be a layer of stress removed from the situation.
Weddings are the best example of this because the wedding planner can take care of the mask ordering and distribution.