How to Host a Memorable Party for Memorial Day.
By now you know that I, for one, love to throw a party. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, casual or elegant. I love entertaining in any and every form.
You? I realize that for some of you, the thought of hosting a party brings on a panic attack. If that describes you, I’m encouraging you to entertain with a “party” small or big, for Memorial Day!
WELCOME TO MONDAY MORNING BLOOMS!
Today, Pam, Mary, Shirley and I are delighted to welcome our sweet friend Shannon of Belle Bleu Interiors. You will LOVE Shannon as much as we do! She loves all things home and family. Creating a warm and loving home is what feeds her soul. Shannon lives in Mustang, Oklahoma, she will inspire you to create a warm, comfortable, and happy home no matter where you live!
For this Monday Morning Blooms, I’m sharing a fun, easy and stress-free party. Memorial Day is by definition casual, so there is no need to get all fancy! You literally gather all your red, white and blue dishes, napkins and whatever else you might have, create a simple flower arrangement, maybe throw in some flags, make some cocktails and turn on the BBQ.
How easy is that??
HERE ARE MY EASY TIPS FOR HOSTING AN EASY, STRESS-FREE & FUN MEMORIAL DAY PARTY.
PLAN.
When I entertain, I write down a plan. Writing down everything really helps me keep focused and helps me from feeling overwhelmed. {It also helps me not to forget a dish that I made especially for the party. Late at night, I’ll find it in the fridge! Do you do that? Or am I the only one??}
The three parts of any party are {in my order!- you know I love a good table-setting!} Table setting, food, and drinks. That’s it!
A. Do you want your table {party} to look a certain way? Think about colors, a theme, perhaps, and which tablecloth, napkins, dishes, flatware, and candles etc. you want to use. For Memorial Day, Red, White & Blue and Patriotic are a given, one reason it’s a great way to start entertaining again!
B. Decide on a Centerpiece. For our Red, White & Blue theme, flowers in those colors were an easy choice!
C. What food will you serve? For me, simple good food always wins over fancy, lot’s of attention needing dishes. For Memorial Day, turn on the BBQ! {I’ll share our favorite Chicken skewers later on in this post.}
D. Drinks. Easiest thing is to serve a special cocktail, and perhaps wine or beer. Throw in a few non-alcoholic drinks and you are ready. I usually serve a cocktail, wine, and have iced tea, water with mint or cucumber slices and maybe a sparkling 0 calorie water in cans available.
Once you’ve answered these three questions, you have a plan, and the rest will be much easier!
A. SET THE TABLE.
Before the actual party, I usually set up a “mock setting” so I can see how it looks. A huge fan of more is more, I just want to make sure the mix of dishes looks as good in real life as it did in my imagination. But you can’t go wrong, really! Mix it up if you love that look, or keep it pure and simple, either way, it’s going to be great!
I used our French Provencal Tablecloths in blue on the main table as well as several small tables. The under plates are antique red transfer-ware, the top ones are these cute melamine Red, Blue & Linen crimped plates. They have the look of paper plates but aren’t. Our favorite Linen Navy Ruffled Napkins complete the look perfectly.
B. MAKE THE FLOWERS.
Use what you have in the garden, or go out and buy a few bouquets, fresh flowers always add beauty and charm and speak a party language.
For this table, I used a small antique red and white transfer ware tureen. Since I couldn’t really find any great flowers this week at my favorite flower place, I decided to use a few flowers from the garden! Using the floral tape from our French Flower Arranging Kit, I taped off a grid that really helps the greens and flowers arrange themselves! Begin with the greens, I clipped off a few small branches and placed them all around the container.
Next, fill in with your flowers. Simple. It doesn’t always have to be a grand, amazing floral arrangement. This one actually looks prettier in person!
C. PARTY FOOD.
Don’t stress about this part. It’s a BBQ! You can go super easy and buy pre-made burgers at the store with brioche buns, or make these incredible Asian inspired Chicken Skewers {my family adores these, even my little people gobble these up and ask for more!} When making the skewers {BEST PART…Mr. FGH does the actual bbq-ing!} I serve with a simple salad, rice from Trader Joe’s that you pop in the microwave, fresh fruit, and a dessert. SO EASY!!
D. DRINKS.
A special Summer cocktail adds that extra dash of festivity to your party. I love these Champagne Cocktail Sugar Cubes. They come in Peach, Strawberry or Raspberry and each flavor is delicious! Drop in one per glass of champagne or prosecco, or more for an intense flavor.
I like to have glasses, bottles of bubbly on ice, and the cubes set up on a small table so guests can help themselves. I usually print out a little “sign” or write on a small chalkboard how to make a cocktail so guests can help themselves.
Make sure there is also a pitcher of sweet tea, or lemonade, and water with cucumber or mint on the table too. This way guests can just refill their own glasses and you won’t worry about that!
I set up my little bar on the deck this time. It is a little out of the way, so guests can wander over to this other part of the garden to refill their drinks.
The antique matress ticking set the blue tone, the Vintage Veuve Clicquot Champagne Basket holds champagne flutes. I couldn’t help but use the red transfer plate with Betsy Ross holding the flag as the base for an antique champagne glass holding the Champagne Cocktail Cubes.
Finally, HAVE FUN!! I know this sounds silly, but really, the success of any gathering is not the decor, not the flowers, not even the food. It’s YOU! If you are relaxed, happy and enjoying yourself, your guests will too. Enjoy being with your family and friends, it’s why they came!
One last thing.
Finally, even though Memorial Day is the “official opening of summer fun”, let’s not forget the meaning of this holiday. A day to remember and honor our military men and women, and their families, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Let’s honor those who lost their lives fighting for our country by observing The National Moment of Remembrance. It’s an annual event that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died in military service to the United States.
8 Things you may not know about Memorial Day
What are your plans for Memorial Weekend? We’d all love to know- tell us in the comments!
Please be sure to visit my crazy talented friends for their floral inspiration by clicking on their links below!
Shannon of Belle Blue Interiors
Shirley of Housepitality Designs
and me, Lidy of FrenchGardenHouse
A BIENTOT
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Lidy, you are always filled with so many suggestions on “how to party” with flair!
Your table and arrangements are always inspirational and oh those napkins and love how you embellished them with that sweet red, white and blue ribbon. I remember how we used to entertain casually almost every weekend by the pool and friends bringing their favorite dishes…Hopefully soon we can do that again..taking forever for our patio/fireplace to get done. I am loving your sweet deck. Now let’s talk about that amazing Champagne Basket!!! …. Thank you for all of your wonderful “inspiration and information” today…and always. Always such fun joining you on our “Bloom Days” Lidy…Have a most beautiful day and a week filled with happy!
I love a great party! : ) I am looking forward to seeing your patio and fireplace! I remember when you were here you told me all about the plan, even before the house was beginning to be built. I know it will be wonderful. Always a blessing to join you for our Bloom Days. xo
Wonderful tips for a casual fete, Lidy. I agree the event should be in a relaxed, easy style. Love your table, floral arrangement in transferware, and the cocktail sugar cubes!
Thanks for your visit Rita! Wishing it could be in person, to sit in the garden and drink a champagne cocktail, or tea.
Lidy, You’re a girl after my own heart, a fan of “more is more” ! 😉 Your garden setting looks so inviting and perfect for hosting a gathering for family or friends for any occasion or holiday. Your petite transferware tureen makes a beautiful vessel for flowers and how wonderful is that vintage Veuve Clicquot basket?!! Those Champagne Cocktail Cubes as such a fun idea too! As always it’s a treat to join you for some flower therapy. Thanks for the beautiful start to my day. Happy Monday
Happy Monday, dear Mary! It is always a pleasure to join you, friend, for Monday Morning Blooms. Even with a petite flower arrangement. Wishing you a gorgeous week ahead. xo
Your garden looks like such a beautiful setting. And thank you for the great ideas. Let’s hope the weather cooperates…we’ve been having a lot of May gray. Your beautiful garden flowers will brighten for sure. Thanks for the tips!!
Thank you Marta. We’ve had a lot of grey days too…and even rain (which we desperately need!) this May. I hope that the weather gets a little sunny for you too. Happy Monday!
Lidy, you always have the best tips and advice for us when it comes to hosting a wonderful party! Your setting is absolutely gorgeous in your lovely garden. Your floral arrangement is beautiful, and you used my favorite French tablecloth! That rich navy blue provides the perfect backdrop for a patriotic setting. Thanks so much for inviting me to be a guest bloomer. It has been such an honor and a joy! Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, sweet friend!
Thank you so much, Shannon! It was such a pleasure to have you join us this time. I’m popping by right now to see your floral beauty, friend. Wishing you a gorgeous week ahead! xo
Yep, more is more at our house and yes I have forgotten to serve a dish because it was stored in the basement fridge. I love entertaining also whether it’s two or more I’m game. I especially like to have guest on our screened patio overlooking the pond during the summer or at Christmas in the dinning room all gussied up. Your ideas are so helpful. I love the sugar cube idea. And setting the table a day before is time saving and helps me to make sure the silver ware and crystal sparkles. I am addicted to lovely table cloths and have a closet full. I love yours always and the fact that you use whatever necessary to make it pretty and fun!
Thank you, Alice. You and I are kindred spirits! Oh, how lovely it sounds to sit on your screened patio overlooking the pond! My little California home can only dream of such things. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead, Alice.
The list-such a good idea. I must follow this because there is always something I forget. That basket is so fantastic! How fun to make your own especially when it looks as inviting as that. Your last words of advice to enjoy your company and time together and that being why they came is all so true. It is the being together that is most important but you made it lovely and festive as well! I hope all Americans will take that moment of silence to remember those brave folk.
I am so happy that I am not the only “forgetful” hostess, Ruthie! : ) Thank you so much for your visit, I hope you have a beautiful week ahead! xo
Forgot to say how much I love the tureen! And the Betsy Ross plate.
Lidy, more is more is my motto. Your tips for throwing a party are perfect and you seem to entertain so effortless. That feeling of casual style allows friend and family to feel at ease and enjoy themselves. Your garden is a lovely space to have a party. The arrangement of flowers looks beautiful in the small transfer ware tureen. I am crushing over the vintage Veuve Cliquot basket.
It is always a pleasure to share flower therapy and Monday Morning Blooms. Wishing you a lovely day’
Pam, thank you! I love joining you for our special Monday Morning Blooms – always such a delightful way to begin our week. xo
Memorial Day is such a special holiday, honoring our brave who served so selflessly, and a wonderful way to kick off the summer! I adore your arrangement in the pretty red tranferware, and all the entertaining tips~ the champagne sugar cubes sound like so much fun, and the chicken skewers from Damn Delicious are going on my menu soon! Your garden is the perfect party room, and I love the bar set up on one of your tables. I will be at our beach house with my children and grands, and I’m sure the BBQ grill will be going non stop! Have a wonderful holiday Lidy!
Oh Jenna, that beach house with the children and grandchildren sounds fantastic!! Thank you for your visit, I hope that you have a beautiful week ahead, friend. xo
Such loveliness! I too enjoy throwing parties. In fact we just had one.
Your tablescape is stunning. And your arrangement in the red and white soup tureen is quite beautiful!
Thank you for such a lovely post!
Enjoy your week my friend.
Thank you Nancy! It’s always so good to hear from you…and isn’t it marvelous that we are once again able to host gatherings?
You are the queen of entertaining; casual but always stylish! You’ve given me a lot to think about for the holiday weekend. I’m happy to have stocked up on outdoor dinnerware over the years, but the pretty napkins and ribbons are going to be right on the table next to my pieces! I love the sugar cubes and the gorgeous flowers in the tureen!
Have a wonderful holiday, Lidy!??
Jane
Thanks Jane! It’s always a treat to see you here. I am sure that no matter where you are, in town or at the lake, your friends and family always find it wonderful to be entertained by you!
Lidy, great tips for entertaining! We have no special plans for Memorial Day, but you can be certain our table will be set with red, white, and blue. Your details are perfect for a celebration for Memorial Day or any day.