Sundae bars are ideal for ice cream-themed parties.
If you're looking for a sweet idea for your next theme party, look no further than your freezer. An ice cream party is a cool way to keep your guests happy and fed while creating a charming, classic aesthetic. And your ice cream theme can extend past the cold treats, of course--everything from the decorations to the invitations can have your guests screaming for ice cream. Does this Spark an idea?
DIY Sundae Bar
The refreshments at your ice cream party should be more involved than you serving scoops out of a 10-gallon tub of rocky road. Instead, encourage a little creativity among your guests with a do-it-yourself ice cream sundae bar. Fill a cooler with ice and a few gallons of ice cream, and place it at the end of a buffet table. Guests start by scooping out ice cream into a dish. Follow up with several toppings stations, including classics like sprinkles, maraschino cherries, marshmallows, peanut and shaved coconut. Finish off the buffet with another cooler, this one stocked with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and caramel topping. Your guests will love the opportunity to personalize one--or several--of their very own sundaes.
Decorations
An ice cream theme isn't restricted just to the hors d'oeuvres--your d cor can help drive the point home, as well. For example, decorate your tables with ice cream-themed floral centerpieces. Use flowers with big, fluffy blooms, like hydrangeas, that evoke scoops of the tasty treat. Instead of traditional vases, display them in old-fashioned sundae glasses or weighted-down sugar cones. Other decorative statements may evoke a sense of an old-time ice cream parlor--give guests high stools to sit on, and display classic candies in glass jars. Sweets like these double as party favors for guests who haven't yet satiated their sweet tooth.
Precautionary Measures
Unfortunately, ice cream parties invite mess as well as guests. If you're holding your party outside, combat the presence of insects by wiping down surfaces early and often. Throw away or clear empty containers early, and keep them away from the party area in tightly tied garbage bags. Citronella candles and bug spray also help prevent unwanted party guests from crashing the festivities. Whether inside or out, be sure that your ice cream is properly chilled--if it isn't kept sufficiently cold, it will melt, leaving you with a mess and a party that ends far too early.
Tags: your cream, your guests, cream party, cream theme