Turn Your Yard Into A Tropical Paradise

Summer will be here before you know it. Now is the perfect time to start getting plans together for a Tiki Party or Hawaiian Luau.

Send out handmade invitations in the shape of hibiscus flowers or leis, and ask your guests to wear their favorite Hawaiian or flower shirts, grass shirts, sarongs, or any dress to put them in the Hawaiian mood.

Provide leis when they arrive and maybe even have silk flowers attached to clips for the ladies.

Decorate your yard with tiki torches. If you have a fire pit you can have that lit and provides eating around it with chairs or straw beach mats.

If you have a pool, place flower lanterns or floating candles in the water. You could place several small children's pools with water or sand, or some with sand and some with water, and add seashells or sea animal shaped candles ,  or mini tiki candles.

Paper lanterns, hanging leis and silk flowers attached to a pergola or strung around the yard also add to the effect.

Tropical drinks and punches served in coconut shell cups, kabobs and lots of fruit (especially pineapple and coconut) will feed your guests. If you can find a way to put a pig on a spit over the fire pit,even better!

Have plenty of tropical music, a limbo stick, a Tiki pinata, and activities that will correspond with the theme for the total Hawaiian experience – no matter where you are located.  Aloha!

Creating a Fantasy Setting

From the time they could play dress up little girls played Cinderella, and dreamed of Prince Charming and a fairtytale life – enchanted castles, carriages, beautiful slippers and living happily ever after. That is why the fantasy theme is so popular for weddings, quinceaneras, birthdays and proms.
With the royal wedding in England only a month away, more women will be daydreaming about their own Prince – along with their own fantasy wedding with all the glitz and glamor of a regal affair.
A fantasy theme is not difficult to put together, from elaborate staircases leading up to ivory towers (such as in the photo), or wall murals of castles and standees of a carriage being pulled by a white stallion.
There are numerous fairytale favors that fit into the fantasy theme – frog prince or carriage or crown trinket boxes, crystal carriages, sand castles and so many more.
Light in all important! With light columns, strings of lights dotting a staircase or entrance way, and candles in the background and on the tables you are creating an ambiance of a dream. Add ground fog for an added effect.
If you are using the fairytale theme for your wedding a number of accessory sets are available that includes ring bearer pillows, pen sets, guest book and flower girl baskets.
Create the dream atmosphere for your special event, and start the night with the idea of living happily ever after.