Tropical Theme Party On a Budget

July 19, 2019 New York, NY, USA

Tropical Theme Party on a Budget

I had a little get together over the weekend and wanted to share my tropical themed party with you guys!

Tropical Theme Party Decor.
Throwing a party can be very stressful, expensive and quickly can get out of hand if you don’t have a plan and a budget. Don't let these factors scare you away from throwing a party and creating memories with your loved ones. Today I'm sharing some of my favorite tips for planning a fun, budget friendly party everyone will love!

If you didn't know this about me, I love anything tropical related! So I figured since it's summer, why not throw a tropical themed get together. I've seen many people go all out for their parties and that's totally fine but I always think it's possible to get the same effect on a budget. Whether you're having a small or large party, you can find ways to keep the cost down if you think creatively. Here are some tips to help you plan out your next party on a budget!

Pick a Theme.
Every party needs a fabulous theme. This is so key. Before you spend a single penny on any party supplies or decor, be sure that you have picked a theme that will keep you on track. A theme helps you set the tone for the party and focus your planning efforts. It also helps keep the budget under control, because you can spend less and have a bigger impact when your expenses are all centered around the main theme idea. Pinterest, Instagram and magazines are full of inspiration. If you're stuck and don't know what direction to go with, the instant you stumble upon a theme you love while researching, the creative ideas will start rolling in!

Finding Supplies/Decor.
Depending on your theme and when your party is going to happen will determine where you'll get your party supplies. I always like to do a quick google search and compare and contrast different places such as Party City, Target, and Walmart. But I always like to go in store because you can skim through the clearance section or see sales that may not be happening online and find more affordable options. Two other places I also love to check out is TJ Maxx and Marshalls, because they have the cutest cards/invitations available and if you think outside of the box you can use their home decor things as party supplies as well. If you want more customized party supplies Etsy is the place to go. Also don't under estimate your local dollar store! You can find seasonal pieces at your local dollar store, balloons, decorative wall art, or get just plain essentials  (plates, spoons, forks, cups) you can use that won't break your budget.

For my tropical theme, I broke it down to what do you think of when you hear the word tropical? By having those instant associations with your theme this will guide you in the right direction in finding decor and supplies for your party and it will all come together cohesively! So these were my associations that came to mind when thinking of the word tropical:
  • greenery (palm leaves, plants)
  • fruit (pineapple, watermelon, coconuts, papaya)
  • tropical drinks (piña coladas, smoothies)
  • pops of color ( flowers, bright colors)

When looking for party supplies I stuck with three colors (yellow, green, and pink) which helped bring everything together at the end. Since it's summer many party supply stores had summer/tropical things for sale which made the shopping process easier. Like I mentioned before, think ahead if you're planning a party so can find great deals on seasonal things

Focal Point.
Every party has a focal point and that depends on you and what you want focus on. Whether you have accent wall decorated in your home, a table set up in your back yard/park, or a fun backdrop at a venue. This allows making the space more inviting and feel like it's an actual party, but also it's a great place to take photos with your guests! You can have a drink table, food table, dessert table, or etc be the focal point, it's all up to you!

For my party I decided to have a dessert table and also decorated the wall to make it pop a bit more. I did have a cake + cupcakes made for my get together and if you want to know more about the bakery where it was made (click here) for my information! Since the cake was going to be focal point of my dessert table, I started thinking about what other options I could place on the table. This is where your creatives juices start flowing. 

Pineapples and watermelon are in season right now so those ended up being very affordable. I cut them up into finger bite pieces and put them in pretty bowls or plates. I bought a bag of grapes and placed them on skewers. I bought a box of glazed donuts and added pineapple picks on top of them. I made two patches of fresh juices and put them in nice cups and garnished them with umbrella picks and fruit. Adding actual coconuts to the table also gave it that tropical feel. The table decor came together by finding a jut inspired table cloth from the dollar store, fake tropical flower strands from the dollar store that I cut up and placed all over the table, and $5 fake palm leaf decor pieces I already had which came from IKEA.

Tropical Theme Party on a Budget

Tropical Theme Party on a Budget

Tropical Theme Party on a Budget

Think of Your Guests.
Whatever type of party you're having, always keep your guests in mind. Think of the age group, the type of people that will be attending, and also the ambiance for your guests. These factors are key because you don't want to serve fancy food for children or certain drinks for a crowd that doesn't like that particular beverage, or having music (dj or a band) play at your party for people who don't vibe with that type of music. 

We all have people from all walks of life in our lives so making sure everyone is comfortable, attended properly, having seating, and also some sort of entertainment whether it's (card games, board games, party games) so everyone is having a great time! I know you probably all over the place the day of your party but don't forget to enjoy it as well and document your party. I've seen many people have disposable cameras at their house parties or those polaroid cameras which make it fun to take pictures and look back those fun memories!


Tropical Theme Party on a Budget

Comment Below,
What are your go to party planning tips?

14 comments

  1. Your blog is awfully appealing. I am contented with your post. I regularly read your blog and its very helpful. If you are looking for the best Grey Mailing Bags, then visit RV Packaging Ltd.. Thanks! I enjoyed this blog post.

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  2. Oh my gosh you did such a great job with this decor!! So pretty!

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  3. this is so darn cute! the colors, the decor, I just love it all! and the flamingos are just adorable!

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  4. This party theme is so freaking cute! I absolutely adore all the vibrant colors and fun decorations you added. So creative and perfect for the summertime.

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  5. This party turned out so cute! I would absolutely love to recreate it.

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    1. Tag me in photos if you ever do recreate it, would like to see your take on it!

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  6. I love all the decor! It’s so perfect for summer parties!

    Xx, Nailil
    thirtyminusone.com

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  7. This looks like it was a total blast!! I love the theme! TjMaxx and Marshalls are two of my favorite places to shop!! Xx, Morgs* 💕

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