Today, I am sharing tips on how to host a fancy fiesta~ in honor of Cinco de Mayo, but also to encourage you to think of using this theme to celebrate birthdays and beyond. A Mexican fiesta theme really is a fun option for celebrating. Stick with the casual vibe of the theme, or use these tips to take it up a notch and host a fancy fiesta!

TIP 1.  I started with choosing silver service for the inspiration and gathered my pieces to decide what would work best. My absolute favorite serving piece is this unique Lazy Susan. It works perfectly for making chips and salsa extra fancy! I loaded the serving dishes with different types of salsa (that I bought at the grocery store). My choices were traditional salsa, chipotle salsa, and green salsa (salsa verde). This idea works equally well served on a large silver platter with separate small bowls or dishes.You could even opt for 2 smaller trays on the table for chips and salsa to serve the entire table. Remember spoons for dipping the salsa onto plates. You could also trade out a salsa for guacamole, as another option. Incorporate other pretty covered casserole dishes or serving pieces to place on the table to serve rice beans, etc.

TIP 2.  To keep the relaxed feel, serve the meal family style, but serve each menu item in a pretty dish. My favorite menu to serve for this type of dinner party is

Baked Cheesy Chicken Burritos

Yellow Rice (follow directions on box)

Black Beans (cook on stovetop)

Mango Salsa

Avocado Slices

Colorful Cookies (homemade or bought from a bakery)

Also include other foods that are easy to pick up and eat, but sightly unexpected. For this meal, I added cheese wafers instead of queso dip. I added oranges that can be peeled and eaten easily for a healthy option. And, I let mini peppers double as a decoration and a menu item.

TIP 3- To keep the party vibe on the fancy side, I focused on colors rather than the typical items associated with a fiesta. This way you are open to using a variety of other ways to bring in the colors, and everything is still cohesive. I did sneak in a mini sombrero, and I think it helps balance the relaxed but gorgeous mix that I am going for with this theme.

TIP 4- Let flowers do the talking! A burst of beautiful and colorful blooms will speak volumes on the table with a fancy fiesta. And then use flowers in other places to continue that thread. Here you will see that I used cookies with frosted flowers in bright colors. I found these at Henri’s Bakery in Atlanta, but they are easy to make or have replicated.

TIP 5- With so many bright colors on the table, I kept the patterns to a minimum. The white tablecloth is a subtle eyelet but adds texture. The ribbon placemat is an electric pink, but is softened with the other colors and also adds an interesting texture and subtle pattern. I mixed bold yellows, pinks, greens, blues, oranges, and reds throughout on the table setting to create the fun, festive setting that I wanted to provide. White tempers the bold colors throughout.

Most of all, have fun and help your guests feel loved and relaxed while they enjoy what you have created for them to experience! It’s going to be a great time! There is an accompanying video in the video library for even more details!

AND- if you would like more Fiesta inspiration head over to my daughter’s birthday party~ Camille’s Fiesta 

Cheers,

Lydia xo