MINI BAR PARTY PREP
It’s hump day and I think we’re all waiting for the weekend… well I’ve been waiting since Monday morning anyways. For real though, there’s nothing I love more than a good reason to celebrate. And if we’re being honest, it actually doesn’t even have to be for a good reason… With that, I love setting a vibe to match that reason, whether it’s birthday, a GNI (girls night in), or a cabin weekend!
In honour of my throwing my sister’s Bachelorette Party at our cabin last summer, she decided she wanted a Bachelorette Party 2.0 once again this summer. So naturally, I wanted to take the decorating to the next level and scrap the pinks, golds, and “BRIDE” balloons for a look more summery, beachy, and fun!
I wanted to keep the decorations to a minimum because a) party decorations are expensive! and b) we were in a cabin not a venue sooo there’s only so much you can do to mask the wood walls and 20-year-old sofas. Because of this, I focused my efforts on our bar (AKA a table cloth covering an old table) because obviously that would be our most-used area for the weekend.
The key to decorating for a party is to recycle what you already have! You don’t need to go out and purchase a whole bunch of different things that you’ll never use again just for a one-time use. Instead, take some of your own interior decorations or objects and find a way to mix them in with your theme. Or better yet, base your theme around some of the house/patio decor you already have!
Obviously you won’t always have all the things that will work with your theme, but when that’s the case, I find all my stuff from Winners, Marshalls, Target, eBay, or a dollar store! Winners and Marshalls always have the most fun cocktail napkins, banners, and balloons. Target’s dollar spot is AMAZING. Everything is under $10 (most things under $5) and this stuff looks like its from HomeSense most of the time. Dollar stores are great for containers, like the gold tins I used for the flamingo straws above, and mason jars etc.
What I bought:
- Table cloth: a simple, plastic one works great to act as a base for whatever colour scheme or theme you’re going for. I got this peachy-coral one from Dollarama for $3!
- TIP: get one that’s reusable – you’ll probably never use it again but they’re much thicker and sturdier than the one-time use ones! And only a couple dollars more!
- Cocktail napkins: grab a couple packs of fun napkins with patterns or sayings on them – so much better than plain white ones! The palm leaves and “Drink Up” finds are both from Winners! $3-5 each.
- Piñata: I haven’t even seen a piñata since birthday parties as a kid, but I just needed this Pineapple one from Winners (just $15)! We loaded it up with candy (of course), and mini shots and alcohol bottles. Sooo much better than birthday parties!!!
- Flamingo straws: these straws are so fun! I ordered mine online from eBay for like $4 for a set of 20!
- “Happy Hour” sign: a Target dollar spot find! This $5 sign was perfect for our mini bar, but it would look adorable on a bar cart or patio table once the party’s over.
TOTAL SPENT: $35
What I had:
- Pineapple lights: These little pineapple string lights out on the deck at the cabin are what inspired the entire theme. $20 at Winners and they’ll outlive the celebration and last you summer after summer.
- Cinema Lightbox: if you don’t have one, YOU NEED ONE! I keep mine in my bedroom for daily inspo, but they’re perfect for literally any party with the customizable letters! $30 at mycinemalightbox.com or Chapters/Indigo!
- Gold tins: these little tins are perfect for holding cutlery, straws, or whatever else. I bought them for my sister’s bridal shower and have been using them ever since! $3 each at a local dollar store, but I’ve seen almost the exact same ones at Target!
- Margarita glasses: if you have any pretty or colourful glasses, no better way to show them off then as decor! These plastic ones are used for the patio but they looked so good beside the Pineapple piñata!
- Wine bottles: if you’re throwing a party, you’ll most likely have wine or champagne bottles anyways. So match them with your colour sceme and they do double-duty as decor AND a beverage! Barefoot wines = under all around $10 or under!
- White & gold pineapple dish: another Target dollar spot find! I found this earlier this spring for $5, and I’ve been using it as a candle holder, but switched tasks and it held the cocktail napkins on the bar.
- Mini candles: I’ve had these mini Bath & Body Works candles forever, but the “Peach Bellini” and “Watermelon Lemonade” scents and packaging fit with the theme so I threw them on the table! They’re under $5 each.
- Gold paper straws: I’ve also had these straws since the bridal shower, and because cocktails always taste better through straws, and gold makes everything better. $4 for 20 on eBay
TOTAL VALUE: $70
All in all, I spent well under $40 on this entire party look, and used over $70 worth of stuff I already had! Well worth it to get the good vibes going and the cocktails flowing!
What are your party-decorating tips or go-to pieces? Let me know in the comments!