Cocktails on the Patio!

This is how my husband and I end each summer – with a cocktail party in our backyard over Labor Day weekend! After a summer dedicated to my role as family “cruise director,” this party is a wonderful opportunity to socialize with adults, many of whom we haven’t seen since school ended! Reclaim a bit of summer for yourself and consider hosting an end of summer soiree!

Choose a Theme

Before you get started on the specifics, choose a theme for your party! This is my first piece of advice when planning to host any get together! Once a theme has been chosen, everything else will fall into place, from your invitations to the table linens to the menu!

Given that I am currently planning my own party, I tossed up two themes for the event -

• A Nautical Theme - Nautical calls for a red, navy and yellow color scheme, with lots of seafood!
• A Sea Shell Theme - For a sea shell theme, consider white candles set in sand, simple blue and white linens and perhaps a Mediterranean menu!

With these two choices in mind, here are some specific suggestions to get you started!

Invitations

Nautical

Two fun choices from impressinprint.com include

• a Life Preserver Die-Cut which features a die cut life preserver attached to a card with a piece of knotted rope (30 blank cards for $67.50)
• Nautical Flags, a card with colorful flags flying down the left side of the invitation! Patterned envelopes accompany this invitation! (30 blank cards for $40.95) Printing is available for an additional fee.

From invitationbox.com, a cute sailboat card will convey your invitation! (20 cards for $76, including printing!)

Sea Shells

Invitation Consultants offers an “Under the Sea” invitation comprised of three die cut shapes strung together with ribbon- a scallop shell, sand dollar and star fish! (25 for $127 at invitationconsultants.com)

For a more sophisticated look, Paperbuzz sells an invitation with two beautiful seashells outlined in black. The seashells are tied together with a pretty ribbon! (30 for $54 if you do your own printing at paperbuzz.com!)

Finally, if you’re feeling crafty -

• Print your invitation information on a 4” x 6” or 5”X 7” simple colored card
• Punch a hole in one corner and then attach a sand dollar with a pretty ribbon! Sand dollars are perfect because they come with natural “holes!”
• Hand deliver these delicate invites!
• Another option is to write directly onto a large, white scallop shell, package the shell invitation into a small cellophane bag filled with sand and tie with a ribbon.
• You can buy all types of shells online at usshells.com!

Menu Suggestions

For a Nautical Party

• Consider large glass bowls filled with shrimp cocktail. Upgrade this cocktail party staple with homemade cocktail sauces – one traditional and one that is Asian inspired! See Cocktail Sauce for Shrimp and Asian Shrimp Cocktail Sauce for recipes.
• Order mini crab cakes with a dipping sauce from a local caterer!
• Visit Blue Crab Bay Co. on-line for a fabulous selection of sea inspired mixes, dips, snacks and more! I love the Sea Salt Nuts and Crab House Crunch – both are little nibbles to set out in bowls. This site also sells mixes for Crab or Shrimp Cheese Balls and Crab, Clam and Shrimp dip mixes! (bluecrabbay.com)

For a Beach Inspired Party

Create a Crostini Display -

• Grill or toast a variety of bread types – pita, Italian, Panini and more.
• Fill a large basket with the breads and then surround the basket with smalls bowls filled with toppings like olive tapenade, roasted red peppers, small balls of fresh mozzarella drizzled with olive oil, a tiny bowl of sea salt, freshly grated parmesan cheese, Nicoise olives, hummus, grilled or steamed asparagus wrapped in proscuitto, and roasted eggplant. Add or subtract from this list as you’d like!

For Both Parties

• Choose one signature cocktail to serve along with an assortment of beers, wines, and soft drinks. See Trendy Cocktails for a few ideas!
• My favorite buffet entrée is a sliced beef tenderloin, served at room temperature with sliced French bread and a horseradish sauce. I make my own sauce by adding fresh horseradish to light mayonnaise until the sauce is sufficiently spicy!
• For Dessert - plan on offering a variety of finger foods such as brownies, bars, fresh fruit on kabobs, and cookies! Or jump on the latest dessert trend and serve cupcakes to your adult guests!

Decorations

Make sure that your yard and driveway have sufficient lighting. Candles, tiki torches, and strings of white lights can all supplement your yard’s own lighting. Arrange to play music outdoors, too!

For a Beach Party

• Fill lots of glass hurricanes with sands, shells and white candles.
• Weigh down plates and napkins with heavy shells and serve food in white platters and bowls of different shapes and sizes for a crisp, summery look!
• You could also sprinkle sand and shells directly onto your table top for a natural decoration!

For a Nautical Party

• Colorful paper nautical flags are easily available at Shindigz.com. (They’re sold in sets of 10 flags, with 20” of string for $6.99)
• Use lots of candles, taking the colors from the invitation you chose! The hurricanes work well here too, preventing the wind from blowing out the candles!

I hope that these ideas inspire you to have some “adult” fun!  Your guests will love having time together after the kid driven weeks of summer!  Keep your fingers crossed for good weather and just in case, have an indoor back up plan! Save a cocktail for me!

Tags: summer cocktail party, summer entertaining, outdoor party, nautical, seashell, parties, invitations, decorations, menu, favors