With all of the fun Cinco de Mayo party props I had to shoot, I thought why not throw a real Cinco de Mayo party… in April!! I mean, I made the perfect Cinco de Mayo Margarita Bar Cart and I had perfected my DIY Taco Station, so someone needed to enjoy it all, am I right?! So the evening after my big photo shoot, I invited a group of our closest couple friends for a little fiesta at the #MiaChateauFH. Here is a look at the highlights from the party… what I served… how I decorated… and more! I hope it serves as a Pinterest-perfect source of inspiration should you be planning to host a Cinco de Mayo Party (that’s actually in May!).
Starting with the drinks… In my Margarita Bar Cart post I talked about the importance of having a great Margarita mix that’s no fuss (ie. mix + tequila = margarita) because when it comes time to host a big party, no one has time to measure shots and mix in lime juice, etc, etc. I am a HUGE fan of Master of Mixes, which comes in an array of flavors, although this night the classic was most popular. We mixed our Master of Mixes with Astral Tequila and served the margaritas in acrylic glasses with a salted rim. I set up the night’s display on my Frontgate Teak Bar Cart which is amazing for outdoor entertaining because the top panels slide open revealing a stainless steel beverage tub/ice bucket inside, so you can keep bottles on ice while also having ample countertop space for displaying glasses!
Over by the pool I set up a second bar with light and refreshing Italian Sparkling Wine by MezzaCorona. Sipping the bubbles with my girlfriends, with the bright flamingos floating in the backdrop, was the perfect way to kick off the night! Oh, and I have to point out the “Hudson Champagne Bowl” (from Z Gallerie) in this display; the “bowl” displays your bottles while simultaneously chilling them (it is secretly filled with ice inside, keeping the bottles cool!).
For dinner I created a DIY Taco Bar buffet at my outdoor dining table. I used melamine palm leaf plates from Grandin Road and festive napkins (gorgeous and bright Jaipur Napkins from Kim Serbert) alongside the buffet. For the Taco Bar I placed soft taco shells on one end, then followed with grilled chicken and ground beef, toppings like onions and peppers, shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes, and last, all the must-have sauces like guac, sour cream, and array of salsas and hot sauces. I also served quesadillas, a large taco salad, rice, and extra bowls of black and refried beans for vegetarians. My party philosophy is always the more food the better, and for a fiesta, the most hot sauce the better.
A few more party details… I am obsessed with Late July Organic Chips and they have Jalapeño Lime flavored – YUM, plus a range of “Restaurant Style” Tortilla Chips which are perfect for dipping in salsa and guac, so I placed large bowls of various flavors throughout the party. And for some decor favorites…. the mini cactus and rainbow colored donkey piñatas as well as the drink flags are from an adorable brand called Lula Flora Designs, while the evil eye coasters (the “Jinxed Coasters”) and the gorgeous blue beaded table runner (the “Tulum Table Runner”) are Kim Seybert. If you are curious about any of my outdoor furniture, it is all from Frontage and the links can be found in this post. And lastly, I have to mention the amazing bright pink flamingos floating in my pool. I knew I wanted a pop of color in the backyard to add to the party, so when I saw these pool floats on Frontgate, I knew they were a must, but it wasn’t until we started taking pictures I realized how instagram-friendly they were!
The night was an absolute blast… I should invite friends over to eat and drink the remnants of my photo shoots more often!! Hope everyone has a fab Cinco de Mayo celebration!
Photography by Yesi of Simply Lively
Thank you to the various brands who partnered to bring this post to life.
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