You’re setting up for your 4th of July party….
Seating? Check.
Food? Check.
Sparklers? Check.
Beverages? Che…..hmmm. You have the usual all pulled together. Cold beer and water bottles are in the cooler. You have white and rosé wine chilling in the fridge, along with a couple of gallons of juice, since “Caribbean Watermelon Splash” sounded refreshing when you were in the beverage aisle. Maybe there are even a few juice box options for the kiddos that will be at your party. Do you just throw those in with the beer though? How will you keep the wine cold? What if someone wants ice? Oops, don’t forget to tell everyone that there’s juice in the fridge! Do you really want everyone trekking inside every time they need a refill though!?
Set up a beverage station!
Keep it simple by setting up a beverage station! Your guests can stay hydrated and outside enjoying the sparklers, and you’ll look like a Super Hostess!
Once you have your supplies together, let’s quickly run through how to set it up!
How to setup a beverage station for your 4th of July party:
Start with a table or other flat surface outside where you can set the station up.
Now you’ll want to place your cooler or large bucket nearby, either under the table or just off to the side.
Begin by dumping bags of ice into your cooler or large bucket. This is where any bottled drinks like beer or juice boxes will go.
Next place the large tray on one side of the table.
Near the tray, place the beverage dispenser. (You may need to elevate it or pull it forward to the front of the table in order for your guests to fit their cups under the dispenser.)
Place the pitcher in the back corner of the tray with the handle towards the edge. I also like to put a wooden spoon in the pitcher so that the juice can be stirred before pouring each time.
Next to the pitcher will be a serving bowl with ice in it and tongs or a large spoon. This allows guests to put ice in their drinks without having to use the cooler ice. Keep an eye on this small bowl and replenish it as needed.
Place a couple stacks of cups. Bonus if you also set out a sharpie or dry erase pen next to the cups so that folks have a way to label their drink!
At the front of the tray will be the smaller items. I like to grab a couple plastic cups and place all the straws and drink stirrers in one, and then all of the bottle openers in another. The napkins can sit between these two cups or under them.
Shop for your custom beverage station:
Finally, fill up your beverage station!
I like to put water in the dispenser and juice in the pitcher. Makes cleaning the dispenser so much easier when it’s just had water in it! And that way you can stir the juice (or margaritas maybe?!) in the pitcher each time before pouring.
Unload any cans, bottles and juice boxes into the cooler or large bucket of ice that’s on the floor.
Any white and rosé wine can go in the bucket too. I like to pre-open the bottles and stick the corks back in. That way my guests don’t have to fumble with opening a wine bottle. Red wine doesn’t need to be chilled and can just go on the table next to the dispenser if you’re serving a red.
And that’s how to setup a beverage station for your 4th of July party! Guests no longer have to hunt for a bottle opener or trek through your house for a refill!
You ARE the hostess with the most-est!!
Create a little refill station for yourself where all of the extra supplies and beverages can live. If you have another tray, you could even create a refill tray that you can use to shuttle ice and more margaritas to and from your kitchen to the beverage station. How old school Martha Stewart are you now!?
Go from having folks wandering in and out of your home to being the hostess that has thought of everything! Setting up a beverage station is that extra touch that elevates your party and keeps the fun flowing!
Have fun setting up your beverage station. Coordinate the colors with your party theme by picking drinks and accessories in your party color palette. Red, white and blue is perfect for 4th of July! I’m always curating my favorite home decor items, which you can check out by following the links here.
If you’re going to have a large group, consider doubling the size of the beverage station or even creating three smaller stations where drink choices are split out into kiddos, non-alcoholic and alcoholic.
Tag @homeappealbymichelletaylor on Instagram in pictures of your beverage station, or post them in our Facebook Group here! On Tiktok? Duet this video! Can’t wait to see what you come up with and hear how it elevated your party!
Cheers,
Michelle
