Invite: I kept the invite cryptic and simple to fit with theme. I created a Squid Game card and sent it through snail mail to each guest. The front of the card had just the circle, triangle, and square like the one in the series. The back had just the date of the monthly dinner and the logo. No other information. Since these dinners are always at my home and always at 7:00, it was not a big deal to include no other information. Once guests RSVP'd, I did send an email asking guests to arrive in a track suit if they had one or athletic clothing.
Decor: There is a pretty large color scheme you could have for this dinner. You could do all neon bright colors like the stairs/doors the contestants go through in the show, or you could use the dark teal like the track suits. I choose to use a mixture of colors and not stick with just one or two. I set the table with a red tablecloth and laid a tug-of-war rope along the length of the table to symbolize the Tug-of-War game in the Squid Games.
For a centerpiece, I filled various size vases with marbles to represent the marble game. Out of the top of each vase, I included a character from the games - Gi-Hun (#456), the disturbing Red Light, Green Light robot girl, and one of the guards.
As guests entered the party, they were given a number patch much like the contestants are given a number. I used the numbers of all the popular characters in the series, but since I had more than 8 guests, I made other numbers as well. I printed the numbers on sticker paper. This didn't work really well as they had difficulty sticking. Ended up just safety pinning them on.
For place cards, I just printed out the same number patch. I placed a small bag of 10 marbles next it them to represent the marbles game. We didn't actually play a marble game, but you definitely could at your party.
For the place setting, I cut a black circle and a white triangle, square, or circle out of cardstock at set it in the middle of each plate to represent the guard masks used in the series.
I made my napkins to look like the coffins. I cut the bow out of pink cardstock and lightly glued it to a black napkin folded into a rectangle. I used a pink marker to embellish the bow a little.
If you have seen episode 7 of Squid Games, you will recognize the symbolism of the wine charms I made. I cut a white mannikin out of cardstock and created a pink bib with black straps for the mannikin to wear. I had nine guests, so the bibs had numbers 1-9. I lined these up on the beverage table in an arch like they are in episode 7. I used these bib numbers for the order of our glass bridge game we played later in the night just like they were used for order in the episode. (Keep reading to hear about this fun game later in the post).
I designed my wine labels to go along with the series as well. For the red wine, I played off the Red Light, Green Light game and switched "Light" to "Wine" for the red. For the white wine, I showed the guards with their common phrase of "you have been eliminated" and added the Drink Up above it.
Menu: There are a lot of food references in the series, but I wanted my food to be extra creative and not just a Korean dish. We started with just a simple calamari (squid) as an appetizer as guests arrived.
Next, I served a green salad with only green and red items to represent Red Light, Green Light. I used romaine lettuce, spinach, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and red tomatoes.
For the main dish, I made beef turnovers, but shaped them into circles, squares, and triangles. Each guest got two turnovers, each one a different shape. I called them "Your Turn is Over Turnovers"! These were super yummy as they always are when my family makes them. Definitely a challenge to make them into these shapes, but worth it!
Along with the turnovers, I served peas. I called this dish "Edible Marbles."
For dessert, I made the famous South Korean candy Dalgona. I served each guest a metal tin with the Dalgona inside and of course the Dalgona had a shape. I only had small cookie cutters in the shape of a star and a circle, so all of mine had one of those shapes for this party. I didn't have an umbrella or a triangle like they use in the series.
It was fun to see the guests use a needle to try to cut out their shape without damaging it.
A successful completion of the challenge! The circle is intact!
Party Games: There are so many games that could be played at a Squid Games party. Besides a quick challenge with the Dalgona, we only played one game at this dinner party. I recreated the Glass Bridge which was really fun, and definitely not such a "killer"!
I bought 12 shirt boxes from Amazon and set bottom and lid next to each other down a line. I used giant bricks I already owned under one box at each set, and the second box had only bubble wrap under it! Guests went in order of their wine glass mannikins just like they do in the episode. If a guest stepped on the box that happen to have the bubble wrap under it, it popped like the breaking of the glass and the contestant was eliminated. If they happen to choose correctly and picked the box with the brick, they were able to advance to the next step of the bridge, etc. Just FYI - A normal size brick would have been dangerous, but the bricks were large and not wobbly at all. I didn't want any guest rolling and ankle or anything. Something to think about if you decide to do this game.
Favor: Throughout the television series, the contestants look up at a huge glass ball that is filled with money each time a player is eliminated. I wanted to play up this idea for this Squid Games party. I purchased plastic ball ornaments that split in half from Amazon. I bought chocolate gold coins and placed some yummy coins in each ornament. The rest of the ball, I filled with mini South Korean bills (wen) I printed and cut out. The tag on the ornament let each player know they were the "winner" with the same amount that is awarded in the series.
Just love these monthly dinners with these girls. Glad we all made it out of this Squid Games adventure in one piece!
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