Labor Day End of Summer White Party

Serve lots of appetizers and finger foods buffet style to encourage laid-back mingling around the table. Make sure to set up extra seating and tables where guests can take their plates and sit down to enjoy the appetizers.

White Party Buffet Menu

• Variety of Artisanal Cheeses
• Charcuterie Platter (salami, ham & turkey)
• Hummus
• Variety of Breads & Pita & Crackers
• Marinated Olives
• Bruschetta with Heirloom Tomatoes
• Grilled Chicken Breast Kabobs
• White Pizza cut in small squares
• Steamed Mussels in Garlic and White Wine Broth
• Roasted Yukon Gold Homemade Potato Chips

White Party Dessert Menu Ideas

• Cheesecake with an assortment of fresh berries for toppings
• Ginger Kahlua Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
• Angel Food Cake with Whipped Vanilla Bean Cream and Berries

White Party Drink Ideas

• White Wines (Chardonnay, Sauvingnon Blanc, Champagne, Pinot Grigio, etc.)
• White Russian
• Infused Vodkas (stick with light colored fruits like pineapple, lemon and lime)
• Caipirinha
• Mojito
• Lemon Drop
• White Cosmopolitan

White Candles and Lanterns

Start your party in the early evening and fill your party space with soft candlelight. White candles should be scattered all around the yard to create the warm, sultry vibe associated with summer nights. Place tall pillar candles in hurricanes on the ground to line a walkway, in the center of a table as a centerpiece, or between dishes to illuminate a buffet table. Stores like Ikea, Ross and Tuesday Morning carry candles of all shapes and sizes at budget-friendly prices. Ikea in particular is known for their bag of tealight candles (100 for $3.99) that is perfect to use for lining stairways, tables and pools with a soft, summery glow.

If you have a pool, place pillar candles inside tall lanterns that will protect them from the breeze and keep them glowing all night long. Mini lanterns (lit by tealight candles) also make a great decoration for an end of summer Labor Day party. Place the pint-sized lanterns in the middle of low cocktail tables to encourage mingling and conversation over their glow, or add them to a buffet table for decoration and lighting on your party food. You can even hang them carefully by hooks from trees to create a surreal atmosphere of floating orbs.

White Flowers

The gorgeous smell and visual appeal of flowers is a trademark of summer that deserves to be celebrated during an end of summer party. Late August still offers a wide variety of budget-friendly, beautiful white blooms in season such as:

- Hydrangea
- Roses
- Stock
- Gardenias
- Calla Lilies
- Chrysanthemums
- Orchids

Order a bunch of all-white bouquets online from a wholesale florist or reputable floral delivery sites like 1-800-Flowers. Wholesale flowers can be cheaper, but require time spent trimming and arranging the bouquets before the party. Though floral arrangement delivery sites might cost a bit more, a reputable florist will already arrange your flowers ahead of time and all you have to do is set them out for the party.

Tip: If you want to tackle floral arrangements yourself, only order a few types of blooms. Group a few bunches of the same type of flower in a vase to create a chic, stunning arrangement with minimal time and hassle.

Create a White Party Setting

The flowers and candles will set a wonderful summery mood for a Labor Day party, but finishing off the party setting with white pillows and curtains will take it to a whole other level. Gather all the white pillows you own (both sleeping pillows and decorative pillows) and bring them outdoors for the party. Place them on lounge chairs, benches, and on all possible seating areas to create a laid-back, comfortable atmosphere where guests can relax and enjoy themselves.

Use a few sets of airy white curtains (or sheets) to section off areas of the yard and provide a dramatic white backdrop for the party. Do this by stringing a strong rope (white nautical-style rope works best and goes with the theme) through the top of the curtain, and then tie either end of the rope from trees or nails in your house (spots where Christmas lights are usually hung are perfect for this).