{Girlfriend's Party Design Tips} Mock-tini Bar

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Hey party peeps!
As seen on my “Look for Less” HWTM post last month, today I’m recapping the party design tips I shared on how to setup a SUCCESSFUL Self-Serve station at your next party. Here I designed this “Mock-tini Bar” for a Sweet 16 party.

Self serve bars can range from Drink Bars, Popcorn Bars, Candy Bars and Snack Bars to Craft, Activity and Favor Bars. The idea is to have an impressive looking table that does double duty to offer guests something to do. Remember, self-serve bars should be just that… self serve… so they must look fabulous, but also function well on it’s own.

4 EASY SELF SERVE DESIGN TIPS:
1. Make sure your bar’s decor and color palette matches the party’s theme
2. Keep the items your guests will use easily accessible and within reach
3. Place tall decor across the back of your table for the most visual impact
4. Add creative details to further accentuate your theme

Let’s see how I put these 4 easy design tips into use on this “Mock-tini” bar:

Tip #1: Make sure your bar’s decor and color palette match the party’s theme
The high-end bar design began with a crisp, modern color palette of bright white and turquoise which complemented the featured self-serve non-alcoholic Blue Curacao Mock-tini. The party’s theme was “Winter Wonderland” and used these same colors so it all tied in beautifully. I used a white fur throw blanket from Z Gallerie as the tablecloth to give the table a wintery look and plush texture and used a crystal tree centerpiece to bring in the sparkly ice feel.

Tip #2: Keep the items your guests will use easily accessible and within reach
Since the bar needs to be functional, place the items people will use within reach and use photo boxes to create multiple levels to maximize their accessibility. Here you see how all the usable items (glasses and drinks) are placed on the middle to front of the table. For a seamless look, use photo boxes that match your tablecloth’s color.

Tip #3: Place tall decor across the back of your table for the most visual impact
The back of the table is the best place to put your decor pieces so your guests won’t have to reach around your table’s decor to reach the items they need. I ALWAYS use a theme-appropriate, wow-factor centerpiece (like this crystal tree) and then place tall, complementary items on either side of it to create a stunning backdrop for the table. Here I used stemmed hurricanes from Pier 1 in varying heights filled with sparkly blue gems to fill out the back of the table.

Tip #4: Add creative details to further accentuate your theme
It’s all in the details! Details are what guests remember and are where you can really get creative! Here I added sparkly rock candy to the bar which provided another opportunity to add an icy looking element while giving guests a sweet treat. I also made sure to rim the glasses with sparkly blue crystal sprinkles.