Summer time is the perfect time to throw together a themed party. Nothing says hot weather and fun quite like a luau. Luckily, luau parties don’t have to cost a small fortune either. There’s lots of great ways you can host a luau without forcing you to pour your entire paycheck into the fun. In fact, the less you pay for the party the more fun you may have. So, this summer create the biggest party of all when you invite your inner circle over for an exciting luau. Surely, people will be talking about your amazing party for months to come just as you’ll be celebrating the huge savings you made.
1. DIY Flowers
One of the biggest aspects of a luau is the gorgeous flowers that surround the party area and the guests. You can spend a whole lot of money to buy real flowers to spruce up the place, but there’s other options that are a whole lot cheaper. Making flowers out of paper can be one easy step that will help make the whole family feel like a part of the party while also saving you quite a bit of money. There’s a whole lot of templates available to suit your needs and you can use a whole lot of colors to liven up the setup. Once you make you flowers you can add stems with pipe cleaners to make them perfect for women’s hair accessories. You can also add yarn to string them up around the place to add that special touch to the party. Best of all, you can turn the flowers into a lei, which is sure to be a hit!
2. Grass Skirts
Another important component to the whole luau theme is the grass skirt, which is sure to make your guests feel like the real deal. You can make grass skirts out of a whole lot of different items. One of the more common items is raffia ribbon which can be purchased in many different colors. Of course, if you can’t find any colors other than brown, the material is very easy to dye so you can create an assortment of colors. If you don’t have raffia rope then get creative, it’s your project! Another cute idea is to make mini grass skirts for your beverages. This will add a special touch that kids will love and is an easy craft for children to work on while you’re setting up for the party.
3. Use Fruit
Nothing makes a party great quite like transforming your food into décor. When planning your menu, try to add a lot of fruit to the mix, especially when it comes to things like pineapples and other seasonal fruits. Shopping seasonal will cut down on how much you spend, so you can splurge in other areas of the party. If you add the fruit to tables as décor items, then your party will look amazing too. You can slowly remove the fruits as you need them to eat, or you can let the guests pick out the fruits they want straight from the décor. Having a lot of fruit around will also allow you to make an assortment of mixed drinks, which are sure to keep everyone happy. You can add the fruit to kids drinks too, to make the children feel excited about their special beverages.
4. Food
When it comes to splurging on your party, you’ll probably find that a lot of the money is going to go straight to food. There’s a few ways you can remedy this problem though. For starters, make sure to buy foods that you can use in multiple dishes. This will allow you more versatility in cooking, while still keeping the budget low and affordable. One great choice is coconut water or coconut milk. These items can be used to create your own special drinks, while also adding to meals and desserts. Plus, the coconut flavor will add to the theme of the party, which is sure to leave everyone impressed. One popular dish to keep in mind is coconut rice, which can be used with different meats and vegetables or for picky eaters who want to keep their meal simple. You should consider buying foods that are in season too, like items you’d typically barbecue.
5. Drinks
Quenching your guests thirst can also be a bit of a problem for your budget, as this seems to be one of the most expensive purchases. When you plan, you should consider buying drinks in bulk. For instance, beer and soda can be purchased in large portions, which will save you a lot more money. If you plan on serving mixed drinks, then choose one form of alcohol and stick with. You can mix the alcohol with fruits you’re using for décor or that are part of your menu. For those who don’t want to drink, try to make a delicious punch or lemonade that will make the guests feel like they’re on a tropical island. You can even add pineapples to the punch to give it the amazing tropical feel that’s worthy of your luau.
6. Pull Out the Holiday Lights
Creating a fun and well-lit environment can really transform your luau. There’s a whole lot of things you can buy for a luau, but there’s really no need to spend a bundle on these items. One of the best assets you have in regards to lighting up your party is all of the holiday lights that are collecting dust in your storage area. These lights can easily be strung out to create the ambiance you need to encourage everyone to have a blast. If you want to take things up a notch, then make your own light covers. These can be made with simple paper using a basic tutorial online. Once you have the light cover up and ready to go, you can pack the lights into the cover and enjoy the way they look. Different colored lights will add to the fun too, so don’t disregard Halloween or Christmas lights if you have them on hand. With this simple trick, your party with look ten times cooler, which is sure to make an impression.
7. Grab a Playlist
There’s plenty of luau inspired soundtracks out there that you can buy to make your party seem authentic, but there’s really no need to spend money in this area. If you make a simple search online, you can find a whole lot of playlists that will suit the mood of a luau. Streaming services are one of the best ways to begin the fun though. With a simple search, you should run across a playlist or more that you can put on to set the mood. If your streaming service is commercial free then you can even worry less about the entertainment. Of course, if you don’t want to fumble through music throughout the party, you can easily combine a series of playlists that will keep the fun going for hours on end. Your favorite music can also be played during the luau without ruining the mood though, so don’t be afraid to mix in some of your dance music to help keep the party lively.
8. Crafts
Keep the entertainment going by setting up a craft area to help everyone stay busy while they enjoy the party. This can be especially important when it comes to kids as they may not want to mingle or enjoy the same activities as the adults. There’s some great crafts that will suit the theme though. For instance, if you gather a bunch of toilet rolls then you can have the kids turn each one into a little tikis to take home. Kids will love using their imaginations to create their own tiki. You can even string yarn through it to turn it into a necklace. Another option is to have the kids make their own flowers or grass skirts. This may take someone helping them out, but it will be a lot of fun and they’ll love showing off their skills to everyone at the party. Another option is simple bracelets. You can set out strings to braid and other accessories so the kids can make a keepsake they can wear all year long.
9. Games
When it comes to a party, you can’t really forget the games or else people may be bored out of their minds. Luckily, luaus make it easy to set up games for everyone. One of the most common is limbo, which should suit people of all ages. You don’t really need a lot for this game as you can use a rake, broom or other long stick as the limbo pole. Hula hoop competitions are another fun option that will have everyone cracking up and having the time of their lives. If there’s a lot of kids at the party, you may want to plan out a treasure hunt to help keep them busy. You can buy chocolate gold coins for next to nothing, which should satisfy the kids needs for treasure at the end of the hunt. Finally, a water balloon fight is an obvious choice for the summer heat, which is sure to cool everyone down.
10. Hula Lessons
A great way to surprise everyone is to hire a hula teacher for the day. You can get everyone dancing in no time, which should keep the guests happy for hours. The best thing is, if you shop on social media coupon sites then you can find a great Groupon to help with the costs of the lessons. Of course, not hiring a teacher is also an option. You can easily find lessons online and direct your guests to follow the instructional video. Kids and adults alike should have a blast working on their dance moves, which is bound to make the party a hit.
Creating a luau doesn’t have to be a budgetary nightmare. With a few simple tips, you’ll host the party of a lifetime without having to spend a whole lot of money. With these tips, you’ll be able to keep everyone fed and entertained, which is sure to make you feel like the hostess of the year.
