Hey y’all, I’m not sure if there is a color palette that I truly love more than the red white and blue color palette. From kids birthday parties to summer bashes and everything in between I love having some red white and blue items to throw into different themes. But when the red white and blue truly shines is our big Fourth of July barbecue!
Growing up my parents threw a really big Fourth of July party every year and they definitely went all out. One year they even blasted Boston’s pop symphony on the outdoor speakers, while the fireworks were being shot off in the back of the property it certainly made for a memorable night.
Now that I have my own home to host parties, we like to go big for the Fourth of July.
So I’m breaking it all down in a three-part series. Walking you through some of the best budget and splurge decorations out there; next, we will walk through a menu; and then lots of fun activities to keep the kids and the adults entertained all day long.
First off, we’re gonna jump into my favorite which is the decorations. Now I have been known to be a little bit of a decoration hoarder- my husband lovingly has told me that he doesn’t care anymore what all I buy as long as I use it. My goodness if I can’t find at least one time a year to use it just so I can say “See look I’m using that thing I bought a year ago.” Luckily, he loves me enough to move all of that junk from house to house during med school and residency and beyond when we finish in a year. God bless him.
Bunting
Bunting is one of my favorite decoration pieces that makes a big difference. You can get burlap bunting to make it look a little more vintage Americana. You can get that velvety fabric like these that has the crisp, clean, white for a more modern look. You can get the American flag you can get stars and stripes. There are a lot of different options but I think it just adds such a big bang for your buck. You can string them up under your patio. You can throw them on some windows. You can decorate a table with it. It’s just an easy thing it’s relatively inexpensive and covers a lot of space.
Wrapping Paper
Now hear me out, some of my favorite things to have on hand are rolls of wrapping paper. I’ve seen all those really cute paper table runners and they’re always so thin and they’re kind of expensive y’all, so I like to go get wrapping paper so it’s thicker and wider and it can cover the majority of my table. I typically use just a plain white or solid color tablecloth, I can add that wrapping paper on top and it gives it a lot more color and depth. I love using this blue and white stripe one! And I’m spending three or four dollars on it instead of having to buy multiple tablecloths for every party we throw- not that there is anything wrong with that. I had to add that in here just in case my sweet hubs reads this. 😉
Serveware
For serveware, I’m a big believer in building a collection of white serveware. It is so versatile- I have some that look a little bit more modern some that look, a little more French country, some that look farmhouse. And you know what, when food is piled on top of it, all the whites go together really well. By using white as the majority color, it allows me to have a ton of platters and cake stands and big serving bowls to pile all of the fixings on. It’s just so great to then mix in some of the fun more holiday specific things like this bowl set, because anything goes with white.
Galvanized Steel
The other vintage Americana thing that I always grab when I see is galvanized steel buckets or trays or beverage stands. I think they look a little vintage-y but not so vintage that they’re out of style. I have used trays for food, and buckets to keep iced drinks in, and these make really cute centerpieces when you plant some but white blooms in them. You can find inexpensive ones from Walmart or some pricier ones from Pottery Barn, so you really can find a lot of different options depending on what your budget is.
Flags
You really can’t go wrong with flags! I like sticking these in some hydrangea centerpieces, or these lining the drive and front walk, around the covered patio and stuck in little mason jars on the buffet table. Each year I grab a few more and my collection grows and grows!
Honorable Mentions
Balloon Garlands- These have become a huge trend lately and honestly I get it. They are a big bang for your buck and I like to use them a lot for parties because they are relatively cheap, easy, and quick to throw together. If I were going for a more modern simple party instead of a vintage Americana aesthetic I would totally use one!
Paper Goods- I like these cute paper banners from My Minds Eye. They are fun for inside like a little drink station or for a party that will be all indoors. I’m hesitant to use paper party goods outdoors in Texas weather because the wind and humidity (since we are so close to the gulf) tend to make them fall apart. They also have some really cute plates and cups for the 4th too, but since we again, live in Texas and everything is bigger in Texas (including the food) I tend to stick with real plates for the food, but love using the cute paper plates as dessert plates or plates for the kiddos.
Lanterns- I love using some lanterns with citronella candles to add some ambiance as well as some much-needed mosquito repellent! I have them in all sizes and can pop them on tables, along the edge of the patio, or hung up on the shepherd’s hooks that flank my garden.
No matter if you plan on going vintage Americana, modern, or somewhere in between there are so many decorations out there to choose from! Next week I’m sharing all the menu ideas for a small gathering, or a large crowd. I’m big on lots of prep ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy yourself on the day of! So Stay tuned for that!
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