Throw A Retro-Inspired Beach Party This Summer

To help with planning, think of your favorite old movies when choosing your retro beach party decor — Beach Blanket Bingo and Gidget were our inspirations. We started by setting out towels and outdoor pillows in ice cream-inspired colors to create a casual, poolside hangout area and swapped in a small wood stool for a table to hold drinks and snack plates.

Get the retro vibes flowing before your guests arrive with vintage-style invitations. We found these '50s invites on Zazzle.com and customized them with details of our soiree. Go all out with the theme, and ask guests to dress in vintage beach attire.

We chose a simple, casual menu of snacks and treats for our retro beach party. When thinking about your menu, incorporate low-fuss popular foods from the decade, and add cheeky cards to get your guests into the beach party spirit. Here, we filled a tray with "beach balls", "pool mats" and "crunchy crabs." Tip: Lay a piece of wax paper down on your tray before filling it for easy cleanup.

Those hot summer days outside can lead to sunburns — not to mention all the bug bites. Make sure your guests are covered on both fronts by filling a basket with a variety of sunscreens and bug sprays. If you have a pool, make sure to offer waterproof sunscreen options as well (especially for the kiddos!).