Decorating a Campsite for a Luau
Getting the Party Started
Decorating for a party can be a lot of fun if you put some imagination into it. Decorating a campsite for a luau is fairly simple: All you need is the right decorations and a bit of imagination. With the right supplies, you can transform a regular campsite into something out of paradise. Begin with a trip to your local party-supply store. If you do not have such a store in your area, you can purchase luau supplies at various websites. And searching the Internet can also give you some pretty good ideas of what you might need as far as decorations go. Consider what sort of paperware, plastic wear and party favors you want to have at the campsite, and take into consideration the weather and surroundings, as well. If the forecast says it's going to be breezy, you might not want to hang anything from the trees, in case the wind catches it and it flies off.
What to Buy
Decide how you want to decorate the campsite. You can hang streamers from the trees, or you can hang tiki-shaped balloons around the site, as well. If the site has a table, which most do, you can purchase a tiki hut topper, which transforms an ordinary table into a tiki hut. This is especially useful if you have a food station or a bar set up. Inflatable palm trees can add to the ambiance of the campsite, as well. The hosts can wear grass skirts to add to the fun. Purchase a light-up table skirt for the campsite table, as well. There is a variety of tabletop decorations on the market, such as mini palm trees, tikis and Hawaiian-flower centerpieces. You can set the mood by setting up a portable stereo and playing music from a Luau CD. Limbo sets and tiki-toss games can also add to the fun. Purchase light-up margarita glasses or tiki glasses to drink out of.
Paper plates are the most practical dinnerware for an outdoor party. You can dispose of them easily, and there is virtually no mess to clean up. Choose plates with an "aloha" or luau theme. You can also find matching napkins at most party-supply shops. Buy some paper umbrellas for the cups or glasses, as well. This will add a tropical feel to the drink, even if it's just punch. You can also serve punch or other drinks from a tiki pitcher and outfit your glasses with tropical flower straws. Or, if you'd rather, you can find plastic cups shaped like coconuts.
Treating Your Guests
Having little things that guests can take home is almost always fun for them. Guests normally like to take a little something home with them, to remind them of what a good time they had. You can find personalized items for your guests, such as tropical lip balm or margarita glasses. If you don't want to go to the expense of having everything custom-printed, you can buy tropical lip balm in bulk, or perhaps just a bunch of leis. Luau jewelry is also a good way to go when it comes to outfitting your guests. Hats are another fun way to get them in a festive mood. Noisemakers and luau sunglasses are fun items that guests can take with them. If you want to go all-out, you can purchase cutouts that look like a man and woman dressed in grass skirts, against a beach background; this will give guests the opportunity to take photos of themselves "on the beach."
Tags: Decorating Campsite, from trees, grass skirts, guests take, margarita glasses, palm trees