(NC) – Ocean Spray offers these simple suggestions and tips for ways to enjoy Canada all summer long.
Getting Started
- Themed backyard get-togethers are a perfect way to spend time outdoors with family and friends. Choosing a theme is as simple as drawing ideas from your local community calendar and letting your creativity run free.
- The convenience of the Internet has made party planning so easy. Free online invitation sites, such as Evite, allow you to develop a guest list, send your invites and track RSVPs with a few clicks of the mouse
- Paper invites are also a great way to bring your theme alive. For example, write details on a jazz sheet music for a jazz inspired celebration, on small maps from around the world for a multicultural theme or attach party information to a candy apple if you are hosting a pre or post-carnival get-together
- Choose simple, no-hassle dishes that can be prepared in advance of your celebration and that can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer for a day or two until you’re ready to party
Set The Scene
- Festive decorations create the atmosphere and enhance the mood of your party.
- Look for innovative ways to enhance the theme of the party. For example, play soothing jazz music and ‘rename’ all your dishes after jazz musicians for a jazz festival inspired party, use little paper flags from countries around the world as picks for hors d’oeuvres if you are celebrating a multicultural event, or fold paper napkins into paper airplanes and anchor your picnic blanket with toy planes if you are enjoying the action in the skies at an airshow
- Light up an evening party safely and inexpensively by placing votive candles in glass jars, weighted down with a few pebbles, along the walkway. The lighting will help guests find their way, and the jars will ensure that the candles aren’t hazardous.
- You can also fill pails with sand and insert tapered candles
- Instead of a typical floral centrepiece, set large decorative basins or bird baths on the ground at each end of the table. Fill with water and float roses, gardenias or peonies
- Set-up an open bar and let your guests serve themselves. Fill galvanized pails with ice for drinks and set out cocktail glasses and festive garnishes for the final touch
Festive Finishes
- These fun finishes will make your party memorable and leave you with enough time to enjoy.
- Freeze cranberries, raspberries or mint leaves in ice cubes and add to the punch bowl
- For a refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail, add sparkling soda to an Ocean Spray Cranberry Cocktail or White Cranberry Cocktail, serve in fun patio glasses and float a few frozen cranberries in the glass for a
- special finish
- Provide your guests with small disposable cameras to capture the event and have a computer savvy friend help you set up a post-party website with photos and party stories to keep the memories alive
Little Extras
- Don’t let it rain on your party! Tall beach umbrellas not only provide a little shade from the sun, but also serve as protection from a summer shower
- Burn decorative citronella patio torches to keep bugs away and cover food to keep the bugs out
- Find a collection of small smooth stones to use as weights for napkins and paper plates on an outdoor table to avoid having the wind blow everything into your neighbour’s yard
- Everyone knows the best food is eaten with your fingers! If serving sticky finger foods such as ribs, chicken or corn on the cob, set out a tray with pre-packaged damp towlettes
Be the first to comment