An orange with a straw and umbrella stuck in it.
Fruity, tropical drinks with umbrellas are a requirement if you're hosting a beach-themed or luau party. Serving them to your guests will make them feel as if they are on a beach vacation. There are many ways you can customize the glasses, ice and umbrellas. Does this Spark an idea?
Beverage Selection
All the beverages should be tropical. For those who don't drink or are under age, serve a non-alcoholic fruit punch. For everyone else, set up pitchers of--or have a bartender serve--Mai Tais, Pina Coladas, Blue Hawaiians, and/or Mojitos.
Types of Glasses
If the party is around a pool or outdoors, consider using plastic cocktail glasses, so that if anyone drops a drink, there won't be glass in or around the pool. You also can serve drinks in coconut shells. Split the coconuts in half, sand down the exterior to make it smooth, then scoop out the coconut meat and clean the inside.
Ice Cubes
Have fun with ice cubes for the drinks. Make ice cubes filled with fruit by freezing fruit chunks and water inside ice cube trays. For a night party, purchase glow-in-the-dark plastic ice cubes to light up the drinks. Or, make ice cubes in different shapes by using candy molds instead of ice cub trays. For a luau party, you could make ice cubes in the shape of coconuts, palm trees or flowers.
Umbrellas
There are numerous kinds of umbrellas you can use to distinguish one drink from another. Use blue umbrellas for Blue Hawaiians, green for Mojitos, and so on. Use various kinds of umbrellas, such as paper umbrellas, miniature plastic umbrellas or umbrellas with personalized messages on them.
Additional Decor
Use unusual items to hold or decorate the party drinks. Use a hollowed-out watermelon as a container for fruit punch, and have guests ladle the punch into their glasses. Or, turn a watermelon into an ice bucket. Set edible flowers in the drinks or use as a garnish. Use straws shaped like palm trees or other unusual shapes.
Tags: around pool, Blue Hawaiians, fruit punch, kinds umbrellas, luau party, make cubes