A Guide To Hosting The Best Summer Cocktail Party

Throw a tropical soiree in your backyard this summer that your friends and family won’t forget with my guide to hosting the best cocktail party.

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Celebrating Summer And Sipping Cocktails

The sultry weather here lately has made it feel more like the tropics than the Midwest. So it only seems fitting that this month’s theme for supper club is a tropical cocktail party!

Once again it’s time to team up with my blogging friends Anne, AnnMarie, Michele, Rachel, and Stacy to share our latest tablescape and recipe creations with you. And today, I am sharing my guide to hosting the best summer cocktail party.

But first, if you are new to our supper club parties, here is a quick backstory on how this monthly blog series began.

The idea for our virtual supper club started more than two years ago during the height of the pandemic. Since gathering in person wasn’t an option, sharing ideas for planning unique seasonal and themed dinners at home was the next best thing. And so our little supper club was born.

You can see some of our past supper club parties, menus, and entertaining ideas here.

Each month, we also invite a guest blogger to join us, and I am happy to welcome back Kelly from the Tattered Pew.

Kelly lives in beautiful Colorado with her family and recently transitioned from teaching to blogging full-time. I am so blessed to call Kelly both a friend and a mentor.

If you haven’t met Kelly yet, I hope you will take a few minutes to swing by her blog, say hi, and see how she styled a tropical tablescape in her stunning backyard oasis.

Welcome To Midwest Life And Style

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For those who are new, here, welcome! I’m Jen, a wife, mom of two, and the one-woman show behind this blog.

You will find a bit of everything here at MWLS. From thrifty DIYs to recipes, decor styling tips, and more. I love to share about all the things that make a house a home.

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But that’s enough about me. Let’s dive into my guide for hosting a tropical summer cocktail party.

A Guide To Hosting The Best Summer Cocktail Party

Today I’m sharing an easy guide with everything you need to know about hosting an unforgettable summer cocktail party. From how to choose a theme to tips for setting the table and what foods to serve.

This post covers all the bases to help you celebrate summer in style. If you can’t go to the beach, why not bring the beach to you? (All while sipping on some fruity cocktails, of course.)

How To Choose The Perfect Summer Cocktail Party Theme

So you’re planning a tropical summer cocktail party. But how do you choose the perfect theme?

It may sound too simple, but my answer is to trust your instinct and let inspiration be your guide.

Anything can spark an idea. Maybe it’s a photo in a magazine. A vibrant piece of fabric you spot at the craft store. Or it can be as simple as an unexpected vintage treasure you discover at the thrift store.

All are great ways to narrow your focus and hone in on what tropical means to you.

Having already styled a vibrant Hawaiian luau tablescape with bright tropical colors, I wanted to do something a bit different this time around.

So, when I started to think about hosting a tropical summer cocktail party, I used my recent birthday trip to the Dominican Republic as a guide.

The gorgeous blues and vibrant turquoise hues of the ocean, along with the white sandy beaches served as my inspiration.

So, I settled on a cool color scheme using different shades of blue and green, with creamy, neutral accents sprinkled throughout the decor.

Create A Charming Tropical Centerpiece For Your Cocktail Party

In my ultimate guide to hosting an unforgettable summer cocktail party, the second tip is all about creating a charming tropical centerpiece.

To give your cocktail tablescape a beachy feeling, blend natural elements with a touch of coastal decor to create a charming centerpiece.

To create a tropical beach-inspired tablescape, I started off by draping a crisp white linen table runner over my patio table. Then, I added a touch of coastal accent by layering on some decorative fish netting.

For an extra dose of “beachy-ness”, I placed two large glass candle holders with knotted rope accents in the center of the table.

I originally planned to fill each candle holder with sand, but, I fell in love with some beautiful crushed seashell filler instead.

A pair of white taper candles added ambiance to my tropical tablescape. And the addition of a few white stone votive holders that I scored on a recent trip to the dollar store set the mood for a casual gathering.

Next, I paired a few pieces of weathered driftwood with an assortment of cream-colored seashells, ranging in shapes and sizes.

Some shells are thrifted finds, while others have been collected from our family vacations to Mexico, adding a sentimental touch to my tropical cocktail party tablescape.

Elevate Your Cocktail Tablescape With Fresh Summer Flowers

The third tip in my guide for hosting a casual cocktail party this summer is all about summer blooms!

I love to include a bouquet of fresh flowers on all of my tablescapes. And the best part is you don’t have to break the bank to create a stunning seasonal arrangement.

The grocery store and your local Farmer’s market are great places to pick up inexpensive bouquets. Or better yet, cut some flowers from your own garden.

To complement my blue and green tropical-themed tablescape, I opted for some beautiful blue and white hydrangeas arranged in a rattan-wrapped vase.

One of my favorite summer flowers, the hydrangea bouquet added the perfect finishing touch to my cocktail party tablescape.

How To Style A Casual Tropical Tablescape

When it comes to styling a casual tropical tablescape for a summer cocktail party, layering is the name of the game.

I started with some vibrant-colored blue and green block print placemats. Then, I set a rattan charger at each place setting.

To add to the tropical feel of the table, I placed a large leaf on each charger before layering the plates on top.

At each place setting, I used a trio of plates, including my favorite cream stoneware dishes paired with some vintage dessert plates.

Then, for a pop of color, I introduced some turquoise plates (another fabulous dollar store find) to carry through the ocean-inspired color scheme.

As I set the table, I placed a napkin with a seashell design at each place setting.

And this summer cocktail party was the perfect occasion to bust out my DIY starfish napkin rings.

I created these for a coastal fall tablescape last year, and love how they help the tablescape feel complete.

To finish, I tucked a dark blue fabric napkin inside each ring, effortlessly tying together the tropical cocktail theme.

Oh, and I can’t forget about the whimsical touch of using a classic blue ball jar as a drinking glass. Paired with a brown paper kraft straw, it gives off a nostalgic summertime vibe.

Create A Cocktail Party Menu Your Guests Will Love

And, the last tip in my guide for hosting a casual cocktail party this summer is all about everyone’s favorite part of any gathering…the food!

Transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise with an unforgettable cocktail party menu that includes a variety of mouthwatering, island-inspired recipes your guests will love.

Here are a few of my favorite tropical-flavored drinks, appetizers, and desserts.

Refreshing And Fruity Drinks

Frozen Pineapple Margarita | Double Berry Blended Daiquiri

Cocktail Party Appetizers

Cheesy Shrimp Dip | Hawaiian Cheese Ball

Pineapple Salsa | Pineapple Chicken Salad Bites In Phyllo Cups

Irresistible Desserts

Triple Berry Crisp | No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake Cups

A Guide To Hosting The Best Summer Cocktail Party

And that’s it. All my best hosting tips and guide to help you throw an unforgettable tropical-themed summer cocktail party.

If you’d like to recreate the look, I’ve linked all of the items I used to style my summer cocktail party below for easy shopping. Or, if you have questions about any of the items I used, leave me a message in the comments

More Summer Cocktail Party Tablescape Ideas

Thanks for stopping by! I hope these ideas help inspire you to throw a fun cocktail party this summer.

As always, be sure to check out all of this month’s party inspiration, linked below.

And don’t forget to join me again on Saturday to check out our menu with six new tropical-inspired party food recipes.

Xo,

More Tropical Cocktail Party Tablescape Ideas

The Ponds Farmhouse | Bricks ‘n Blooms | Vintage Home Designs

Midwest Life and Style | The Tattered Pew | Simply 2 Moms

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