So, it might seem like everyone else is travelling to somewhere else this Memorial Day weekend. As one of the biggest weekends for travel, it can certainly feel a bit of a requirement to do the same.

However, we believe that there’s more value in a “staycation” than may immediately come to mind. For one thing, you’re able to throw a weekend full of Memorial Day get-togethers, instead of being stuck in the many queues and peak traffic that come with the peak in travel around the country. As a continued effort on behalf of your trusted party products suppliers, we’ve decided to compile some hints and tips that will not only ensure your patriot themed Memorial Day weekend party is a good one, but also one that’s worth staying in town for!

Invites

Because time is of the essence, the fast and easy approach to gathering your guests would be to create an Event on Facebook. Limit your guest list by making it an “invite only” affair, or suggest your friends bring their friends – the more, the merrier. A Facebook event will not only take minimal effort to create, but it’s also allow you to add useful information that your guests might need, such as whether they need to include their swimming costumes. If you’re a little irked by the suggestion of a Facebook event, invest in something a little more special with an inline invitation. Many sites allow you to choose from their pre-designed cards for free, meaning all you need to do is fill in the details, determine the date for guests to RSVP, and hit send. However you choose to let your guests know about your Memorial Day weekend party, it’s important you know how many people to expect so that you can prepare accordingly.

Food

As traditional fare for many Americans, hamburgers and hot dogs are a perfectly acceptable option when catering to the guests at your party. If you’re interested in doing things a little differently however, you can consider a potluck for the side dishes and desserts that go alongside them. If you do choose to rely on your guests in this way, try to keep track of who is bringing what so that you don’t end up with an overload of tortilla chips. Write up a list of Memorial Day dishes, and ask your guests to each claim responsibility for one. Optional ideas include:

• Chip and Dip
• Mac and Cheese
• Beans
• Potato Salad
• Macaroni
• Green Salad
• Corn

Since it’s officially summer – yay! – you’ll be able to indulge in a variety of fruity, refreshing cocktails. Choose one signature summer cocktail for the party, instead of having a full bar, such as sangria, bellinis, or strawberry daiquiris.

Decorations

This is arguably the first summer party of the season, so feel free to go all out with decorations that reflect your patriot party theme! Every aspect of the event is an opportunity to indulge in patriot decorations in some way. You can never go wrong with red, white and blue anything, so buy in bulk and save any leftovers for the 4th of July celebrations. Consider candlelight to add a warm glow to the event, whether you’re inside or in the backyard. If you have a pool, floating pool lights or water lanterns can take the decorations to another level, potentially even enticing your guests to jump right in! As a unique and memorable way in which to commemorate what Memorial Day stands for, invest in eco-friendly WishLanterns and invite your guests to let them into the air as you all silently say thank you to those who fought for your freedom, and still continue to do so.

However you choose to organise your Memorial Day party, make sure it’s fun, casual and relatively stress-free. It should be the first step in the directions of carefree summertime, where you and those around you can be appreciative of the freedoms you have, as you welcome the warm weather and the chance to hang out with family and friends! And from all of us here at Birando and Wishlantern…