Everything You Need to Host Cinco de Mayo

For absolutely no reason at all, I LOVE cinco de mayo. It may be my obsession with Mexican food or because it’s a great excuse to wear bold colors, throw a party and hang out with girlfriends. Either way, it has become one of my favorite holidays over the years. My girlfriends and I usually go out around Charlotte every year, but this year I’m hosting all the fun and couldn’t be more excited. Today’s post is all about hosting the perfect fiesta and I’m giving you everything you need to be the perfect hostess.

WHAT TO SERVE

When planning a party, I always start with the theme and the menu. Since the theme of cinco de mayo is already set, I’m jumping straight to the menu. The weather has finally turned so I’m taking the opportunity and hosting the party outside. Knowing the environment, I’m keeping the food simple with pick-up items so guests have the opportunity to move around. Taco cups, chicken fajitas, bang bang shrimp and chips & queso are staples for any fiesta and several of my favorite foods.

RECIPES

raspberry margarita // taco cups // taquitos // bang bang shrimp // queso // fiesta cookies

MAKE IT PRETTY

Can you really have a fiesta without lots of colorful decorations? My favorite part of party planning is getting everything right, all the way down to the details. Cocktail napkins, lights, serve ware and centerpieces are just a few of the things your guests will notice and appreciate. They also make for good photo ops in this instagram age we are all living in. Decorating doesn’t have to break you. There are several ways to achieve a great cinco de mayo aesthetic without going broke. My personal favorite: the dollar section at Target. Target is infamous among women for having great finds, so I always start there and then branch out. I picked up my queso pineapple bowl last year but saw a full re-stock at my local store for $5 each. If your store is sold out you can get this one here. Colored glasses, straws and globe lights were all from the dollar bin and ranged from $1-$3 each. I’ve linked similar ones below you can have shipped directly to you.