Summer is here and it’s time to party! Start the easy living by planning the perfect summertime soiree. Get your guest list together and pick a date. We’ll help you throw the ultimate summer spectacular with a fun and festive theme.
Family members, new and old friends alike will love spending a laid-back day or night with great food and beautiful décor. Keep it casual or dress it up. Embrace the spirit of the season and enjoy creating a space for relaxation.
Here are some of our favorite summer party theme ideas:
Summer beach party
You don’t have to live at the beach to bring the surf and sand to your summer party. A backyard isn’t even necessary, although a great outdoor space helps establish a beachy mood. If you have a yard or outside area, little sand islands and trails create perfect places for lingering.
Indoor and outdoor gathering spots get their beach on when you decorate them with sand-filled hurricane lamps holding simple white candles. Keep plenty of beach blankets and towels on hand for lounging, and make sure you have refreshing drinks for the day followed by warm-up beverages throughout the evening.
A tropical oasis
Turn your home into a tropical oasis with colorful flowers and lush plants, as well as tiki torches and island-inspired cocktails or mocktails. Create a rainforest atmosphere complete with soothing soundscapes or invite guests into a thatched hut or luau setting.
Hand out real flower leis made with orchids, jasmine or plumeria. Serve dragon fruit or guava sorbet and consider hiring a hula dance instructor to teach partygoers traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian dance.
Movie under the stars
Wait out the intense heat of the day and congregate around a movie screen at night. Don’t have a silver screen or can’t find a place to rent one? Configure a makeshift setup with a sheet or project onto the side of your house. You can “roll” films from an old-school projector or stream them from your laptop.
Backyard movies under the stars are some of the most fun summertime parties. Hook up theater speakers, line up chairs (or piles of blankets) and treat your guests to freshly popped popcorn and natural cane sugar sodas for a new release or classic. Your event will be one to remember.
Fiesta time!
Celebrate summer with a fiesta! Look for Mexican blankets or ponchos to use as colorful tablecloths. For centerpieces, place yellow, orange or red Gerber daisies or other bold blossoms in terracotta pots or pitchers.
Seek out glasses and dinnerware in bright, festive colors. Whip up a batch of enchiladas, set out the chips and guacamole and get the margaritas (alcoholic or virgin) flowing. If kids are attending your party, think about having a piñata. And of course, Mexican music is a must. The best fiestas often feature live mariachi.
Simply elegant
A simple yet elegant summer dinner party is sometimes the best seasonal celebration. Encourage guests to dress up and join you at an evening cocktail event held in a garden, courtyard, terrace or dining room. Turn on the jazz, pass around the appetizers (or hire someone to do it for you) and revel in the bliss of summer.
Glass votives with white candles set the right tone, as do simple lights. For décor, think minimalistic and go with striking but understated floral arrangements. Take out your best china and silverware for a meal and dessert prepared with local, seasonal ingredients.
Summer tea party
Host a summer tea party and serve brunch with a variety of iced teas.
This light and breezy type of party is perfect for an early get together before the heat of the day.
Dainty sandwiches, fresh fruit and jam scones are lovely to enjoy with tea. If you have herbs in your garden like rosemary, basil or lavender, incorporate them into your food and drink. Present your spread on a table dressed with crisp white linen or cotton cloth, and decorate with shallow bowls of cut tulips or peonies.
These are just some of the ways you can celebrate summer and build a stronger bond with friends and family. The key to throwing the ultimate summer party is picking a theme you love.