The Ultimate Tropical Party for Kids & Adults: Ideas and Decorations

Bring the tropics to your party! A tropical party is a perfect summer party idea for adults and families. With summer in full swing, we're feeling the heat and itching to travel to a tropical destination. But no matter the temperature or location, turning your home or event space into a tropical oasis (even if you're landlocked) is the ultimate dream.

And that's just what we did! We partnered with amazing local vendors for a collaborative photo shoot to bring you the best tropical party inspiration. Everyone came together and pitched in their specialty—the results are incredible!

From luau decorations to tropical party food ideas, we have everything you need to plan a summer soiree. Whether you're throwing a Hawaiian luau party, an Island party, a tropical birthday, or a tropic like its hot bachelorette party, these tips will make it one to remember.

So grab your Hawaiian leis and check out these tropical party ideas that will have you shaking your palm palms!

THE VENUE

We arranged the party at The Lark event venue in Tulsa. This venue is beautiful and has lots of room outside and inside for events. We were so thankful for their indoor event space because the day we set this up was so hot!

BOUNCE HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT

Tulsa White Bounce Co. contributed a beautiful, massive white bounce castle for our photo shoot! We envisioned a timeless party theme with space for kids and adults to have fun, and this bounce house was just the thing to bridge the two together. 

Luxury ball pits and bounce castles add a special touch to any occasion, including birthday parties, weddings, family reunions, and more! You can find tons of local bounce house rental companies near you.

NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED KIDS' TABLE

We placed the kids' table at the foot of the bounce house, providing an exciting atmosphere for the children to dine. A beautiful pink tablecloth is draped across the table, tying in our tropical color palette. 

Each guest has a Pink Pinstripe Cup with a custom tropical-themed acrylic stir stick we designed with our GlowForge. We choose hibiscus flowers and palm leaves in various colors to match the tropical vibes. 

Each spot has all the essentials for a casual dining experience, starting with a Tropical Floral Plate. The Tropical Wooden Cutlery goes well with the theme—kids love fun cutlery! The wood is also not as sharp as plastic or real cutlery, so this is ideal for kids to use independently. Finishing off the kids' place setting is a Tropical Leaf Napkin under the forks to wipe their hands and clean up any accidental spills. 

As an added bonus, each child is presented with their very own Tropical Leaf Treat Box or Tropical Flower Treat Box. We love getting candies that go with the theme to put in these boxes. For this theme, we suggest using Tropical Sour Punch Bites, Tropical Skittles, Starbursts, Jolly Ranchers, or any other candy with a tropical version available!

ADULTS ONLY TABLE

We took the initiative to elevate the grown-ups' table decorations. First, we covered this table with a white tablecloth and sprinkled tiny Gold Palm Leaf Confetti on top to add dimension. 

Each seat has a woven placemat, a wooden charger, and a tropical leaf. The Tropical Floral Plate, the same one seen on the kids' table, is placed on top of these decorations.

Since we didn't have to worry so much about sharp objects at the grown-up table, we ensured guests were well-equipped with stylish Pink and Gold Plastic Cutlery. We also provided a Pink Striped Guest Towel for any messes and spills. 

Instead of traditional place cards, we used the GlowForge to cut out each guest's name and placed them on their respective plates. These acrylic names can double as party favors and be displayed on a desk or added to a keychain. We love having unique party ideas for our place settings!

Every guest was given a Gold Posh Cup along with our custom tropical drink stirrers. Whether you plan to sip cocktails or mocktails, some tropical party drink ideas often feature flavors like pineapple, orange, coconut, and passionfruit.

The Pineapple Treat Box boasts ample space for larger candies and snacks for adults. It even has room for a cute tropical pocket shot (tropical rum, anyone?), making it the perfect party favor box for adults to take home!

For added convenience, every place setting is supplied with a Tropical Leaf Plate, designed to accommodate any extra snacks or food items. 

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

Large, beautiful flower arrangements make any party picture-perfect, and luckily, Lindi Collins from Bridal Garden by Lindi provided flowers to add color and elegance to our tables! With her exceptional floral skills and help from her sweet daughters, she can make any occasion bloom with color.

TROPICAL BACKDROP & BALLOONS

Backdrops are an easy way to provide a photo area for your guest to take memorable pictures and transform your event space. We created our spectacular tropical party backdrop using an artificial grass wall, pink wooden arch boards, and an extravagant tropical balloon garland. 

We had a stunning balloon garland brought in by Balloon Therapy Tulsa. Like so many people, we have admired their talent for so long and had to bring them in on this project.  

We provided the Tropical Leaf Balloon, Pineapple Balloon, Gold Starburst, and Tropical Palm Tree balloons, but the fantastic team from Balloon Therapy did the styling. 

They also strung this Shake Your Palm Palms Banner across the middle to complete the backdrop. This banner can be used for various tropical-themed occasions, including tropical bachelorette parties or tropical baby showers! Its playful design adds a pleasant touch and is sure to make guests feel like they're in a sunny paradise. 

TROPICAL DESSERT TABLE

The dessert table features an array of exquisite treats crafted by talented bakers. We styled the table, and Lindi added fresh flowers to enhance its beauty. 

Can we take a moment to appreciate this unbelievable tropical cake? Made by All Things Cake, it features pastel brush marks and gold detailing. Fondant leaves, hibiscus flowers, and dried orange slices adorn the cake's top and sides. It truly is a work of art!

It wouldn't be a party darling event without cookies from Objection Confections! With beautiful colors, sweet flamingos, metallic pineapples, and textured coconuts, these tropical sugar cookies were too cute. And, yes, they were delicious! 

We included these Tropic Like It's Hot napkins on the treat tables so guests can grab them with their desserts. These napkins boast a stunning green palm leaf pattern with a gold foil "tropic like it's hot" script. These eye-catching napkins are essential for any elevated treat table that demands style and substances.

Lastly, mini Tropical Leaf and Tropical Flower treat boxes are scattered around the table and stacked on a mini cake stand for guests to grab a treat to go. 

THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Our incredible photographer, Casie Cahalen, from Poetique Photography, captured the day! She was so much fun to work with, and the pictures look amazing. 

We enjoyed collaborating with these talented local Tulsa vendors for this party photo shoot. We are so grateful for their contributions and the successful outcome. If you're in the Tulsa area, we highly recommend them for their services. Check out the complete list of vendors linked below. 

• Balloons: Balloon Therapy Tulsa
• Bounce House: Tulsa White Bounce Co.
• Cake: All Things Cake
• Cookies: Objection Confections
• Flowers: Bridal Garden by Lindi
• Paper Goods: The Party Darling
• Photographer: Poetique Photography
• Venue: The Lark Event Venue

 

Be sure to check back for more blog posts and party inspiration! Have a question? Send us a DM on Instagram!