How to Host a Summer Party with a New England Vibe! Looking for summer party ideas with that laid back feel? Get these tips for easy summer entertaining!
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Cape Cod® Chips and Samuel Adams®. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to follow @capecodchips @samueladamsbeer for more flavor pairings throughout the year.
Summertime is the best time for low-key entertaining. Everyone is on board for backyard cookouts and lazy days in the sun, so the party vibe should follow suit by keeping fussiness to a minimum.
One of my favorite ways to entertain is to establish a theme around the food, drinks and decor. It makes for easy menu planning and creates a fun atmosphere for guests to enjoy. This summer, I'm trading in South Florida's tropical feel and hosting a simple summer gathering that brings the laid-back coastal ambiance of New England to my backyard. With a few simple tips, tricks, and products, I'll show you how to bring New England-style soiree to your neck of the woods, no matter where you live!
On-Theme Food & Drinks
Food is one of the easiest elements to help carry out a party theme, and a well-planned menu can help drive home the vibe you're going for. Luckily, Cape Cod® Summer™ Potato Chips Cracked Pepper and a Hint of Lemon and Samuel Adams® New England IPA make it easy to set the tone with very little work!
Cape Cod's Limited Edition lemon pepper chip flavor {only available during summer of 2019} was developed to pair perfectly with the citrus notes of Sam Adams New England IPA. The IPA is a hazy, juicy beer featuring a big punch of grapefruit with a clean, smooth finish—a perfect thing to sip on while munching on citrus-infused chips—and is sold nationwide. {For more information, visit www.capecodchips.com and www.samueladams.com to find the retailers nearest you!}
Other coastal classics to add to the party menu include:
- Fresh steamed or fried seafood {clams, shrimp, oysters, etc.}
- Lobster rolls
- Clam chowder shooters {because a whole bowl of soup in the steamy summertime might be a bit much}
- Cool, crunchy cole slaw
- Cape Codder cocktails
Decor That Creates Detail
You don't need to spend a lot of money on decorations to create a tablescape that fits a theme, especially when you're going for a laid-back summer look. A little creativity & repurposing of items that you already have can go a long way in designing the little details that set the mood.
- Skip the good linens and check out your local craft stores and party supply stores for paper napkins with a coastal motif like sailboats, anchors, captain's wheels and seashells.
- Order inexpensive embellishments {such as nautical rope, fishing net and lighthouse decor} online and use them to give your table or bar area a bit of detail to go with the theme.
- Seek out items that give off a New England feel like galvanized tubs and buckets, enameled serving trays, distressed wood/driftwood elements, and even seersucker or madras fabric to tuck underneath bowls and buckets.
- Purchase pretty blooms {extra points for those native to New England} to give a fresh feel and impart natural beauty
- Head to the dollar store for hurricane vases and candles to add a warm glow as the sun sets.
For my take on a New England-style party, I kept things simple by filling a large, galvanized metal tub with ice and Sam Adams New England IPA as an easy grab-and-go bar. In order to give a more elegant look without having to worry about real ceramic plates breaking on hard outdoor surfaces, I used nautical melamine plates that I already own instead of paper plates. I found a cute cardboard lighthouse online and used it as a beacon in the center of an enameled platter to draw guests over to Cape Cod Summer chips {which got rave reviews, by the way}, and set out simple dips to go along with them.
Relaxing Atmosphere
The most important part of any gathering—New England themed or not—is for guests and hosts alike to relax and have fun! Create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere by doing simple things to ensure an easy, breezy mood:
- Arrange seating so that there are areas for intimate chatter. If available, use large outdoor floor pillows, a hammock, or even a fire pit area to entice guests to kick back and unwind.
- Serve foods that are easy to eat! Finger foods are great for summer gatherings. Don't forget to have plenty of wet wipes and lemon wedges around to help remove any seafood smells that may linger.
- Create a soundtrack using mellow tunes and even seaside sounds if you really want to transport guests to a Cape Cod locale!
- Set up simple lawn games like horseshoes, washers or corn hole to create areas of interest around the party space.
- Don't sweat the small stuff! Clams turn out too rubbery? Dog ate the bowl of chips? Couldn't find any coastal decor besides some cheap seashells? Don't stress! Your guests are there to be with you, so focus on "only good vibes" and they'll have a great time, too.
Are you ready to summer like a New Englander? Head to the Cape Cod and Samuel Adams websites to find the closest retailers of these party-starting products, and kick off summer with a coastal-themed celebration!