How to Throw a Fabulous Beach Party

It's summer time and what makes a great summer than having a beach party, a summer beach party. Fill with fun in the sun and water, getting your surf up and enjoying the music and entertainment.

It's great if a beach is nearby, but you are not limited to the sands on the shores, a back yard will do great. Either choice these ideas work anywhere. First is to let your friends know about the party, making your own invitation is great using plain cards from the dollar store and store bought shells can create a unique invitation. However, if time is of the essence, purchasing beach inspired cards and send them out will do just fine or making your own using store bought sea shells glued on to construction paper and decorated . Decide whether it will be a day or night party and this will influence the party decorations.

Beach party decorations are essential in getting the true essence of the party whether it's in the back yard or on the beach. Having it on the beach is a bit easier as the sand and the shells give a natural atmosphere. However, whether on the beach or in the back yard you will want your guests to bring their chairs, blankets and beach towels. Have big umbrellas out to provide shade from the pelting sun, beach balls can provide hours of entertainment for guests and shovels and buckets add to the decorations.

Entertainment and music add to the fun of the beach party. Divide your guests into two teams and set up net, have volleyball games going have a limbo bar and have guest limboing (bending backwards under) to the music. If it's on the beach, have your guest compete in a sand castle building contest with judging of the tallest castle or the most authentic. The ultimate excitement is having a dance contest or a hula contest to the music of some great beach tunes such as the Beach boys or the Drifters etc.

The menu for a beach party can vary from finger foods to more traditional buffet serving. However, think of the convenient for you as the host and determine what works best at a beach party. A barbecue is a perfect beach party idea as it lets you interact with the guests while you cook the food. Here are some ideas for a menu: Lemon chicken orzo, cold shrimp served on a bed of ice with a spicy cocktail sauce, crispy crab cakes with a blue cheese dip, grilled salmon with butter and lemon, and grilled chicken with barbecue sauce. It is great to have a variety of salads and a simple dessert such as an"under the sea cake". Drinks are important to a beach party, beer, lemonade, water and ice tea will suffice. Keep all cold items cold as a precaution.

In keeping with the fun, give out little good bags filled with mini sun screen, sea shells, and mini sunglasses be innovated and have fun the beach party decoration.

Sources

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50216 (under the sea cake)
http://www.cooking.com/Recipes-and-More/recipes/Muffin-Tin-Crab-Cakes-recipe-10238.aspx (crab cake)
http://www.cooking.com/Recipes-and-More/recipes/Grilled-Salmon-with-Extra-Virgin-Olive-Oil-Lemon-and-Oregano-recipe-4730.aspx(grilled salmon)
http://www.cooking.com/Recipes-and-More/recipes/Chicken-Orzo-Salad-recipe-10965.aspx (chicken orzo salad)
http://www.themepartiesnmore.com/theme_beach.html (decorations)