tou jours
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magazin
Patriotic
pArTy
Tips
Special Summer Guide!
Written and Styled
Emily Ruddo Photos
Meghan Beierle-O’Brien Design
Dana Beierle
Gather
up your friends and follow these easy party prep tips for a no headaches Fourth of July bash. Forgo the typical red or blue check tablecloth this year and use nontraditional decor items you already own. Using different shades of blue with red and white, blending patterns and repeating similar florals are fresh and modern takes on a traditional American holiday.
bar tips this way!
1. Choose a red hued signature drink to keep with the theme and garnish with a stirrer. Use watermelon or strawberries sliced down the middle for an edible garnish. 2. I always like to put a small bowl of nuts or olives at the bar since guests linger near the bar. 3. Add votives and a flower arrangement to the bar that are consistent with the table. 4. If serving a signature drink, fix a large batch in a pitcher or drink dispenser before the party starts to free yourself up. 5. Cover your tabletop with an outdoor fabric so that inevitable spills don’t ruin your white linens.
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take advantage of seasonsal summer fruit!
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1. I used a tablecloth that has shades of blue that I use all year round and paired it with other red, white and blue items for a patriotic theme. 2. White florals pop in colored glass or ceramic vases, and the deep red roses and blue hydrangea shine in white ceramic vases. 3. Keep floral arrangement modern and simple with the same type of flower per vase. I kept the vases white and blue only for a clean look. 4. Don’t have enough chips and salsa bowls? Use glass wide opening vases instead for an unusual take on chips and dips. Use what you already own folks! 5. Create flag themes with food as well. I spread goat cheese on baguettes and added blueberries and strawberries for a flag themed appetizer.
a perfect mix of sweet and savory
Emily Ruddo tells
tou jours
How to r magazine
Visit a local flower market for patriotic-hued petals. We used red roses, blue hydrangea, and white peonies.
To see more tips on ou
rock the red white and blue (beyond the flag) Use food coloring: We added inexpensive food coloring to water for instant decoration
ur blog click here!
Make your own flag with a baguette and fruit. We used goat cheese and berries for this fresh bruschetta.
desSert
1. Cupcakes always add fun to any party, so we dressed them up with blueberries and raspberries for our color theme.These take way less time than adding food coloring to the icing and make them a little healthier. 2. Gather your favorite candies that come in our patriotic colors, and add them to glasses and bowls for a unique dessert display. East- Coasters will want the Twizzlers, and West-Coasters will want their much loved Red Vines. 3. I used white linens for all the tables but used different overlays and runners that compliment one another. For this outdoor pool party, the texture of this natural woven runner balanced all of the color. 4. Don’t leave your top tier cake stand naked...we used a small blue bud vase and filled it with flags to create height for the table. Red, white or blue flowers also work. 5. Skip boring white napkins and go with any print in red, white and blue. Your local party store will have tons of options for the 4th. Use a fun object to keep napkins from blowing away. We used a seashell for this patriotic party by the sea.
see the full dessert spread
f o h t 4 y p Hap July!!
Sincerely,
tou jours
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