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The Ultimate Tiki Party Guide

Tiki Evites – the fine folks at Evite now have a few nifty tiki-themed templates to get your guests into the right mindset right from the start.  Evite has become the standard in inviting guests to any type of party and these are a-ok.

Set up a House Drink Menu – some of your guests will know their tiki drinks, some won’t.  Pick out a few of your specialties and scribble them onto a chalkboard.  This will help your guests feel more comfortable as they select a cocktail and will limit your ingredient shopping list a bit.

Proper Tiki Tunes – we’ve provided a few suggestions in the past and probably should do another music list soon.  Spend some time loading up your iPod with a respectable island playlist.  You cannot expect to set up a snazzy tiki bar, mix up a round of stiff rum concoctions, and expect your guests to be content with ZZ Top (on second thought, maybe you can…).

Tropical Coconut Cups – if you don’t have a full set of tiki mugs to share with your guests, these coconut cups will give you some island flair at a reasonable price.  They cost less than $1 each and all cocktails taste sweeter when consumed from a fake coconut mug!

Photo by Jeff Tabaco

My personal favorite from these tips – buying one bottle of booze per paycheck.  That would certainly ease the burden of having to buy eight bottles in a single trip when the bar runs dry.  Offering a laminated menu of house specialties is another brilliant idea.  It can provide your guests with some cool choices while steering them toward the ingredients you keep on hand.  Finally, there are a few good suggestions if you are planning to build your own bar at home.

This article is worth bookmarking if you plan to build a home bar or host a party anytime soon.

On the Rocks – The Bar’s Where You Are (Portland Tribune)

What if you only need a temporary tiki bar for that tiki-themed Christmas party?  You may have a limited budget and want to avoid spending it all on a tiki bar kit.  You can create a temporary tiki bar for under $10, allowing you to focus your budget on the truly important stuff – booze.

• Clear off one table – this can be a small dining table, kitchen table, or desk.  This will be your new tiki bar.
• Drive down to your nearby grocery store and pick up a dozen paper bags.  Cut them length-wise, tape them together, and tape to the top of your table.
• Track down a raffia grass table skirt – these can be found on eBay or at a local party supplies store.  Attach the grass skirt to the front and sides of your table.
• Set a few bottles of rum, juice, and your bucket of ice on the table.  You’ve got a tiki bar!

Enjoy the party and drink a Navy Grog for us!

Tiki Torches – $15

Illuminate your backyard oasis and set the theme to your tiki party with a set of tiki torches.  You can usually find a set of 6 for as low as $15.

Grass Table Skirt -$10

Create a quick and easy tiki bar for your party by taking a regular table and adding a grass skirt.  Your simple table can quickly be transformed to a beachside bar.

Tiki Bar Sign – $30

You can find a variety of great carved wood tiki bar signs for $30.  Hang one over your makeshift bar and add to your new bar’s ambiance.

Floral Leis – $15

Spread the island luau theme throughout your party with flower leis.  Cheaper luau leis can usually be found for less than $15 per 100.

Tiki Theme Music – $15

You’ll need the right tunes for your guests to mingle to.  Tiki bar music is relaxing and easy to find.  A good tiki-style CD can be found for as little as $3 or $4.

Alcohol (variable)

The amount of booze you’ll need to pick up will obviously depend on your guest list.  You should be able to get away for the most part with a few bottles of rum, some assorted fruit juices, and ice.  You can sometimes find some inexpensive tiki mugs, which would make an excellent touch.  Pick up the right ingredients for a Zombie, Navy Grog, or Mai Tai, and your guests will find themselves dancing in a different era.

What other ingredients do you add when trying to put together a cheap and easy tiki party?