Costumes & Accessories (21) / Party Supplies (23)

Beach Party

Table of contents


Introduction

Welcome to the Beach Party, one of the most popular party themes anywhere in the world. And we all know why… sun, surf and endless sunsets that blissfully fade into some of the most beautiful starlit nights ever to be seen.

So who do you think had some of the best beach parties throughout history? Difficult to say, but here are a couple of guesses:

Pirates: Well, nothing much to say here, really. Pirates were notorious for their vile deeds, but also for the untamed abandon with which they partied until the sun lazily peered over the distant blue horizon.

Surfers: Next to pirates, these guys really know how to pack a party. All you’ll need here is a couple of your best friends, sand, sea and a really big bonfire.

You… because below we’ll instruct you exactly on how to go about organizing an entire beach party which you can hold in your very own back yard.

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Beach Party Invitations

Creating your own beach party invitations is as easy as lying in the sun. Below are a couple of ideas to get you going. Whichever of these you choose to do, be sure to include the following information:

  • Party Name: Think of something that will go with the theme of the party. An example here would be “Kelly’s Tidal Wave Blowout”

  • Salutation: An Example here would be “Dear Mike & Sandy”.

  • Date & Time

  • Venue/Location

  • Dress Code

  • Contact Details

  • Additional information…


Sunglasses

What can be better than receiving a party invitation on something useful? With the sunglasses beach party invitation, all you’ll need are a pair of sunglasses for each of the guests, a bit of string and a bit of cardboard or paper.

Once you have everything, simply cur the cardboard or paper into small rectangular shapes to resemble price tags. Once that’s done, write down all the details of the party on the cardboard or paper and attach it to the sunglasses.

Your sunglasses needn’t be expensive at all, so we’d recommend for something that looks good, but is light on the wallet.

Custom Computer Invitation

This is really easy and all you’ll need is a computer, a couple of clip art images and a printer. We’d also recommend the use of software specifically intended for making invitations and cards as their templates are excellent and easy to customize.

Simply arrange the image you want to use for your invitation on the front of the invitation and remember to include the name or title of your party. All the other details, such as time, date, location, dress code, what to bring etc., should fill the rest of the invitation.

 

Tropical Fruit Smoothie Invitation

What’s a day at the beach without a smoothie for that refreshing lift? This beach party invitation is not only inexpensive, but healthy too. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:


  • Summer fruits. Do keep in mind that you’ll have to ask your guests whether any of them have any allergies to the fruits you plan to select.

  • Clean containers. Here you can use your imagination and get your hands on a couple of funky bottles or anything capable of doing the job. Make sure they can be sealed to keep the flavor inside.

  • Labels: Your invitation will be on the label itself so be sure to come up with something creative that will embody the spirit of your party.

Now that you’ve got all the necessities, first you’ll need to fix the labels to the bottles or containers themselves. We’d recommend including a list of all the ingredients of your smoothie just to ensure that those individuals with allergies won’t be drinking what they shouldn’t. After the labels have been fixed to the containers, simply blend the fruit and fill the bottles. As easy as that!

Sample Text

For those stuck on a bit of beach slang, here’s an idea for the wording of your invitation:

“This is Your Invitation to Sam’s Gnarlatious Beach Party!

Date: 5th of July 2008

Time: Takeoff is at 12pm

Dress Code: Bikinis, board shorts, baggies, sarongs, etc.

What to bring: Only your very cool self and your hodad or beach bunny, dude! ”


Beach Party Dress Code

As mentioned above, this can be virtually anything. Most people will often combine bikinis and sarongs whilst others can be seen looking cool in their board shorts, baggies and anything else emanating that summer vibe. And just in case you’ll be spending the day at the beach, remember to pack a hat and some sunscreen.

 

Beach Party Decorations

As to beach party decorations, well… all you need is a beach really. But for those who don’t live close to the beach and plan to have the party indoors or in the back yard, here are a couple of ideas:


  • Go down to your local nursery and see if you can rent a couple of miniature palm trees.

  • Sun loungers are the ultimate in luxury beach furniture and will ensure that your guests while away the hours in style.

  • Summer sounds! If you can’t go to the beach, why not bring it to your home? Get your hands on a recording of beach sounds for that authentic indoor beach experience.

  • Decorate your place like a lifeguard house. For added effect, cover the windows with scenic beach posters.


Beach Party Guest Arrival & Announcement

If you really want to impress the guests, brush up on your beach slang vocabulary. Here are a couple of words you can use to introduce your guests:

Boss: Someone who’s outstanding; the best.

Bro / Bra: Short for “brother”.

Bunny / Beach Bunny: A girl who goes to the beach to watch the surfing.

Cowabunga!: An exclamation of excitement.

Doggers: Multicolored swimwear.

Dude: A guy.

Dudette: A girl.

Hodad: A non-surfer that hangs around on the beach.

 

And to see how you would use these words in beach party guest announcement, have a look at this example:

“Dudes, dudettes… It is my awesome pleasure to announce none other than the boss and his lovely beach bunny, Mr. & Mrs. Smithson.”

 

Beach Party Favors

Well, this really depends on your budget, but here are a couple of ideas we though would be a sure winner at any beach party:

Beach towels are a must on any beach and, as you know, you can never have enough. To go that extra mile, get something printed on the towel to ensure that your guests remember your party.

Flip-flops, Jandals, Pluggers… these all refer to the same type of shoe worn to the beach and has the ability to supply that laid-back, relaxed appearance. These will make an excellent party favor for all your beach lovin’ guests. Again, to make them even more special, have the name and date of your party printed on them.

Authentic Baywatch lifeguard’s rescue cans will make great party favors and will be useful when going for a swim too. No doubt this will encourage the mood and see scenes of the popular TV series reenacted.

 

Beach Party Activities

Yes, time for entertainment! And this is the kind your guests will need to take part in. Most of these activities can be enjoyed on the beach, in your own back yard or on a field, but in all events we would like to encourage you to get the applicable permission and take care.

Volleyball

Nothing says “I’m a beach bum!” better than having a fun game of volleyball on the beach or in your own back yard. If you don’t have the nets or the ball, just pop down to your local sports retailer and pick up a set.

Baseball

Have you ever played baseball on the beach? Well, it’s fun and way different than playing on the field. Make up your own rules and ensure that the person responsible for hitting it into the water swims for it!

As for the equipment, you’ll be able to get the bat and the ball from any sports retailer. If you have children, just ask them if you can use theirs.

 

Football

Like baseball, football on the pearly white sands of the beach becomes a bit more interesting. Suddenly you aren’t as fast as you thought you were and things get a lot tougher! Nevertheless, this is great fun and a game for everyone to enjoy.

Dancing

What’s a beach party without some good music and people shaking their hips while the sun sets in the distance. This activity can be combined with a bonfire to set the mood for a romantic night while the stars shine brightly overhead.

And of course, to make things a bit more exciting you can set up your own limbo stick to see how low your guests can go.

Bonfire

As mentioned, a bonfire is an essential element of the beach party and is enjoyed on beaches everywhere across the world. Again, we’d like to advise that all necessary safety precautions are taken and that this beach party activity is enjoyed responsibly.

 

Food & Drink

As beach parties are so casual and laid back, you can enjoy just about anything on the beach. For those who don't like to spend time in front of the stove, take aways will do just fine. But just in case you're in the mood to put in some effort, here are a couple of food and drinks recommendations:

Drinks

Pineapple Martini: All you'll need for this beauty is some fresh pineapple juice, 1 1/2 oz Lemon Rum, 1/2 oz Triple Sec liquer and just a dash of lemon juice. Remember, while some like it shaken, others like it stirred.

Mojito: For this the ingredients are 1 oz Mojito mint syrup, 1/2 oz lime juice, 5 oz club soda, 1 1/2 oz rum and some mint leaves.

Food

Well now, the all time classic is of course a BBQ on the beach with some of your best friends around you. Ideas for this include fish, pork, beef, turkey or just about anything you can think of. Take care to clean up when you're done as to avoid trouble with the local authorities.

Should you plan to eat during the day when the sun is baking down, it’s best to include light foods that are easily digested. These include salads, cold pasta dishes, sandwiches and fruit platters.

 

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