Planning a tapas & sangria bridal shower. Any ideas to help?

Question

The date is set and the cute invitations with Spanish designs are out. Now I need to decorate and put the finishing touches on the party. It's an afternoon event to be held (if the whether is nice) on my large deck. But I want to carry a bit of the decor inside as well (people will have to walk through the house to use the rest room). Any ideas? What colors would be best? What kind of decor? Any favor ideas? What kind of flowers? What kind of cake? Music (I was thinking Spanish guitar if you have any recomendations)? Have you held a Spanish themed party of any kind? What did you do?

Answer 1

so raindove knows, Spain and Mexico are two different countries. as for decor, I'll tell you, I spent a couple weeks in spain 2 years ago. you should take all the dirty napkins in your house, and throw them on the floor, as this seems customary in bars that serve tapas throughout spain. then, at the end of the night, the bartender just sweeps it all out onto the street, and it is cleaned up in the middle of the night, it's pretty ******' crazy. so yeah, just toss garbage on the floors, used up napkins, cups, food, that's if you're going for Authentic, anyways, and invite your guest to do the same with their garbage.

Answer 2

Southwest colors are very in right now and include beautiful teals, purples, yellows, brick orange, and such. You can carry this theme indoors by purchasing fresh flowers in these colors and arranging throughout your house. Additionally, ceramic pitchers, vases, and such also might enhance your arrangements. Candles in paper bags (with sand) are often seen during the Christmas season in New Mexico and Mexico and can be a nice addition if your party goes into the evening. A pinata or two hanging will add a festive touch. In your bathroom, you might want to consider getting some rafia and tying it around guest towels, float some candles in a shallow dish of water, and have fresh flowers. For music, there is a number of beautiful flamenco tunes out there, as well as classics such as The Soul of Spain, which includes such charmers as Maleguena and others. For foods, think tapas! Mini empanadas, tamales, ceviche in spoons, polenta with tomato sauce, mini quesadillas....all are great ideas along with the requisite bowl of salsa and chips. Anyway, have fun!

Answer 3

Sevilla is one of the best known Spanish cities, home of the andalucian (the happiest people on earth), so you may try and inspire yourself with an Andalucian theme.
Red and yellow are Spain's colors. Little "torero" hats and andalucian "bailaora" dresses might be a nice decorating touch. Any bright colored flower will do.
As for music you can go for Gypsy Kings, Paco de Lucia or Oscar Lopez, the best guitarist ever.
The cake has to be a Spanish Almond tart, recipe as follows


Ingredients:

4 large eggs
200g sugar
200g ground almonds
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 lemon, grated
1 Tbsp. of butter
a little flour
50g icing sugar





Directions:
Heat the oven to medium-low (about 325 F). In a bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, lemon zest and cinnamon until thick and creamy. Carefully stir in the ground almonds. Take a smooth, round baking tin or mold and grease well with the butter then dust with flour. Pour in the mixture and bake for about 30 minutes. Leave to cool before removing from the mold and placing on a round serving plate. Dust with the icing sugar. Serves 4.
And please don't forget to make some Crema Catalana (Spanish Custard)

Ingredients:
6 egg yolks

200g sugar

3/4 litre milk

1 cinnamon stick

1 piece of lemon peel

3 tbsp corn flour

Directions:
1. Beat the egg yolks until light then whisk in 150g of the sugar 2. Place the milk in a saucepan together with the cinnamon and lemon peel - bring to the boil and then remove from the heat and strain. 3. Whisk the milk with the egg mixture 4. Dissolve the cornflour with a little milk and whisk into the mixture 5. Place the mixture over a low heat and cook, stirring constantly until it begins to boil 6. Put the custard into a pudding bowl or smaller individual bowls and allow to cool before placing in the fridge 7. Before serving sprinkle a little sugar on top and caramelize it by placing under a hot grill briefly until the sugar melts and turns brown.

Answer 4

OK i have seen many Mexican parties and the general idea is rich bold colors like orange ,red ,green ,blue so buy the so maybe go with very colorful tablecloths plates etc,if you want the delicate form go with ivy and place limes, lemons and oranges nestled down the center of each table like a runner with some bright colored flowers,make a real sangria punch with fruit etc..threw the house you could put the same flower fruits hear and there with the ivy ,if you go with the bright colorful theme then get small pinata type things or shakers from a party store,I'm sure they will have lots of things you could buy,the cake i think should be an orange cake or a lemon ,my husband was Spanish and they are big on citrus flavors,they are into embroidery ,bright colors,and handmade things pottery etc.. that is something you could use is pottery as well Spanish guitar and mariachi music they sell Cd's in a lot of stores,party favors can be something really cute like get a set of small pictures of the couple and put info about them like what they like there dreams what they are going to decorate there home theme in etc or just gen info or some silly saying for them put the person name on it ,and have them laminated and use them for seating ,links are lots of ideas for u and a cake have fun

Answer 5

contact a local travel agent and ask them if they have any maps or travel posters from spain - mount them on cardboard (or buy a few poster frames at a mass retailer, like kmart, they are pretty inexpensive) and hang in your living space and around your deck.

check out tourism sites like http://www.spain.info/ to see what the culture is like and get an idea of colors and art that you might see in the cities there. purchase inexpensive fabric yardage and use as table coverings, drape over deck rails, use as "rugs." remember that spain is very different than mexico or south america, even though the language is similar. tapas is served with wines, so check out a local wine store for spanish varietals red, white and rose. they also like a sparkling wine there, but i can't remember what its called.

for favors, go to an import store and look for mantilla combs (like the spanish ladies wear in pictures, with their hair up and covered in lace veils). as for flowers, spain as part of europe has a similar climate, so many flowers you see in bloom here will be the same there - roses would be nice, but any fresh flowers will be lovely. display them in clear, modern glass vases.

since you are serving tapas as your food, try any finger food recipe for dessert. fresh fruit is often served there. also, don't forget, the moors had a heavy influence on the architecture and art in southern spain - check out some morrocan dessert recipes, and even decor ideas.

Answer 6

Here's some food & drink Recipes
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/et_pa_tapas/0,1972,FOOD_10945,00.html

I think nice earthy colors would be great, cinnamon, chocolate, dark oranges & reds