Are you hosting a July 4th party? I love a good July 4th party because it’s an easy, breezy party that’s fun to throw together. I shopped my garden, kitchen cabinets and freezer (for the vanilla ice cream) for my patriotic tabletop.
I’ve got a red and white (with a touch of gold) centerpiece, no-cost napkin rings, and my signature drink is a piña colada milkshake.
Whether you’re grilling steaks, ribs, hotdogs or a little bit of everything, keep it casual, keep it fun and keep it red, white and blue.
Patriotic Tabletop
When we’re eating outside, I like to keep (my favorite word for this post) things rustic. A few years ago, my husband and I made a table out of wood pallets. We originally made it for potting plants, but we use it for everything. The best part – it’s still standing. 🙂
For the centerpiece, I had a thought to use my gold 3-tier serving tray. I grabbed little terra cotta (rustic) pots and filled them with red and white petunias. I was going to spray paint the pots red, white and blue, but I was too lazy and I kinda like them the way they are. But if it floats your boat, go ahead and grab that spray paint.
I realized that I didn’t have enough terra cotta pots, so I searched my cabinets and found little mason jars and little white bowls. I think my mix-and-match centerpiece is a winner.
At the end of the party, I’ll send the flowers home with my guests. Centerpiece = take-home favors. Done.
My red bowls are perfect for holding big scoops of ice cream! You can’t have a 4th of July bash without homemade ice cream.
Napkin Rings
Have you been to the home improvement store looking for paint lately? Did you grab a handful of paint sample cards? Run to the store, grab blue paint samples and tape them around red napkins.
If you have white napkins, grab a few red cards and you’re set. I just so happened to have more red napkins than white. (Yes, I use them during Christmas, too)
Signature Drink
You’ll probably have a couple of coolers full of assorted drinks, but I always like to serve a signature drink as well. For my 4th of July party, I’m serving Pinã Colada Milkshakes. Yum! It’s a keeper, y’all!
Helpful Hint: I use rum extract for my family friendly milkshakes. If you want the real deal, substitute the rum extract with 1/2 cup rum (makes 2 shakes).
Piña Colada Milkshake
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 2 Tablespoons rum extract
- 6 Tablespoons cream of coconut
- 6 Tablespoons chilled pineapple juice
- Garnish with maraschino cherries or pineapple slices
Instructions
- For every 2 drinks, mix all ingredients (except cherries) in a blender. Pour evenly into 2 glasses.
- Garnish with cherries or pineapple slices.
PS – Need a few patriotic dessert ideas?
How about this red, white, and blue ice cream cake?
Or, try my red, white and blue cobbler.
You can never go wrong with red, white and blue cupcakes.
The kids may love these red, white and blue snack cups.
What are your plans for the 4th of July?
25 comments
Wow Alli! The table top is stunning and the photos are amazing! I love your creative the centerpiece is and those napkin rings. Great idea to use the planters as keepsake for the guests. These 4th inspired recipes look amazing, too. That ice cream cake is calling my name and pina colada is one of my favorite drinks!!
Your red, white and blue 3 tiered centerpiece is stunning! Petunias are such a fun flower to display. I have some on my front porch. You just can’t beat shopping what you already have and being able to create such pretty table decor! Pina colada is such a fun beverage for the summer! Just saying ‘pina colada’ makes me think of summer!
It does not seem like it is already time for the fourth of July!! Love this table top decoration idea!
Everything and you look so good! I’m totally stealing that drink and making it for Fourth of July celebration! I love how you decorated it at all those delicious desserts Yum!
Oh my gosh I love those desserts!!! What a great table set up for the fourth of July!
Pina Colada milkshakes sound like a fun summer drink. I think that my family would enjoy them.
What a gorgeous display, I love how beautiful your photos are. It makes makes want to come to an event at your place 🙂
These are all fantastic ideas. I love the 4th of July. We’ll be out of town, but maybe next year I can host my own party!
Happy Fourth of July, Alli! You always have amazing party ideas. I love the plates you chose and the idea of a signature drink is lovely! I’ve always loved a non-alcoholic pina colada.
Allies I love the way you made use of what you had in your cabinets. My favorite is your use of the paint sample cards around the napkins. All great ideas to celebrate without breaking the bank.
Your parties always look so fun! Yay for you for using what you have around the house to decorate. Give your items a new life by just using them in another way. You are so clever.
Now this looks like a Fourth of July party I would love to attend!! Great post!
Oh that is so cute. Perfect for the fourth! Your signature drink sounds so good!
This is so awesome! Perfect for the 4th… I always love to see what everyone comes up with and this is wonderful. I wish more people cared about Canada Day like they do the 4th! So awesome, all of this!
That’s a nice set up for the 4th of July. The cupcakes also looks extra tasty for the celebrations.
You are so creative! I love this patriotic tabletop, great inspiration
These are indeed awesome patriotic tabletop decorations and delicious food items too. I love the idea of the pina colada milkshake and will be using this recipe this weekend. This center piece with the flowers is just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the recipe and the ideas.
This is such a pretty setup! I love all of the creativity and will have to use some of these ideas for my get together.
I will take 2 of those drinks! They should so delicious, I love the inclusion of pineapple with it. Perfect drink for July.
Over halfway through 2016? Whaaat? Hard to believe! Love celebrating the 4th and these drinks are just what I need!
You had me at the Pina Colada Milkshake … I am now drooling. I REALLY need to make that for myself!
This party looks great! Those milkshakes sound delicious, and I love the Impatiets centerpiece, so pretty. )
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
gorgeous table settings! I love how you incorporated flowers 🙂 have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!
Loving the table settings especially the cupcakes so delicious and very beautiful. Have a wonderful 4th of July
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