Design Ideas for Summer Parties!

Even though this week has been more like Fall than Spring, we know this Summer we are going to have amazing weather!  With the season brings, July 4th parties, birthday celebrations, beach parties and more.  In New England, summer is the time to reconnect with friends and family and come out of hybernation!  When planning a summer soiree, there are so many choices!  Whether it's a backyard pool party, sunset birthday soiree, patriotic 4th of July celebration, or BBQ and bonfire on the beach, there are so many fun decor elements to incorporate.  And of course the menu and cocktails will leave everyone wanting to come back same time next year. 

Have a Crab Shack & Lobster Hut Dinner Party!

Being partial to Cape Cod, we LOVE going to the off-the-beaten-path shacks and huts to find the best local seafood.  The places are always so casual and serve you the freshest seafood you will ever eat on a paper plate and drinks in a plastic cup!  Take this casual concept home with you. Head to the local fish market and get some lobsters, crabs, quahogs, or whatever else fits your fancy.  You can accompany these delicatessens with easy salads.  Set up your deck or yard with your outdoor furniture, tiki torches, and heavy duty papergoods.  You can serve your salads out of sand pails and even use children's sand digging tools as the serving spoons!  Pack some coolers with your favorite beer and wine and your dinner party is complete!  To top it all off throw on some fun tropical music like Jimmy Buffett on Pandora Radio.

Kid's Summer Birthday Bash!

Having a Summer birthday is always so cool to kids because you have so many options for cool birthday parties other than the typical movie theater pizza party or local 'fun zone' party.  There are so many fun things you can do for your child's birthday in the summer.  You can take all the kids to the park for a picnic and nature scavenger hunt, turn your backyard into a carnival, or a really fun themed pool party.  You could have a really fun 'Surfer Dude and Dudettes' party. You can buy an old surfboard and use it as a serving platter on top of your table.  All of the little kids would be so excited to grab their hamburgers and hot dogs off of a surfboard!  You can give out beach towels and sunscreen as a party favor or you could give out boogie boards to all of your mini surfers to hit the waves at your local beach!  A way to make things fun at kid's birthday parties is to have games and prizes to keep them entertained.  Whether you play musical chairs to the Beach Boys or do the limbo under a surfboard, you can make up fun activities with any theme.  Always use cupcakes and cookies to help bring out your theme.  Most bakeries can frost sugar cookies to look like anything you want and you can always buy cute cupcake accessories on toothpicks.  Of course an ice cream bar is always a hit at any kids party!

A Patriotic and Festive Fourth of July

We know there will be huge celebrations this year in honor of our nation's birthday.  Wish for some nice weather, enjoy the time off from work and gather friends and family together.  You can always find the standard July 4th decor at the party stores, but we've also found some creative ideas here as well!  To really impress your guests make a signature red, white or blue drink at your party.  You can make an American Flag shot, blueberry martinis, or a simple Cape Codder or even a Firecracker!  Garnish your drinks with lemons and limes on American flag toothpicks.  Since Fourth of July parties are cocktail style, you don't need to focus on table decor.  Instead, incorporate fun things to your buffet table by getting a navy blue table cloth with stars all over it or wrap your plastic silverware in red napkins and tie them with a navy blue and white stripped grosgrain ribbon.  Always use the abundance of fresh flowers to your advantage to dress up all of your cocktail tables and dinner tables. 

Caribbean Backyard Cookout

Right around the middle of July you start to get sick of the same old hamburger, hot dog and potato salad type of barbeque.  Instead of serving the same old faire, opt for a Caribbean Cookout!  Top your tables with shaded hurricane lamps with candles and bright colored Orchids and Birds of Paradise flowers.  Use palm foliage anywhere it fits.  If you get larger pieces you can lay them out as place mats or a table runner.  If you can only find smaller pieces you can use them to ring around your napkins, tie around pillar candles or just to garnish your serving platters.  Use lots of fresh fruit whether you add it to dishes as a garnish or if you add it to meat kabobs or tropical salads.  Go a step furhther and bing in a steel drum band to continue the tropical, care free vibe.  Make sure to bring out the blender for lots of frozen Pina Coladas and Strawberry Daquiris!  Butterflies, fish and birds are all used in typical Caribbean decor and can be used to look really cute and not tacky!  You can find a string of plastic tropical fish around your table or stick butterflies throughout your floral arrangements.

Whatever your style or theme, have fun and create a memorable party.