Three parties to make the average movie night magical - making those summer nights more memorable!
Carmelina and I would like to believe we are brilliant in the art of seamlessly coordinating a last-minute get-together. However, in total honesty, we have never planned an impromptu party for more than 20 people, as anything over 50 people would require a minimum of two months for us to prepare. Though, should one need assistance in throwing an intimate dinner party, we would be suitable for such a task.
With my birthday party in June being such a success, Carmelina and I decided it would be entertaining to coordinate a different party for each weekend in July. These get-togethers enhanced the average movie night and made them moments of celebration. The three themes we decided to execute included stargazing, indoor campsite and fiesta - each with a unique playlist, fitting menu and appropriate decor.
Watch the full video to see how Carmelina and I brought each party to life and continue reading for helpful tips on easy entertaining.
Stargazing after Sunset
For our starry night, we decided not to complicate decorations and stuck to the basics. Wanting a peaceful night alone with the constellations, our decor had to reflect such activities. So, on the lawn, Carmelina and I arranged a charming lounge space with blankets and pillows gathered from our bedrooms. We placed stools as additional seating and added lamplight to make the communal area feel warm and inviting.
Tip #1: Lighting goes a long way in defining a space, especially when entertaining. Imagine throwing a party inside, and there was no light - no overhead lighting in the dining room, no tealight candle in the powder bath, no lamp turned on in the living room - your guests would feel uncertain and wouldn't know where to place themselves. The same is true for outdoor get-togethers; you need light to make a space inviting. It could be as simple as a pathway of candles or using twinkle lights to brighten the space ... Hell, even a lava lamp or two wouldn't hurt if the event called for it! Simply put, without the right lighting, a space will go unused. If Carmelina and I hadn't placed those lanterns around the seating area, I am sure no one would have ventured out to the middle of our yard at midnight. (See season nine, episode 13 of Friends to hear Chandler's thoughts on the matter. Skip to the 00:28 second mark below. )
The final touches in creating our starry night included putting out a telescope for our guests to use and astronomy textbooks to leisurely read as we studied the night sky. During our astronomical observations, the curated soundtrack played in the background. With clear skies overhead, Bowie's Space Oddity filled up the night's silence, as we layed staring up at the stars. For the menu, Carmelina and I decided to focus solely on sweets to serve. The selection included star-shaped Rice Krispies treats, half-moon cakes and Mars bars. The drink for the evening (we cleverly thought up) was Cosmos. We knew we would be streaming Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial outside, once we finished stargazing, so we also set up the projector and its screen.
Stargazing Playlist
Cozy Covered Campsite
For the second weekend in July, Carmelina and I planned an indoor campsite party. The party, inspired for the most part by the fact that we wanted to watch The Parent Trap (the 1998 version, not the1961 film), turned out to be perfectly timed as it was one of the rainiest nights in the month! The menu for the party included an assorted veggie platter, pretzels and four forms of s'mores. Yep, that's right, four! We offered our guests s'mores cookies, a s'mores dip, s' mores cupcakes and the traditional marshmallow, graham cracker, chocolate sandwich. It is safe to assume we all had toothaches in the morning, but it was definitely worth it!
To incorporate the outdoorsy theme, Carmelina and I used serving dishes that looked like bark. We used rustic tin as an additional element and paired it with nature-esque decorations such as pine cones and cotton branches. Lastly, we offered guests bundled blankets and started the fireplace to keep warm. With a coffee bar, done out of thermoses to reinforce the camping theme, guests made themselves a caffeinated cup to sip on as we mingled with our Campside playlist and rain falling muffling the sounds of our conversations. Which brings me to ...
Tip #2: Highlight the theme of the party by incorporating select pieces that offer dual functionality. It may seem obvious, but decorations don't always come in the form of balloons and tassel garlands. And don't get me wrong, I love tissue paper pom poms as much as anyone else, but to address a party's design properly requires looking at the finer details. Ask yourself, how can the theme be represented in all aspects of the event? If you can find something that enhances an existing element of the event, your party will appear much more unified. For our party, it came in the form of nature-inspired serving wear. (The pretzel bowls were actually outdoor planters!) We knew we needed serving trays, and instead of using plain dishes, we found an inexpensive alternative to add to the table's design. The more pieces you're able to organically arrange into the decorations, the less stand-alone pieces you'll need, such as a tacky helium balloon of a huge campfire.
Campside Playlist
Friday Night Fiesta
The last party we threw in July, for this video, was a Friday fiesta! I can't speak for Carmelina, but this was by far my favourite party. The food was flavourful, the music energetic, and the drinks refreshing. Unlike the other two movie nights, this night had a full menu. The meal consisted of two types of salsas paired with habanero flavoured tortilla chips and a tray of cheese tapas, shrimp tacos and a chilli-lime fruit platter. As we nibbled, we sipped on mojitos, which were the evening's signature drink. For dessert, while watching the night's movie, our uncle graciously made us homemade churros served with a drizzling of dulce de leche on top.
With the food being our main priority, secondary to that was the decorations. For the fiesta, Carmelina and I decided to keep the decor simple, using a lime green garland, and yellow pompoms to create a colourful backdrop. We also had a little pinata and a cactus-shaped two-tiered serving basket. Other than that, we let the food take over the design. With the dishes being so vibrant, we didn't need much else.
" It's fun to get together and have something good to eat at least once a day. That's what human life is all about - enjoying things." - Julia Child
Tip #3: Let the menu complement the event. No, I don't just mean fitting the food to the theme. But, I also propose making the dishes appropriate for the setting and atmosphere. A poolside event calls for something completely different from an indoor, seated dinner. The theme can be the same wherever, but one calls for finger food where the other leans towards a plated meal. Letting the food suit the party's environment will go a long way in making the event more enjoyable. Imagine eating chicken fajitas without a place to rest your plate. Yikes!
Fiesta Playlist
Overall, the month of July was entertaining to say the least! Carmelina and I had a lot of fun coming up with these ideas and putting them together. We love scavenging for unique pieces at thrift stores and combining them with traditional party pieces to coordinate a lovely evening. We hope you can gain some inspiration from these parties for your get-togethers. If you try any of our ideas, please share how they turned out for you. Also, keep in touch throughout August to see other celebrations Carmelina and I decide to throw!
Talk soon,
Sara
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