Beach Party Ideas

Hawaiian shirts required

Once you have decided to throw a beach theme party, the first step is to set a party budget. Beach parties can be planned on a range of budgets. You might choose to purchase all party supplies and hire island entertainment or decide to make invitations yourself and plan your own party games. Once you've determined what you can spend, it is time to send out party invitations. Beach party invitations should be age appropriate. For example, if the beach party is for a child's birthday party, the invitations might read Fun in the Sun or A Day at the Beach, while an office beach party might be titled Life's a Beach. Invitations should also include the date, time, location, and attire, i.e. bring your flip-flops or Hawaiian shirts required.

Island entertainment

One of the best ways to bring the feel of the beach to your party is by hiring island-style entertainment. In general, guests will love dancing to beach music performed by a Beach Boys tribute band, surfer band, or reggae band. Hiring a mobile DJ is also a good way to add beach music to your event without paying for a band. You may want to provide a specific style of island entertainment from a certain location. For a Caribbean party, guests would enjoy listening to Island music and watching a steel drum band, a solo steel drummer, or Calypso band perform. For Hawaiian entertainment and other Polynesian entertainment you might choose to hire a ukulele player, fire performer, or other interactive performer.

Guests might also enjoy playing beach party games. Have your mobile DJ play beach music while guests compete in a limbo contest or a sea shell scavenger hunt event. If your event is near sand, have a sand volleyball tournament or sand castle building contest. Hire a DJ to add beach music to your event, or book a cover band to play familiar favorites. But let's be honest... what's a beach party without a Jimmy Buffett tribute band?

Beach away from the beach

If you are planning a beach party at a location other than the beach, it would be a good idea to add some party decor. You can purchase island decor from local party suppliers or online, or you can use items from around your home and make your own beach party decorations. You can easily create a beach feel by hanging up some fishing net and adding sea shells, star fish, and sand shovels to it. Also consider using beach chairs, beach towels, swimming suits and flip flops as decorations.

Many options are available for the menu of a beach party. If you're running short on time, consider hiring a caterer and choosing from a list of their specialties and creative beach party food ideas. If you prefer to make the food yourself consider preparing sea food, crab cakes, summer salads, and fruit skewers. If you're hosting a backyard beach birthday party, grilling on the barbecue is always a good idea. If you plan to serve alcohol at your event, add a tropical flavor by hiring a flair bartender to serve tasty mixed drinks to your guests while entertaining them with juggling, flipping and magic tricks.

Capturing your memories

A few other details you may want consider when planning your beach party are party favors and event photography. It is always a good idea to give your guests a party favor to thank them for attending your party. You can choose to purchase unique personalized party favors or give general themed favors. Ideas for beach party favors could include sunglasses, sea shells, or goody bags with beach supplies. You also want the memories of your event to last forever. Consider hiring a photographer to capture all of the special moments of the beach party. If you cannot afford a professional, make sure either you have a camera handy or designate a friend or family member to be in charge of photographs.

If all of this still sounds like a lot to take on, you could always hire an event planner to handle it for you. However, with the right resources you can do it yourself and have fun doing it. GigSalad is here to help you every step of the way as your one stop shop for all your beach party planning needs!