Under the Sea - Client Purchase Page
Mood Board 1: Shark Theme
Mood Board 2: Mermaids
Styling and Hosting Tips:
Start by selecting at least two areas to create ‘instagrammable’ spaces.
1) One idea is to use the entrance to the party as one of these spaces. Create a balloon arch, with streamers hanging down, that guests walk through to get into the party. Hang the DIY paper lantern jellyfish from the ceiling to create a magical moment… The more the better!
2) Dessert table – This is another great place to go all out on decorating. Start with a table runner or tablecloth. You can use a cool washed indigo tie dye, or even a simple white tablecloth for the shark party. For mermaids, try an iridescent or sequin tablecloth (see link to decorations). Add your themed desserts, cute shark or shell plates and utensils. Behind the table is another perfect place to hang either a balloon garland + shark balloon/ mermaid garland, or a fringe backdrop + shark balloon/ mermaid garland (or all of the above!)
3) Backyard/ Patio – If the weather is nice, this is another great space to decorate! I love to use some more subtle items like lots of plants, indigo shibori throw pillows or shell pillows on the outdoor sofa, etc. This is also a great place to add a couple of inflatables for the kids to play on.
https://ashadeofteal.com/diy-how-to-make-jelly-fish-lanterns/
Offer a signature drink in a beverage dispenser (see the Ocean Water Recipe) for the kids, along with juice boxes and mini bottles of water. For the adults, I always like to have beer and wine in a beverage bucket either in the kitchen or on the patio.
Use candy as an inexpensive way to decorate the dessert table. For the shark party, fill jars with gummy sharks, blue and white rock candy. For a mermaid party, try white, purple, pink rock candy, shimmer gumballs or shimmer pearl sixlets.
If you are entertaining indoors and outside, ensure that you have music playing in both spaces.
Have two games or activities for the kids to do… Below are a few of ideas: (links to everything are in the ‘link to decorations’)
Tattoo Station – Create an area for kids to apply temporary tattoos. You’ll need the tattoos (see link to decorations), a cute bowl with water and some white, heavy duty paper napkins (see link to decorations)
Shark Bite Game Tournament – Have two kids play the game, and the winner of each game advances to the next round… The person who makes it to the end wins a prize!
Shark/ Mermaid Pinata filled with treats
Enlist a family member or friend to wear the shark costume at the shark party to greet guests, or to surprise them mid-party!
Links to Decorations:
Shark Party - https://amzn.to/2FeDpy0
Mermaid Party - https://amzn.to/2Ra0hBi
Playlist: Search "Under the Sea tsc" on Spotify
Food/ Drink Ideas:
Cake – You can have a bakery handle this, simply let them know size, and send them an inspiration pic (see below), OR if you’d rather make one, use your favorite recipe and ice it using an ombre technique. See link below for a tutorial. Place it on a cake stand, top it with a few pearlized sprinkles, candles and a topper and you’re set!
A 6" round cake would suffice for 12 servings. Size up to an 8" to serve up to 20 and a 10" for 24 servings.
https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/bake/how-to-frost-an-ombre-cake/
Add cupcakes with white icing and blue/ pastel sprinkles (staying within the color palette), donuts and you have a party! For the donuts, you can call your favorite shop and ask them to use a specific glaze/ sprinkle color. To round out your sweets assortment, the easiest (and super cute!) desserts are candy covered Oreos and pretzel rods. Simply melt white almond bark, white chocolate or candy melt and dip your Oreos (completely covering the cookie) or pretzels rods (cover ¾ of the length of the pretzels), lay them on wax paper, add sprinkles and let them dry.
Note: You can tint the almond bark once it has melted. I find that one drop of blue food coloring will give you a really nice, pastel blue. Add one small drop of green for more of a turquoise color.
For the mermaid party, ordering 'clam macarons' from a bakery is such a fun treat, if your budget allows. You can also order them here...
Ocean Water Punch
2 liter of lemon-lime soda
46 ounce pineapple juice
1 gallon of blue Hawaiian punch
Drink Dispenser
Combine all ingredients in the dispenser (or punch bowl), stir and serve with ice