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Summertime is wonderful for entertaining, and tropical beach parties are fun, easy and creative. Read on to learn about the many party variations using a tropical theme.
The summer is a fantastic time to have a tropical beach party. The weather generally cooperates, enabling you to use the outdoors as part of your decorating scheme, and you have easy access to your grill. Without too much effort, your guests are sure to feel tropical........beach sand is optional!
Tropical Beach Parties all share certain traits. All can use tropical, slushy drinks, lush foliage, food from the grill and music to set the tone. Just alter the specific details of your tropical beach party to the particular theme.
Hawaiian Themed Party
Decorations: use Hawaiian print fabric, leis, large tropical blooms such as Protea, Birds of Paradise, and colorful orchids and lilies
Music: Don Ho, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Iz), and retro aloha music set the feeling of the islands
Food & Beverage: Teriyaki marinade grilled tuna or swordfish steak, Hawaiian/sweet and sour pulled pork, or any number of great Hawaiian recipes.
Clever Theme Clincher: Greet the guests as they arrive with a fresh flower lei or just a tropical bloom to tuck behind the ear. Don't forget to say the traditional Hawaiian hello ----- Aloha.
Caribbean Reggae Themed Party
Decorations: Use bold, bright colors, (saucy orange, magenta, yellow and lime green), woven fabrics, trinkets/beads, and shells
Music: Bob Marley , reggae, and steel drum music .
Food & Beverage: Coconut shrimp, colorful fruit kabobs, banana fritters
Clever Theme Clincher: Greet your guests at the door with a cheerful Irie, the Jamaican way to say hello. Make this greeting even more tropical, by covering your front walk with beach sand and scattering shells throughout.
Nautical Themed Party
Decorations: Use nautical flags , thick roping, lighthouses, lifesavers (the bouyant kind, not the candy), ship compass and bell, and anything navy-oriented
Music: Believe it or not, there is actually a nautical style of music .
Food & Beverage: Any type of fresh seafood, prepared on the grill is perfect for this theme. Try these fantastic fish recipes and offer a variety of sauces, (cocktail, tartar, lemon, clarified butter, lime wedges, dill sauce, and garlic butter) to let your guests customize their entrées. Fresh fruit, roasted vegetables and a seafood salad should complete the menu.
Clever Theme Clincher: Hang a large brass bell at your front door, and have your guests ring it as they arrive at the party. You can hail them with a hearty Ahoy Mate, Welcome Aboard, as they enter.
Whether you choose an Aloha, Irie or Ahoy style of tropical beach party, your guests are sure to enjoy the fun that you will create.
© Text by Janice Benoit, photo by Comstock/AGE Fotostock. [July, 2006]. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright.
The copyright of the article Tropical Beach Parties in Entertaining is owned by Janice Benoit. Permission to republish Tropical Beach Parties in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Aug 22, 2006 3:03 PM
Janice Benoit :
Check out Carrie Grosvenor's <a
href="http://partyfood.suite101.com/article.cfm/hawaiian_luau_party?CF
ID=5709788&CFTOKEN=35566913">luau recipes</a>
from
her Suite 101 topic page.
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