How to Design Your Perfect At-Home Happy Hour
A few weeks ago, we shared our favorite tips and tricks for creating an eclectic tablescape. Now we’re back, and we’ve teamed up Target Wedding Registry once again to show you how to design the perfect mobile happy hour. From essentials you need to ways to customize each element, follow along to see how we brought our dream bar to life.
And if you’re getting married in the near future, many of the items on this list should definitely be on your registry. After all, gettin’ hitched is only the beginning of the party ;)
The first thing to do is make sure you’ve got the goods. In addition to all the liquor you love and the mixers that make it even better, you need tools of the trade.
Stock Up On The Essentials
TableCraft Cocktail Shaker ($20): This should be an obvious one — how else will mix up all those magical cocktails?!
Hammered Metal Beverage Tub ($25): Keep mixers and beers chilled on the floor next to your bar cart in a big metal tub like this.
Hammered Metal Ice Bucket ($30): You’ve gotta keep ice on hand at all times. This can also double as storage for extra coasters and other odds and ends.
Whiskey Chilling Stones ($15): Whiskey on the rocks? That’s so 20 years ago. Now, it’s all about whiskey on the STONES.
Riatta Glass Tumblers, Set of 16 ($20): This super affordable set of glasses has a vintage vibe without looking overly kitschy. Win!
White Wine Tumblers, Set of 2 ($21): And for the winos in your crew, a pair of classy tumblers should do the trick.
Libbey Shot Glasses, Set of 4 ($11): On the opposite end of the spectrum, we’ve got shot glasses. Use them for measuring your mixed drinks… or for Fireball. We won’t judge ;)
Bar Tool Set ($22): Finally, the tools to make all your dream drinks happen!
A good bar cart is surprisingly hard to find! Target’s got a great selection of bar carts to choose from for setting the happy hour stage. And to the to-be-marrieds, bar carts happen to be one of the top registry trends for 2014! We recommend getting a no-frills bar cart and tricking it out with your own personal style. For us, that means… washi tape!
Find a Good Bar Cart
We used a couple rolls of washi tape to add color to a simple bar cart. Wrap the handles, add a pattern on top of it and so on. You can add as little or as much as you like!
Speaking of making this bar scene yours, we’re all about rocking a semi-permanent bar in our homes. Create a corner that’s designed for such happy hours, and accent it with wall art and flowers to blend it in seamlessly.
Work Your Bar into Your Decor
We even added a couple sculptures to the bottom level of our bar cart to create a little more dimension.
More washi? Yes, please. Time to get after those coasters, straws and drink stirrers.
Make Your Own Drink Stirrers + Coasters
Wrap washi around paper straws and cover coasters with it. Use scissors to trim any excess tape.
How fresh are those? On the coasters with black blocks of color, we actually used chalkboard paint!
Now it’s time to drink up!
Even Brit’s pup Pixel couldn’t help but jump for joy upon seeing the completion of this cheerful scene.
What does your home bar look like? Do you have a bar cart? Talk to us in the comments below.
