Hosting a Backyard Fiesta

Hosting a themed party is an opportunity to create a special space for friends and family to enjoy, an excuse to go up and down every aisle at Homegoods, and it’s good for the ‘gram. In this case, it also means unlimited tacos and pink margaritas.

What’s not to love?

Well… As much as I appreciate a good themed party, I really hate tacky themed parties. You know, the kind of party that has cupcakes with icing that stain your teeth blue and cliché decorations.

When it comes to hosting a themed party, it’s all about the execution and I’ve learned that you don’t have to go overboard with decorations to make a fiesta feel festive! Attention to detail is the secret to making a strong and lasting impression.

SIMPLIFY THE SETUP

Truthfully, I already had most of these items, so my advice is to always work with what you’ve got first. Then, fill in with a few decorations here and there.

Take a look at my backyard fiesta, for example. Nothing about this poolside party is over the top or flashy. In fact, it’s actually pretty simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s not special!

A themed party with a few unique pieces will always outshine a surplus of party supplies from Party City. So with that idea in mind, here are a few of the elements that brought my vision to life:

Cactus Straws

These paper straws by Revel & Co. are so perfect for the themed occasion and are a must-have for margaritas! At $8 a pack, they’re a cute, inexpensive addition.

Striped Ramikens

Ramikens are a great staple to have in the kitchen for cooking, baking and entertaining. For this fiesta, I used them to serve fruit on the side, but ramikens are also great for appetizers that require dips and sauces.

Papel Picado Garland

How beautiful is this Mexican lace bunting, known as papel picado? Believe it or not, each tissue paper flag was hand cut by Mexican artisans! Traditionally, these intricate banners are used to decorate Mexican street parties, festivals and other special events. I love that it’s just as authentic as it is beautiful.

Docksta / Janinge Table and 4 Chairs

My roommates joke that I love anything that’s white, and honestly — they’re not wrong. What I love about this minimalist set from Ikea is that it’s the perfect blank slate for entertaining. Whether you host a fiesta or choose some other theme, a white table with chairs will allow you to go in any direction with decor.

Natural Jute Placemat

This placemat from Pier 1 adds much needed texture to my otherwise simple, white setup. But instead of placing a jute mat at each seat, I just used one as an easy centerpiece.

Faux Cactus Plant

I bet you have at least one house plant, real or fake, in your home right now. If not, a quick trip to Target will fix that! Keeping with the theme, I rounded up my succulents and cacti from around the house to complete the arrangement.

FOCUS ON THE FOOD

When deciding what to serve, keep with the theme, but don’t be afraid to add a unique twist.

At my fiesta, I shared Grilled Shrimp Kabob Tacos with Pineapple, and Mexican Street Corn Dip. I was pretty impressed with the turn out, but if you’re not convinced, you could also try a Mexican Style Fruit Plate with Chili Lime Salt, Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos or Authentic Mexican Guacamole.

Grilled Shrimp Kabob Tacos

Holy YUM, you guys. I’ve been craving this take on tacos ever since.

Mexican Street Corn DIP

Load it up a with spoon and eat it plain, or scoop it with a chip. Either way, if you love Mexican street corn, you will love this dip!

Have you ever hosted a themed party? Let me know in a comment below if you would like to see more ‘entertaining’ posts here on Easily Inspired!