Styling a Bar Cart for Outdoor Entertaining

When the weather is warm, it's time to take your party outdoors.  The bar cart is an entertaining essential for serving drinks and food with ease.  Pour yourself a glass of wine and read on to see how I styled my bar cart for an afternoon soiree!

My inspiration started with seasonal flowers that I cut from my garden.  I added chilled wine and prosecco and a bottle of St. Germain liqueur to make sparkling cocktails.  I found the great champagne chiller at a consignment shop and it adds an element of drama.

Ice water is important when the temperature is soaring so I offered a beautiful pitcher with cucumbers, mint and lemon slices.  It was so tasty that I decided to keep some in the refrigerator to sip on daily!

When choosing items for your cart, consider layering with different finishes.  The wooden candle holder add some warmth to this sleek cart and when the sun starts to set, the candle adds a little glow.  It's also nice to have several small vases of flowers as they add color but don't take up too much space.

I used great looking shatterproof wine glasses with a monogram that are just pretty as glass.  

For this party, I offered a cheese board nearby, but served dessert from the bar cart.  I made it easy by purchasing cupcakes from Main Street Cakes and offered macaroons to go along with them.  I put a smaller tray full of macaroons onto the larger tray with the cupcakes and it was a beautiful presentation.

The magazines are all of my favorite summer issues and are great conversation starters.

My cute romper is from Cabi and is so great for summer in the South when the temperature is in the 90's, but the humidity is 100%!

For a delicious and refreshing St. Germain cocktail, mix 2 ounces Brut Champagne or sparkling wine, 1-1/2 ounces St. Germain liqueur and 2 ounces club soda.  Add a lemon twist for garnish. 

Photography by Sara-Anne Photography

Bar Cart Essentials

Trays

Keep a variety of trays on hand to fit your bar cart.  It makes it easy to transport items from the kitchen to the cart.  Don't forget to add a caddy for utensils if you are serving a meal.

Shatterproof Serveware

Use stylish acrylic glassware and melamine plates for serving instead of unslghtly plastic cups and paper plates.

Beverage Dispenser or Pitcher

A beverage dispenser or pretty pitcher will make it easy for guests to serve themselves.  Fill it with your signature drink or water or lemonade.

Ice Bucket and Garnishes

Have plenty of extra ice on hand and provide garnishes such as lemons, limes and cucumbers.  Straws and paper umbrellas are a fun addition!

Liquor and Mixers

Depending on your party you may want to provide liquor and appropriate mixers.  Favorites for summer include, white rum for daiquiris and mojitos, gin for gin and tonics, Vodka for bloody Mary's and Tequila for margaritas.

Candles

When the sun starts to set, add some glow with votives or other candles.

I hope this has been helpful!  I would love to see pictures of how you style your barcart!  Put them on Instagram with the #crazyblondebarcarts!  Have a great day!