Bar Carts and Serving Trays Get the Party Rolling

While the pollen may have us sweeping our decks and walkways, it’s the seasonal nudge that signals warm weather ahead. We’ve been greeting family, and hosting outdoors for some time, now that the weather is on our side. It’s time to dust off the summer barware, unpack the colorful chair pillows, and get set for summer. Bring the merriment and music, treat yourself, and serve your guests in this new season of patio parties.

Set the scene with serving trays - An easy way to upgrade the party presentation and enhance your theme is with serving trays that create the look of a collection and pull your elements together. Trays can be used for glassware, beverages, or dessert toppings, as an example. With a myriad of tin, wood, ceramic, and pewter options, they’re functional and part of the decor. A festive design on a metal tray is a fun pairing with cold beer, chips, and salsa. A silver tray may be fitting for formal evenings and a pour of bourbon. Perhaps a white ceramic tray is a choice for sparkling water, lemonade, or a glass of champagne served with chocolates and fresh fruit.

Keep the party rolling – We’ve seen some unique ideas for bar carts, including two wooden boxes stacked on top of each other with a cutting board on top. To spice up your version of a bar cart, look for colorful barware and textured bowls that complement the occasion—blend glassware with ceramic tumblers and unique bowls in a variety of shapes and sizes. Include a beverage selection from the local distillery and quality tonics for mixing. Finish with whimsical napkins, paper or reusable straws, handwoven towels, and colorful coasters. Be sure to leave room for a bloom of color.

Accents for the appetizers – Minimize the need for silverware and use cocktail picks in bamboo or forged metal to keep it simple and stylish. A small wooden vessel or mini artisan cup holder offers easy access to the mozzarella, shrimp, or meatballs (and is a welcome upgrade from a plastic cup holder). Remember picks for your olives and the beverage garnish. A decorative dish is a stylish spot for the garnish too.

Move to the music – Background music makes a big difference in setting the mood. One handy option is a small, portable Bluetooth speaker like the Bose Soundlink micro-speaker. It’s waterproof and has a flexible strap that stretches across the back to accommodate the variety of places to attach your tunes – a railing, your bar cart, or the inside beam of a beach umbrella, to name just a few.

It’s been a long wait, and we’re optimistic that the time has arrived for us to step out, relax and enjoy entertaining. We intend to keep our gatherings easy, colorful, and merry, with plenty of music to boot, and we encourage you to consider the same.