If you’ve been on social media lately, then you’ve noticed a flock (perfect pun) of flamingo images everywhere. Not to miss this parade, yours truly decided to host a backyard soiree inspired by these pink beauties.  (Fun fact: Flamingos are one of the most social birds in existence. They thrive on being with others and are rarely seen alone. Perfect symbol for a lady gathering, right?!)

My vision for the soiree included a clear blue pool that screams ‘summertime’ surrounded by lush green ivy covered walls. I offered a signature drink for the adults to sip that included fresh mint, rhubarb and nutmeg!  Andrea Palcic from Sweet Mess Bake Shop baked adorable flamingo sugar cookies — that was definitely a hit with both the adults and kiddos.  Of course, all of the guests donned Lilly Pulitzer dresses courtesy of the Cloister Collection. Scroll down for tips and images from the soirée and send me your own versions!

Nail Down your Inspiration. Pink flamingos, specifically an oversized pink flamingo from the Manor, inspired my backyard soiree. As a result, I easily narrowed down the color palette which was varying shades of greens and pinks with a pop of gold. It also set the stage for a playful party.

Designate a Bar Area. A bar cart, or a designated bar area, is where most guests tend to gravitate toward. Display a signature cocktail menu, freshly sliced limes, an ice bucket, and a tray with glasses! Be sure to offer a signature cocktail along with a menu card — it adds a special touch and walks your guests through the recipe. They can easily take a picture with their phone just in case they want to serve the cocktail at their own party. (Be sure to offer a modified, non-alcoholic drink to accommodate everyone’s preferences.) Laura Hooper Calligraphy created a custom cocktail menu card for our Rhubarb Mojito. The gold ice bucket and flamingo acrylic tray are available at Emily McCarthy. And these glasses from Palm Beach Lately were the perfect vessels for our summertime cocktail. McKenzie Fussell Designs also sent us this cute flamingo notecard! Stay tuned for a giveaway courtesy of McKenzie Fussell!

Tie everything together with a fresh, floral arrangement. A floral arrangement really polishes the party. You can also add flowers in a basket and put them next to the front door as a special touch to greet your guests. Janet from Festive Occasions created this beautiful floral arrangement in a gold pedestal vase for our soiree. It was jaw-dropping.