What is it about Summer that makes you want to have a BIG Powwow? Is it the soft summer dresses, breathing the warm air through your nostrils or the smell of that summer Braai (Barbeque)? There is just something magical about summer and the way it makes you want to dive into a swimming pool or sip long cocktails on a yacht. For us Summer is one of our favourite times to Organise Events. We get to do more outdoor Events and Galas, more fun-filled Year-end Parties with Champagne, Cocktails and wonderfully colourful themes like Street-carts, Tuscan or the Alice-in-wonderland themes.
Related article: How to avoid the BIG stampede of Year End Parties.
Here is some advice to throw your own splendid Shindig. Or you can call on the Experts and let The-O-Company Organise it all – the Venue, Food, Drinks, Transport, Accommodation, Entertainment the whole shebang!
Here are our Top 3 Summer Theme suggestions that are easy to pull off and guaranteed to wow your guests.
1. Indian style Braai (Barbeque)
Dress code: Ask your friends to dress in traditional Indian flair wearing white loose clothing for the men and colourful flowing garments for the women (Sari or Indian drape). Have some face jewellery for your guests to stick on or have an Indian henna body artist as extra fun!
Food: Grilled meats like spicy lamb, tandoori chicken, chilli prawns, Indian flatbreads, Bombay potatoes, cucumber raita, and tomato sambal.
Décor: Lots of tea-light candles, vivid colours of pinks, oranges, blues, yellows and gold.
Drinks: Mango Lassi
Related article: Create your own Centrepieces for that WOW factor at your next Event.
2. Garden Banquet Soiree
Dress code: Summer dresses, light evening wear, platform or flat shoes so as not to sink into the lawn!
Food: Oyster bar with freshly shucked oysters on ice, lemons, tabasco, pepper and salt – you can add vodka to the mix and make vodka shots; sliced grilled steak, roasted potatoes, pasta salad, couscous salad or really any salads of your choice. Chocolate dipped strawberries and cream or ice cream.
Décor: Candles, Flowers such as beautiful roses in a variety of vases and glass ware. Set your table outside in the garden and have a couple of thin blankets around just in case.
Drinks: Jamaican Rum Punch.
3. Prairie Party
Dress code: Ask your friends to wear country clothes, floral aprons, cowboy hats. Or a cute idea is to send each guest a lovely apron along with the invitation.
Food: Raw fruit and veggie bar; cold meats, Biltong (South African cured meat), pita breads and crackers with spreads like cheese, cottage cheese, humus. Apple pie and ice cream.
Décor: Hay bales to sit on with rugs and blankets or quilts. Big bright flowers like sunflowers and Gerberas (Barberton daisies). Red checked serviettes and table clothes. Serve the food picnic style in bowls lined with brown paper.
Drinks: Homemade lemonade or for the adventurous a watermelon keg.
Related article: How to create an Event that Rocks?
Drinks Recipes
Jamaican Rum Punch
Combine 2 cups rum with ½ cup each dark rum, peach schnapps, Triple Sec, Rose’s Lime Juice and 1 ½ cups pineapple juice in the pitcher. Serve with ice, a maraschino cherry and a fresh pineapple wedge on the rim.
Mango Lassi
In a blender, combine 2 mangos (peeled, seeded and diced), 2 cups plain yogurt, ½ cup sugar and ice. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve with mint leaves for garnish.
Homemade lemonade
Make syrup by heating 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely. Add 1 cup of lemon juice and 3 to 4 cups of cold water. Mix and pour into a pitcher. Refrigerate for at least 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice. Serve with ice and sliced lemons.
Watermelon keg
Cut a lid from the top and scoop out the fruit. Drill a small hole near the bottom, use a knife to widen the hole until it’s slightly smaller than a keg tap. Attach the tap and fill the melon with Watermelon Sours.
Watermelon Sours
Puree 4 cups of watermelon chunks; strain. Stir in ½ cup of any fruit-flavoured liqueur, 1 cup gin/vodca and 2 cups sour mix; chill. (source: foodnetwork.com)
