Maggie, There are several companies that make the murder mystery parties. I like Murders by Vincent, BePuzzeled, or a la carte. They seem to be the easiest to use. They come with complete instructions on what and when to do things. The last one I did was called Chinese Takeout(I got it on ebay) and I did just like it said. I got chinese takeout. I sent a menu from the local chinese restaraunt and everyone told me what they wanted. I got lunch portions because they are large enough for dinner. I prepared the appetizers except for the egg rolls they were included in lunch. For desert I served bananas and strawberries with strawberry gel on top and brownies just like at our local chinese buffet. Once I decided what game I wanted to play I looked over the suspects and assigned charactures from there. When you send out the invitations you let each person know who they are and the invitations have a brief descritption of each character and what they would dress like, along with a story line giving city, year that kind of stuff. Your guests do not HAVE to dress in character but it does make it more fun. My husband was the chef, so we borrowed a chefs jacket and I was the long lost daughter of the woman who was murdered. My character was very excentric and didnt like things that matched...how easy was that. When the guests arrived as appitizers are being served with coctails everyone is given a script ( almost like a little brouchure). It tells you more about your character and tells you how to play the game. Normally in part 1 that is done over appetizers and it will tell you what to disclose and what not to tell, it will also guide you to ask questions of other people there. If everyone is new and has never played this before it does not hurt to ask if everyone has told everything they need to before you go to the next part ( or Act) and course throughout dinner. I normally try to do appitizer, dinner, dessert & coffee. Just remember that if you do one of these, that if everyone you invited does not show up ...you cant play unless they are a non suspect. The game we are doing on newyears eve I have one guest that is very very shy and wants to come but is not real sure how much they will participate so I am making him a non suspect that way he will participate as much as he wants. The best part of these parties is the party favors......I love that part. I found some small wedding photo albums at the $ store and bubbles, and with elvis being there I also had to get the new reese cups that have peanut butter and banana and a picture of Elvis on the front...I hope I didnt go on to long and I hope this was not too confusing...its been a long day and if I didnt answer all you questions let me know. Oh one thing I forgot you can buy these games at target they are about 25.00 but if you "WIN" (that makes me crazy) one ebay they are usually pretty reasonable. Donna

These gals have great ideas! I liked Crystal's idea of the coupon thing too! My suggestion would be that the album need not contain photos that the professional photographer takes. That way, you don't need to consult him beforehand or give any kind of list. Just make sure that you and a couple other guests have your own camera and just take lots of snapshots. Then you can give your prints to her and she'll have all the right photos to put in her album. I'm currently working on my wedding album, and it is all photos that were taken by my aunts and dh's aunt. Lots of stuff; our rings, our cakes, our head table, our harpist, signing the register, walking up and down the aisle, the receiving line etc. You get the idea. Then, if the bride wishes, she can add a studio photo or two just to finish off the album. Kelly

Except they tell me that computer printed pictures will fade with time. I'm hoping that is because of the air and light getting to them..which wouldn't be the case in an album. I had one that I had hanging on my bulletin board and it faded to a ghostly print in a short time. I have one under glass on my desk and it is fading some but not as fast as the one that was completely exposed...both have had about the same amount of light..only the one under glass was sealed from the air...but it "is" fading. I can't see that the ones in my albums have faded, but I don't think they will stand the test of time...

hi i havent posted on here in forever but you really should get your photos in acid free scrapbooks and there will be loads of space to journal about your photos also should be be done with acid free ink. Check out www.gracefulbee.com for some ideas or feel free to email me with any questions i have done 30 acid free albums in the past 6 years and i just finished my wedding album ( i just got married in oct).