Did you know the number of Americans who will spend the Fourth of
July holiday at other people's homes is approximately 41 million? That is some
major entertaining going on! Are you planning to invite guests over or will you
be one of the 41 million attending the festivities elsewhere? Either way, I am
sure there will be a lot of grilling going on!
If you're anything like me, you probably need some new and fresh
ideas for this years Holiday.
Here are my 5 tips for Fabulous Fourth!
Tip #5:
Start your planning with a buffet menu, one that can easily be set
up and taken down. You will want to include barbecue favorites that you can
easily prepare ahead of time. Items like coleslaw, fruit salad and homemade ice
cream. I like to do all of my prep work ahead of time, either the day or night
before the 4th. This includes shucking corn, marinating chicken and ribs and
slicing some homegrown strawberries. Curious what we are serving this year?
The Bridal Solution's EASY Make - Ahead 4th Menu:
Spicy Honey Glazed Chicken Breasts
Smoked BBQ Ribs
Potato Salad
Grilled Corn with Parmesan Butter
Coleslaw
Bourbon Baked Beans
and Strawberry/Angel Food Cake Skewers
Homemade Ice Cream
All of these items can be prepared the day before, except for the
grilling and warming of baked beans. Like I said, easy peasy!
Tip #4:
Pick your drinks! Don't feel like you have to offer everything,
just choose a few and go with it. Use drink dispensers on the buffet line,
something for the adults and something for the kids. Try pre-mixing margaritas
or sangria and lemonade, or iced tea. No matter what, be sure to have plenty of
water available, especially if you and your guests will be out in the heat most
of the day. Here's Natalie's favorite margarita recipe everyone will LOVE!
Ingredients:
1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
6 fluid ounces tequila
2 fluid ounces triple sec
Directions:
Fill blender with crushed ice. Pour in limeade concentrate,
tequila and triple sec. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.
Tip #3:
Set the Table! Trust me on this one, you don’t' need anything
fancy. Little items can go along way if you use them right. For instance,
instead of buying or using a blue, red and white linen, stick to one color. You
can add little pops of color elsewhere to get the effect you're looking for.
Try even a rustic natural look on the table. Add pops of color like using
vintage red lanterns, a few charger plates and bundles of flatware for easy
pick up. Don't forget the lighting. The lanterns will add a little, but try to
use some additional lights if you are staying outside for fireworks. I suggest
uplighting trees and using galvanized buckets with bamboo to string globe
lights on. This will create an intimate setting your guests will not want to
leave!
Tip #2:
Don’t forget
to accommodate your guests and provide entertainment. This can be as easy as
creating a soundtrack and playing it through speakers from your iPod, to
providing games for your guests to play. The Fourth of July is all about being
outside with company, so why not get a game of crochet or volleyball going. Games
like washers or beanbag toss is great too.
I always love
to add a few items around the house to accommodate my guests. Either a tray
with flavored water, chocolate mints in the bathroom, anything to make them
feel more like home. It’s all about the little details!
Tip #1:
Plan for the
Fireworks. If you are one of the lucky ones who are able to watch them from
your house, then set up a special viewing area. Bring out blankets and large
pillows to create a comfortable viewing area. Can’t see them from your house?
No biggie? Set up just as you would outside – inside! Last year it was so warm
we all moved indoors, turned out all the lights [except for the TV] and created
stars on the ceiling, just like if we were outside. It was perfection! The
perfect watching fireworks treat? Our family tradition of course! Treat your
guests to homemade ice cream root beer floats …yummo!
