Although both events involve social interactions between members of different fraternities and sororities, a mixer is not the same as a crush party. While mixers are more about meeting new people and making friends, crush parties are designed to promote romantic or platonic relationships between members of different organizations.

A crush party in the context of American fraternities and sororities is a special type of event at which members of a fraternity (usually a sorority) have the opportunity to develop a romantic or platonic relationship with a member of another fraternity (usually a sorority). The party is organized by one or more fraternities and is only open to invited members.

Unlike a mixer, where members of different fraternities come together to get to know and interact with each other, a crush party is usually a bit more intimate and personal. Participants often already have a person from the other fraternity in mind, have a crush on them, or are already in a relationship with them. The party serves to deepen this relationship or start a new one.

While mixers are often designed as large events with lots of people, music, and dancing, crush parties can be smaller and more relaxed. They can be organized in the form of dinner parties, movie nights, game nights, or other activities where participants can interact with each other in a comfortable atmosphere.

In some cases, crush parties may also be organized as formal events, where attendees dress in evening wear and enjoy a celebratory dinner. In other cases, however, they may be very informal, with comfortable clothing and snacks or finger foods.

Overall, the main purpose of a crush party is to foster and support romantic or platonic relationships between members of different fraternities. In contrast to mixers, which focus more on getting to know and interacting with new people, crush parties are geared towards deepening existing relationships or starting new ones.