Preparation
You’ll likely be hosting and attending cookouts all warm-weather season long, but if there’s one outdoor event that goes above the rest during summer, it’s the Fourth of July. The holiday is a time when many deck out their spaces with patriotic motifs—think stars and flags—and plan their most grill-centric menu of the season. You know that orchestrating the perfect Independence Day celebration has a lot of moving parts, but one way to make your event feel extra festive is by stocking your entertainment arsenal with a few red, white, and blue items.
Incorporating the three main colors of the American flag into your party will quickly set your outdoor fête apart from other summer barbecues you’ve thrown this season. “Fourth of July is red, white, and blue all day,” says Kristine Cooke, an event planner and designer at Simply Charming Socials. “By using color, you instantly transform a boring summer social into a patriotic party.” Cooke notes that the three main hues can be incorporated into almost any element of the event. Serve chips and dip in these Golden Rabbit Swirl Enamel Serving Bowls, ($49, potterybarn.com) for a subtle pop of red, or elevate your tablescape with this Cherry Blossom Trellis Block Print Table Throw ($149, potterybarn.com) that features all three colors in muted tones. “Choose a few select details to colorwash in red, white, or blue, and you have a Fourth affair to remember,” Cooke says.
Pottery Barn Dalton Check Yarn Dyed NapkinsThreshold Paper Charger with Fringe Le Creuset Heritage Chambray Covered Rectangular Casserole DishFood52 Blue and White Stripe Picnic BasketKate Spade New York Charlotte Street Collection Wine Glasses SetWilliams Sonoma American Flag Cocktail NapkinsPottery Barn Cherry Blossom Trellis Block Print Table ThrowPermasteel Blue Rolling Patio CoolerSonos Roam Portable SpeakerPottery Barn Golden Rabbit Swirl Enamel Serving Bowls
While you can certainly make your Fourth of July party as festive as you wish, here, we’ve compiled a list of our must-have red, white, and blue entertaining essentials to inspire your own.
