Nylon Captains Hat	White Plastic Sailor Hat	Cloth White Sailor Hat

Nautical Tableware Kits Each	Nautical 9" Plates Pkg/8	Nautical 7" Plates Pkg/8	Nautical Luncheon Napkins Pkg/16
Nautical Beverage Napkins Pkg/16	Nautical Hot/cold Cups Pkg/8	Nautical Glass Set Set/4	Nautical Flag Cascade Centerpiece Each
White Anchor Each	Anchor Mylar Balloon Each	Maritime Anchor Each	Glittered Anchor Cutouts Pkg/12
Paper Table Cover 54"x108" Classic Red Each	82" Round Paper Table Cover Classic Red Each	Plastic Table Cover 82" Rd Classic Red Each	Nautical Flag Picks Pkg/50
Gob Hat Each	Lobster Cutout Each	Captain's Wheel Each	Set Sail Captain's Hat Each
Life Preserver Photo Balloon Holder Each	Bon Voyage Party Streamer Each	Anchor Personalized Yard Sign Each	Nautical Glitter Key Tag Silver Each

Anchor Garland 6" X 12' Each

Nautical Customized Memories Banner Each

Bon Voyage Personalized Banner Each

Lobster Fest Banner Each

Safe Harbor Personalized Banner Each

Fishing Boat Personalized Banner Each

Personalized Ahoy Banner Each

Nautical Party Ideas

The key to pulling off a coordinated event: Evoke your theme throughout the affair. Whether that theme is as general as a season or a feeling, or as specific as a special flower, it should be the subtle thread that ties everything together. Your location, invitations, flowers, menu, cake, and favors should all cleverly reflect one common concept. Then, get as creative as you can! 

Slogans:

After selecting a Nautical theme for your party, choose a slogan to use in your invitations, and to use in tying in decorations and personalized favors for your sea-faring Nautical theme. Find the perfect slogan for your party by trying one of the following, or by thinking of one that suits you. 

"Anchors Away...for a boat rockin' party! 
"Ahoy Maties...It's time to party!" 
"Ship's Ahoy Sailmates...We'll be cruising on the S.S. Party!" 
"Join us for some Nautical Nonsense to celebrate Jon's 40th birthday!" 

Nautical Motif & Special Touches:

The motif is the visual representation of your theme, which is created by the use of objects or symbols. This symbol may be repeated on your invitations, program, plates, or decorations. Sometimes the use of several different symbols will be used as components of the theme. Develop your motif using a list of words related to the nautical theme. Brainstorm a list to create your pool of ideas. This list is very important for generating ideas that can be applied to all areas of your event.

For a Nautical theme you might come up with words like:

Seashore, Ocean, River, sand, lighthouses, anchors, rope, driftwood, sailor hats, sailor collars, nautical flags, life preservers, dockside pilings, fishnet, portholes, ship's railing, coral, seaweed, pearls, rocks, bamboo, teak, oak, aquarium, sandcastles, seashells, clams, oysters, starfish, dolphins, fish, lobsters, crabs, pelicans, seagulls, octopus, whales, sharks, sea turtle, charts & maps, Clambake, Fish n' Chips, model ships, waves, water, mermaid, treasure chest, ship's brass lanterns, ship's brass bell, Captain's table bell, compass, binoculars, lobster traps, buoys, decorative glass floats, nautical signs, a Captain standing at the helm figure, harpoon, sundial, message in a bottle, salt water taffy, boats, sails, yachts, sailboats, beach umbrellas, scrimshaw, bamboo torches, barometer, diving helmet, New England, Cape Cod, giant shells, mini sea creatures, assorted sea shells, seashell nut cups, water gossamer and lots more. 

The Mood:

Decide on what atmosphere or mood you want to create. This is where you want to refer back to the list of words you brainstormed. Add words to the list that will portray your mood. 

Incorporating texture will make things look and feel interesting. Using textures will amplify the atmosphere you are creating. A nautical theme might best be suited to cotton & linen fabrics, pearls, wood, sand and shells.

Locations:

A Nautical Theme offers an incredible number of locations and venues to choose from...beaches, Yacht Clubs, romantic seaside inns, sailboats, sea faring schooners and even luxury yachts. There are lovely seaside gardens, beautiful fountains, city parks, and romantic rooftops. These locations all share brilliant sunrises and exhilarating sunsets.

Colors:

You'll want to select a color scheme that you will use throughout the theme. Two or three colors work well. Colors will make a big impact so be sure they are ones that will complement your theme. For a Nautical theme you might use Red, White, Navy Blue, Sky Blue, Brass, Gold, or Stripes.

Flowers:

The use of nautical flowers has spread from coastal communities to more inland venues where nautical flowers truly are a unique concepts. If you are in an inland community, adopting nautical flowers for your event, may be different from what your local florist is used too or immediately equipped to handle, but chances are they can easily order the materials and products necessary to come up with attractive and interesting nautical favors and flowers. You may want to use flowers influenced by the English garden style seen in Cape Cod or tropical and exotic flowers like those seen in Key West or other tropical ports. You can use traditional and non-traditional flowers and containers like sea shells, Nantucket baskets, lobster pots, watering cans, buckets & etc.. Bouquets can be bright bold colors to the more traditional soft pastels. Try using:

• Hibiscus and Alstromeria in a frog shell.

• Hibiscus, Callas, Freesia, Gerbera Daisies designed in a Spider shell.

• Calla lilies, Roses, Freesia and Alstromeria in a pink Conch Shell.

Other flower chooses might include Hydrangea, Gardenias, Passion Flowers, or a 3ft Banana Trees.

Include nautical rope, berries, grasses & sea shells in your arrangements.

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Nautical Invitation Ideas

Nautical themed invitations

Party Invitations by Carlson Craft!  Carlson Craft offers a parties invitation where you can choose the border design. Use the Nautical design #246 available with a ship, anchor & captain's wheel around the border or a border with ships for a retirement party and beach & tropical borders.

Add a special touch to you invitations by enclosing some small seashells or tiny starfish.

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Nautical Decorating Ideas

Table Decorations:

At some point during the planning stages of your event the subject of linens will arise. When it does stop and think of all the possibilities available to you before you go with standard issue white polyester tablecloths. Remember the tops of the tables provide you with a very large surface area and covering them with a beautiful tablecloth is the easiest way to change the feel of a room.. It is also the most cost effective way to decorate. Ten tables covered with a nautical theme linen print will make a statement that no white tablecloth can make.

A nautical theme might best be suited to cotton & linen fabrics.

Linens for a nautical theme might include patterns like: royal blue & white stripe, navy net with silver stars, nautical charts design, coral reefs design, seashell designs, navy or royal blue overlayed with a white chiffon, Oceana a blue & green swirl pattern that resembles the ocean.

Consider a decorative white overlay laced with gold metallic threads atop a sky-blue linen cloth, you now have captured the look of the ocean at sunset!

Napkins will serve several purposes … great decorating in disguise and a delightful memento of the party that can be saved in scrapbooks for years to come!
 
Show your guests just how much you care by offering Personalized Napkins, that complement your nautical theme. Imprint napkins with a design like: Anchor, Sea Horses, Shells, or other Seaside Elements (Beach Chairs, Boat, Couple on the Beach & etc).

Bring color to the table via cloth napkins. Give each person two napkins slipped into one napkin ring. Use two different colors, two coordinating patterns or one patterned and one solid-colored napkin. A colorful setting can be achieved with little effort this way.

Have your linen rental company fold your napkins in The Sail Napkin Fold.

Napkins can be laid out on a buffet table, or can be displayed at each place setting. Place napkins in the center of each place setting at an angle, or unfold them and place them in glasses for a tall dramatic look. 

Tuck a single flower bud down into a napkin.

Napkins can also be tied and bundled with cutlery. Tie with strings of pearls, sea shell necklaces, raffia, or a multitude of other items to match your theme, get creative!  

Bring a bit of the beach to your table settings when you use these seashell place cards.

Floral arrangements for the tables are often determined by the location of the event. If your room has high ceilings, use high elaborate arrangements. If ceilings are low, use elegant low arrangements. Place arrangements in Nantucket baskets, Conch Shells, watering cans, or buckets or just use loose greens and flowers, laid across a mirror, with a votive candle.

Use a floral ring interlaced with nautical rope and string pearls around a bubble bowl. Place one or two blue submersible LED lights in the bottom of the bowl. Fill bowl with cracked ice crystals (available at craft stores) and top with a floating candle.

Seashells can be used for table centerpieces, they work great alone or as a centerpiece vase for holding flowers. Two seashells that work well for centerpieces are the Conch Shells and Nautilus Shells. Pearly Nautilus are the very best shell to use as a cake topper, but the nautilus shell requires a stand in order to sit upright. 

If you are using banquet length tables, place 3 or 4 square glass vases on the table. Fill with water tinted blue and add floating candles. Scatter sand, sea glass and shells around the vases.

Use a lobster pots decorated with flowers. Other choices for a nautical event might include a lighthouse or decorated Nantucket basket.

Use a life preserver as a ring around a floating candle bowl.

Write names on Sanddollars for placecards and a favor for guest to take home.

Use Murex seashell as place card holders.

Use seashells and sea glass in bottom of vases and candle holders.

A spiral cut Trochus seashell works well for holding table numbers.

Place bubble bowl on small-framed mirrors or mirror tiles, add sea glass & assorted shells and fill with water. Float a candle in the bowl.

Fill bubble bowls with colored sand with seashells around the edges. In the middle place a large white pillar candle. Add a wreath of flowers around the bubble bowl interlaced with nautical rope & string pearls, seashells, tiny star fish & sea glass.

Placecard holders could be a picture frame with seashells glued around the outside frame. 

Make a Nautical centerpiece that resembles a cedar wood Dock Piling with a votive candle holder on top. Use real natural cedar logs. You will need 3 logs (the largest piling should be approximately 6" tall x 4" wide, middle piling 5" x 3", and the smallest 4" x 2 1/2". Drill a hole in the top of each piling just large enough to set a votive holder inside. The pilings are then wrapped three times with nautical rope.

Nautical tiles are great as coasters or wall hangings.

Add these little Mini Sea Creatures to your tables and centerpieces to carry through your seaside theme. Then hand them out to your guests as fun favors! Attach them to your napkins to create fun napkin rings.

Room Decorations:

Floral arrangements may be garden flowers arranged in containers like: Nantucket baskets, watering cans, buckets, lobster pots & etc. or tropical flowers arranged in shells (Conch Shells and Nautilus Shells work well). Interlace rope and string pearls into floral rings, swags, floral arrangements & etc.

Lighthouses can be used for centerpieces or other party area decor.

Use a life preserver as a ring around the base of a floral arrangement.

Add seashells, starfish, sea horses, driftwood, coral & etc. as accents.

A trellis can serve as an entryway and can be elaborate with flowers or with simply blue & white striped fabric. Interlace with rope, and strings of pearls. Add seashells, sea glass, star fish, & other sea creatures into the flowers. Hang a ships lantern on either side of the trellis or hang votive holders with a nautical design on the trellis.

Use a brass "captain's table bell" to get guests' attention for toasts, cake cutting & etc.

Chairs can be either formal or simple. Decorate chairs with nautical rope and brass anchors interlaced with sprays of greens, or sprays of beach grasses & Caspia. You could also hang Nantucket baskets with Roses on chairs or buckets with Hydrangea, Roses,& Gerberas. Accent with strings of pearls, seashells, strings of flowers, or any unique idea to enhance your event.

Stairways can be wrapped with nautical rope and greenery with the addition of sprays of flowers or sea grasses.

Center poles of a tent often need to be covered, Organza, Tulle or Gossamer are good choices for this. Use ship's lanterns for lighting. 

Other areas can be decorated with nautical rope, brass anchors, greenery, sea grasses and flowers with addition of tulle, blue & white striped fabrics, or nautical prints fabrics.

Wreaths are often used at the entrance. They can include elegant flowers, shells, coral, nautical rope, strings of pearls, anchors, sea creatures, and even fruit. 

Use nautical rope barriers to create a walkway or to section off certain areas.

Drape fish net over your cake table or on walls and chairs.

Ice sculptures can add special touches to your nautical event. Add an ice sculpture of an anchor to a buffet table.

If your budget is low, but your dreams are grand, consider the depth of a giant nautical photo mural. It will fill an entire wall, and better yet, it provides guests with the most realistic setting imaginable.

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Decorating with Balloons

Never under estimate the power of Balloons. They are inexpensive and a great decorating tool. It may be impossible to bring a sailboat into your venue - but a balloon company can construct one using balloons or have them create a stunning Ocean with balloons. The illusion of bubbles can be created by floating clear helium filled crystal latex balloon of various sizes above the ocean.

Balloon Clouds are lovely floating over tables with tulle draped from one cloud cluster to the next.

When using balloons as centerpieces, varying the height and color can add depth to any room. Be sure that balloon centerpieces do not obscure the view. And make sure that balloons are secured with weights. Retrieving balloons from the rafters can be a costly experience!

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Decorating with Gossamer

To create a stunning look for an indoor or outdoor event use lots of Gossamer. (Gossamer is an inexpensive, extremely light, non-woven "fabric". It drapes and swags beautifully, making it a decorating must-have for creating a number of different, stunning looks! Use it to:

Resource for Gossamer: Party Decorations & Favors at Shindigz

• Create a wonderful star studded sky or cloud ceiling with gossamer to give that outdoor illusion to your guests.
• It makes beautiful curtains to hide tent poles or ugly walls.
• Use it to wrap around columns, banisters and chairs.
• Create gorgeous bows for chairs or to accent tables. 
• Use as an overlay on tables.
• Use Theme Gossamer 60"x25 Yd Water Roll to create a pool of water.
• Use strings of white lights, twist them together with some Gossamer for a really great look.
•  Place a Ship's Rail alongside Theme Gossamer 60" Rippling Water 25 Yd Roll, balloons & cracked ice for an ocean illusion!

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Games & Activities:

Here are a couple of games that work great with this theme and help your guests mingle together throughout the entire evening!

Get a list of the different nautical symbols. Spell words with the symbols, and have people figure out what the words are. Give out prizes to the person who gets the most right.

You could also play "To Speak, or Not to Speak". Give each player a bag or goodie box with 10 small treasures in it (candy, chocolates, little favors). Have bags labeled with players' names, so they don't get mixed up. Let players know at the start of the game exactly when the game will be ending. This game can be played throughout an entire party if you so choose. The object of the game is to catch fellow players saying one of the forbidden words or phrases: NAUTICAL, BOAT, OCEAN, WAVES, BEACH, YACHT. To help players, post the words prominently on a board where they can be seen often. If someone is caught saying one of the words on the list, that person has to give up a treasure from their stash. The player with the biggest haul of goodies at the end of the game is the winner.

These ideas are great for the little mates you may have on board.

Take a Trip - If time permits, take your guests on a trip to your local maritime museum! Many museums offer tours and programs especially for children. If you are in Houston, TX. visit the Texas Seaport Museum, or  Houston Maritime Museum.

"Captain Says" - A game of "Simon says" with a nautical twist.

Fish, Fish, Shark - This game is based on the traditional “Duck, Duck, Goose” game, but instead of a goose chasing a duck, a shark chases a fish. Start with all your little fishes seated in a circle. Designate a leader to walk around the circle, tapping guests on the head and calling each person a fish. After several guests have been tapped, the leader chooses one guest and yells out “Shark” when tapping him or her on the head. The Shark chases the leader and tries to tag her as she races around the circle and back to the Shark’s spot. If the leader is caught, then she remains the leader another round. If the leader escapes the Shark, the Shark becomes the new leader. Repeat the game until every guest has a chance to be the leader.

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FOOD IDEAS   

• Angel hair pasta with shrimp and basil 
• Seafood stir-fry 
• Shrimp cocktail 
• Flounder with crabmeat stuffing
•  Another adult friendly dish would be a large Popeye's spinach pie! Your guests will be breaking out in the "Popeye the Sailorman" theme song in no time - guaranteed! 

If you will be serving children at your event, they have a bit of a different taste when it comes to festive foods, so here are a couple choices for the younger shipmates

• Make blue J-ello^tm according to the directions on the box. Fill each glass with blue J-ello^tm and refrigerate to let it partially set.  Add a few Swedish Fish to each glass.  Test the first one, as they shouldn’t sink to the bottom, but should “swim” in the water.  Continue to refrigerate until firm.  The kids will love this one!
• Serve Trader's Punch (recipe below) out of a large punch bowl - don't forget to add the floating toy sailboat on top! 
• Try our “Deep Blue Sea Juice”, and you’ll fill the room with “ooohs and aaahs”.  Start by serving blue punch.  After you have placed a filled glass in front of each guest, add some seaweed dust (a few Pop Rocks^tm candies) to each one. Since this candy is processed with carbon dioxide, it will crackle, pop, and spit when it comes into contact with a liquid.   
• Make beach boats by placing a slice of apple on each plate. Cut a cheese slice in half at an angle and place that like a sail on the plate. Add some peanut butter to the apple slice and add a few raisins as the people on the boat . 
• Serve Goldfish^tm, submarine sandwiches or sandwiches cut with fish cookie cutters, Dole^tm Pineapple Fish (they are pre-cut in the can), fish fruit snacks, and sunken treasure nuggets (cheese balls.) 
• Cut fish out of the rice crispy treats with a cookie cutter.  Place them on a large cake board covered with Dark Blue Water Gossamer, and frost each one differently with bright colors of frosting.  There is no right or wrong way to decorate the fish…and you can even involve your child in the fun!  If you prefer a more traditional cake, simply cut a 9 X 13” cake into a fish shape, and decorate it with bright colors

Seashells & Cheese

2 cups uncooked seashell macaroni (7 ounces)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded or cubed Cheddar cheese (8 ounces)

Heat oven to 350ºF. 

Cook macaroni as directed on package.

While macaroni is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted. 

Drain macaroni. Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.
Makes 6 servings 

Trader's Punch

2 cups orange juice
2 cups lemon juice
1 cup grenadine syrup
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 1-pint (12-ounce) bottles ginger ale, chilled
Fresh berries or sliced fruit

Mix fruit juices, grenadine and corn syrup;
chill. Just before serving, add ginger ale
and fruit. Makes 4 quarts.

CAKE LINKS

If cake is the dessert of choice, a simple and sweet cake is as easy as this! Frost a double layer round cake with light beige frosting. Sprinkle big grain brown sugar over it - a striking resemblance to sand! You can then add some doll beach chairs and umbrellas, or just a few plastic seagulls to keep it simple. Use your imagination and round up those old toys to keep with the theme.

Sailboat Cake at Betty Crocker

Catch of the Day Cake

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Related Theme Ideas

 Theme Parties N More is a wedding & event planning company located in Cypress, TX. Our party & wedding planners have put this website together to provide our visitors with ideas for planning their events, this includes links to products that can help you to make your event extra special. In accordance with the FTC Guidelines we are disclosing that some of the vendors that we link you to, pay us a commission when you purchase products from them, but some of the vendors do not provide us with any compensation.

Life Preserver Arch

Shining Sails Silver Placecard Holders Pkg/4

Shells By The Sea Authentis Shell Holder Pkg/6

 Ship's Rail

Personalized Ship Mural Each

Midnight Cruise Ship Standee Each

23" Plastic Life Preserver

Anchor Centerpiece Each

Nautical Signal Garland Each

Anchor Standee Each

Porthole Cut-outs Dozen

Nautical Metal Lamp Each

Porthole Wall Graphic Set/3

Captain's Wheel Each

Ships Anchor Each

Felt Sailboat Centerpiece W/lights Each

Theme Gossamer Rippling Water Rolls

Fence Section W/light & Life Preserver Each