Journ's 6th Birthday Luau!!
Journey is my summer baby! This year, I wanted to throw her a party that was just as fun and colorful as her personality. What better way to celebrate a summer birthday filled with color and fun than with a Luau Themed Back yard Birthday Bash!
Let me start by saying this, I AM NOT A PARTY PLANNER! It’s just not my thing. I’m the mom who would rather pay for a location, buy a cake, throw together some goody bags, and call it a day. However, Journey has missed out on the fun of having a summer birthday party (partly due to COVID and well because she’s only had 5 birthdays prior to this lol). So I stepped out of my comfort zone and pulled together a party I knew she would love!!
How I planned our LUAU THEMED birthday PARTY!
Luau-themed parties are one of the most popular party themes for the summer. There were so many inspiration boards on Pinterest I didn’t run short on ideas. While I didn’t run short on ideas, had I not created a solid budget, I would have definitely run short on money! So if you’re looking to use this theme, make sure you create a budget. To help you get started here is my party planning worksheet!
Let’s start with the main attraction!
Texas summers ate hot! In order to survive an outdoor party during the summer you have to add water! what better way to do it than with a massive backyard water slide!
I rented this 16 ft tropical themed water slide from A Party Solution Rentals. This company was amazing! they came the morning of the party and set up the slide. set up took less than 30 minutes and they were extremely friendly. I had no issues with the slide throughout the party and the kids loved it.
Even a few adults took their turn sliding down!
With a total of 15 kids at the party, this slide was big enough to keep everyone entertained without over crowding!
LUAU THEMED PARTY DECOR!!!
Party decorations make the party.
this is when you’ll have to remind yourself of your budget! Pinterest is definitely the go to place to find inspiration for themed parties. Creating a party board allowed me to keep all my ideas in one place and was a quick reference point once i began shopping. Not to mention, Pinterest offers a new shopping option that allows you to shop the items on all your favorite pictures directly from the app.
Outside of a few DIYs, Amazon and oriental Trading Company were great budget friendly places to find Luau themed party decor.
Here are a few links to some of my favorite finds!
LUAU THEMED PARTY snacks!!!
What’s a party without fun snacks?
With a party filled with kids, snacks are just as important as the activities!
The Rainbow rice crispies and strawberries & Creme popcorn were definitely a party favorite. I made sure to add to-go bags on the table so guests could grab a treat on their way out!
A treat for the adults…
What’s a tiki Bar without Tiki Punch?
Now this was not for the kids but definitely something the adults could enjoy. This recipe was easy to make and preserves well over night.
PARTY GAME IDEAS!
Since the main attraction was the 16 ft tropical themed water slide, I didn’t have to go all out on party games. So we kept it simple. I purchased a package of inflatable kiddie pools and filled them with water balloons and pre-filled water guns.
Perfect for a full on water balloon war!
I filled the second kiddie pool with bubble wands and small beach balls. I used the third pool as a hydration station. After filling it with ice, I added small water bottles and capri suns for easy access while playing.
Want to see the Highlights?
Click below for a 20 second recap of our backyard Luau!
