The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was my inspiration for this “Big Easy” theme party.  To start the festivities, each guest was given a “Box of Essentials”–a white, Chinese-style take-out box with a wire handle.  On the handle of each box, I pinned, (with tiny brightly colored clothespins),  a hand-embroidered gingham napkin with my guest’s name.  The boxes were filled with all the ‘essential items” needed for the day; pennies for the ante for Bouray, a couple of cards for the pocket, (to cheat with), a mini bottle of spirits, a string of beads, a ticket for the movie, and a tiny scroll with an official Ya-Ya name. 
Each scroll was rolled up and tied with a satin ribbon.  My scroll read, 
“On the edge of a moonlit bayou, the
Mistress of Names, descendant of the “divine tribe of Ya-Yas now bestows
upon you your official Ya Ya name,
forever joining you to the proud and
true lineage of Queen Dancing Creek,
Duchess Soaring Hawk, Countess
Singing Cloud and Princess Naked-as-a-Jaybird.

You will forever be known as:
Marchioness Pow Wow”

Mint Juleps were served with a “Big Easy” menu consisting of:
Ya-Ya Gumbo
Dirty Rice
Tomato and Basil Brushetta
Shrimp Cocktail
Fresh Fruit
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Pecan Pie
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

We played a few games of Bouray before heading out for the opening showing of the movie.