How-to create a beach set-up with minimal time~ Bahamas Style!
Private white sand beaches with cozy picnics~ decadent appetizer spreads and crisp wines on ice just waiting for you… dream-like, no? With some foresight, our tips, and some good fortune with the weather gods, you too can create a memorable beach set-up with minimal time.
The Breakdown
Throwing a memorable outdoor party can be quite simple- use my breakdown list to help you. It includes manageable categories/tasks to wrap your head around covering each aspect of something as simple as a picnic and as complex as an outdoor cookout for 20.
How many Guests? Keep it to a manageable number of guests, for most DIYers’ this means fewer than 20 people. For a picnic, I find it remains intimate anywhere from 2-8 people, larger parties typically means staging more than one area and this can break-up the conversation and ambience.
Where is your venue? How much space do you have, what time of day/evening, weather forecast, what does the space look like… is it flat, do you have tables, what outdoor items are nearby to simply jazz up the space i.e. trees, stumps, foliage, grasses, flowers, etc.
The Set Up- this is your vision come to life… and it depends on how many people you will have and your budget. It includes dinnerware and flatware (on a budget? go mismatched- borrow from friends, relatives, buy from second hand stores, and avoid renting). My recommendation is to stay away from any paper and plastic items. It not only kills the vibe by not looking polished and prepared, it’s just bad for the environment. I really dig the eco-friendly bamboo plates and bowls (West Elm, Williams-Sonoma and budget-friendly Amazon all have options). They look like ceramic but are lightweight, BPA-free, and don’t scratch easily. They stack easily and don’t take up much room if you opt to buy and storage them. Stick with linen napkins (on a budget DIY cotton muslin napkins and if using tables then skip using any tablecloths and keep it natural). Think outside of the box for seating, use alternative chair ideas like a piece of flat wood resting on rocks for the base or go with my favorite and stick to floor seating using various throws and pillows with interesting textures and designs (these always compliment the natural texture of sand) and go with colors that either mimic or compliment the area. For added tablescapes forage wild flowers/leaves/grasses/stones/pebbles/etc from what surrounds you. *Added tip- Make sure you either have physical help to move all of your items from your house/boat/car to stage your area or that you allow enough time to do it all yourself. Time management is key in throwing a successful party. Know how much time you want to give to each task on your list.
The Food- the key here is PREP AHEAD and focus on impressive spreads by using varied large platters (I prefer black slate, wooden, and metal platters over boring plain white ceramic). Every beach picnic I’ve enjoyed has a tapas vibe, where you can graze and munch throughout the party. Do all of your cutting and chopping ahead and keep everything organized and labeled in containers so that you can easily replenish some items during the party. (On a budget- do a potluck!) *Added tip- Simple ways to jazz up a cheese/charcuterie plate- drizzle of vinegar reductions, honey, honeycomb -add fruits (think beyond grapes and maybe try papaya, cantaloupe, kiwi, fried plantains) or -add grilled citrus of lemon, lime, orange (that adds a caramelized, rich depth of flavor, rounding out the acidity of the tart citrus) -pickled vegetables, try green beans, cabbage or cauliflower -added texture, crunchy nuts, seeds, dried fruits, candied citrus, sesame sticks, canchita (corn nuts), chifle -savory dips, mustards, wasabi, jams like onion with caraway -salts (trust me, always use a nice finishing salt on your platters) and STYLIZE for food aesthetics- just like you arrange a flower bouquet adding greenery, arrange your platters with edible flowers, herbs, microgreens, scallions, young stems like pea shoots or corn shoots, even try spices to sprinkle over (I love smoked paprika, pepper blends, and savory spices like anise, cardamom, and caraway). There is no shortage of ways to vary your platters and add flavor. Play with flavor combinations as there are endless possibilities!
The Drinks- Keep with a theme and don’t get too crazy here. Either a batch of a signature cocktail like IG’s travel icon @lumadeline and her French Polynesian “Coco Loco” or like Miami’ Beach’s top cocktail spot, Matador Room’s “Fresh Gesture” with smoky mezcal, grapefruit soda, italicus liquor, lime and pink sea salt ~ or ~ on a budget?- byob or assign a different varietal of wine for each guest to bring.
The Lighting- Depending on the time of day, you may need nothing or consider stringed lights (there are many battery operated options now), candles, tiki torches, lanterns, fire pits)
The Budget- It’s easy to impress when you have a large budget or no budget concerns- but I can assure you that having a limited budget should not hinder you from creating a truly memorable experience. Remember- the location and the company is the main draw, so select those wisely. Muster help from close friends, family, guests, even strangers! You’d be surprised how willing most people are to help when asked- so remain friendly, outgoing and calm. Find inspiration and creative ideas not only from online sources but from the location itself, native flora and fauna, and locally and wild grown food products (perhaps incorporate fishing or go digging for clams as a day activity for guests- being a part of an experience that helped put food on the table is always memorable). You don’t have to be in the Bahamas to experience an island vibe picnic!
