A Coastal Cowgirl Party Theme | 4th of July Party Planning

In this post, I’m sharing all the details behind a Coastal Cowgirl party theme – the perfect vibe for an outdoor 4th of July pool party.

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Last year, we completed a major backyard update: a new pool with a surrounding deck. So, when summer rolled around and talks of hosting a 4th of July party were underway, we jumped at the chance to invite our closest friends over and spend the day eating, drinking, and splashing around in our shiny new pool.

I took to Pinterest, of course, and was immediately drawn to the coastal cowgirl aesthetic that was floating around (mostly in the bachelorette party sphere) and gave it a slightly “Americana” twist for the 4th of July.

In today’s post, I’ll be sharing some of the details behind our party, plus a few extra elements that I’d consider including if I were to host the same party all over again.

Let’s dive into all the party planning details!

_{Welcome to Party Planning: a series where I virtually plan themed events and bundle them up into a perfectly packaged blog post to inspire your next gathering!}

_{It’s no secret to those who know me that I love to host. So much so that I’m fully convinced putting together a themed party is my love language. Whether it’s hosting a bestie’s milestone birthday or celebrating a holiday with a large group of friends, I’m always down to dive deep into the planning process, go as above and beyond as possible, and tap into my “extra” gene to pull together a fun and memorable event for everyone to enjoy.}

_{However, as much as I live for hosting, there’s just no way to realistically fit all of these perfectly put-together themed parties into real life schedules and budgets. So, as a self-proclaimed “Pinterest Girly” who has spent years curating my Party + Events board (with over 1,000+ pins and counting!) I figured I would start virtually planning events right here on the blog: from the initial moodboard and color palette to the party favors and dress code ideas. I’ll even be including Spotify music playlists and invitation templates… because a great themed party is really all about the details.}

_{So, if you’re looking to host an event this upcoming season but aren’t so keen on the planning process, this series will set you up with a complete rundown of themed gatherings you can use as inspo (or directly copy) for your next event!}

A very “Coastal Cowgirl” 4th of July Party

Mood Board + Color Palette

To capture the essence of the coastal Americana vibe, I kicked things off by sourcing images from Pinterest and creating a mood board in my digital party planner.

(Planner: The Perfect Gatherings Digital Party Planner x TWG Designs | App: Goodnotes5)

When creating mood boards, I enjoy incorporating inspiration for every aspect of the event, from food and attire to party favors. I make sure to gather ideas not only for significant decorations like table linens and banners but also for the smaller details in between.

I kept the color palette a bit more understated. Still nodding to the classic red, white, and blue for the 4th of July festivities, but with muted hues and a larger emphasis on white and tan.

The blue and white floral pattern, along with the gingham print, served as the primary inspiration for my table arrangement and DIY banner (I’ll share more details about this later!). By blending beachy and western elements, I was able to pull together a cohesive coastal cowgirl aesthetic that felt laidback and fun.

Invitations

The invitation acts as a first impression for your guests and sets the vibe for the entire event. I used Canva (my favorite online graphic design platform) to design a sketchy poolside scene using illustrated elements from their expansive graphics library. The western hat and shell details are a hint at the theme, and the simplified two-toned color palette gives it a chic and sophisticated vibe.

For an easy and sustainable invitation, simply create a 1080 x 1920 px sized graphic, save it to your phone, and then send it out to your guest list via text or email.

Aside from displaying the overall theme and tone of the event, make sure your invitation includes all essential information like the date and time of the party, location, and any other relevant details like RSVP instructions, dress code, or carpool suggestions.

Decorations

Something in me was itching for a DIY project, so I decided to whip out my serger machine and hit the homeware section at my local thrift store to source fabrics for a DIY banner (inspired by this one I saw on Etsy!)

To make the banner, I simply created a triangle using a piece of scrap cardboard and used it as a template to cut out (a lot) of fabric triangles, serging the edges to keep them from fraying. To assemble the banner, I used a long strip of white fabric and ran a simple single stitch across the top of each triangle to attach them in an alternating pattern.

The assortment of plaid, stripes, and the classic blue and white floral patterns came together really well to establish a “coastal” chic triange bunting banner that I then hung on my string lights and over the outdoor cooler.

Light blue paper lanterns were also hung around the backyard, and of course, no 4th of July party is complete without the classic American flags sprinkled throughout.

I made sure to open our pool umbrellas, set out a large basket with towels, and a wicker basket with sunscreen. I used my large drink dispenser for water and added some small floral arrangements and lanterns to the tabletop.

Speaking of tabletop, we opted to set up the food indoors, just in case of a last-minute weather emergency, and although this was a pool party, we had guests mingling indoors throughout the day as well.

My go-to food set up when hosting is a grazing table. It creates a focal point, and is typically where I have the most fun adding in details that establish the theme of the party.

One thing I highly recommend is creating a general table layout ahead of time so that you can simply plate the food on the day of the event. This usually takes me a while to set up, so I enjoy the process and prefer not to rush through it.

To pull off the “Coastal Americana” theme, I used a combination of sandy beige frayed table runners and a few DIY table runners (with the same fabric as the DIY banners for a cohesive look), then layered some woven rattan placemats, assorted blue and white chinoiserie dishes, and a few shell shaped plates.

For added pops of red, I laid out a few plaid napkins and American flag napkins. Then finished off the coastal look with real shells from my collection sprinkled throughout the table.

I think these white shells would make a great addition to the table decor, as well as some coastal-themed vases like this western boot vase or this oyster shell vase filled with fresh florals.

Food

We kept the food fresh and simple. There were hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, so my grazing table ended up being more of an assortment of sides. We had pasta salad, pigs in a blanket, fresh fruit, chips and dips, and for dessert: cookies and a classic apple pie.

To, once again, pull in the theme I also made the viral “cowboy caviar” dip. It’s the perfect summer side dish full of tons of freshly chopped vegetables, beans, corn, and feta cheese. So easy to make in advance and full of flavor! Click here for the full recipe.

A friend of mine also made her signature “boat” dip which pairs really well with corn tortilla chips, and also fit in perfectly with the coastal theme. I’m not sure of the exact recipe but here’s one that may be similar!

Signature Drink

I typically like to have a few pre-made drink options for those who want an easy ready-to-serve cocktail. However, I’ll be honest, I don’t remember if I had a signature drink at this party. Thanks to Pinterest, you can find tons of great sangria recipes, or blue lemonade recipes that can be made in large batches – perfect for a 4th of July themed signature drink.

If I were to go back in time, I’d make my Blueberry Iced Green Tea mocktail. It’s super light and refreshing, made with fresh blueberries, lime juice, sparkling water, simple syrup, and green tea. Click here for the recipe!

What we did have are these adorable western boot shot glasses. I popped some blue and red sour patch candies inside each one, and set them out on the table next to lemon and lime wedges.

Activities + Favors

Sometimes a pre-planned activity or party favors just aren’t in the cards for a certain type of party. In this case, being that it was a pool party and I knew we’d be splashing around for the most part, I skipped out on any activities and take-home favors.

But, I think there are some fun ways to incorporate these elements into a “coastal cowgirl” themed party, perhaps for a birthday or bachelorette instead.

These tiny western hats are perfect toppers on mini alcohol bottles, cupcakes, or cocktail.

The DIY shell candles would make for a super fun activity that also doubles as a party favor for your guests to take home and enjoy.

If your guests are on the crafty side, you could also set up a DIY beading station to add a bit of whimsy flair to the cowgirl hats.

And lastly, this set of blue bandanas would make great on-theme party favors that your guests can also wear throughout the party.

Dress Code

I made sure to establish the BYOB rule: Bring Your Own Boots – because when else is a boots-and-bikini ensemble acceptable? The Coastal Cowgirl party theme just called for it!

For my look, I kept it simple with a light blue and white ditsy floral print bikini, a muted red sarong, brown boots, and my favorite western hat. I sprinked in some coastal elements with my cowrie shell necklace and earrings. It was my attempt at a subtle “Americana” / 4th of July / red, white and blue outfit without being super on the nose.

However, if I were hosting this party all over again tomorrow, you’d likely catch me in something like this:

SHOP THE LOOK // 1. Tinted Tortoise Sunglasses / 2. Cowrie Shell Necklace / 3. Straw Western Hat / 4. Crochet Tote Bag / 5. Cowrie Shell Satement Ring / 6. Fishnet Bikini With Shell Details / 7. Striped Boxer Shorts / 8. Summer Straw Bag / 9. Conch Shell Drop Earrings / 10. Lightweight Button Down Blouse / 11. Mulberry Silk Square Scarf / 12. Faux Suede Western Book

Music

Last but definitely not least, I’d make sure to prep a Spotify playlist ahead of time for a very coastal chill mood for poolside chilling!

Check out my COASTAL COWGIRL MOOD Playlist on spotify

I hope this post inspired you to host your own Coastal Cowgirl Party Theme this summer.

For more event planning inspiration, click here to check out my Party + Events Pinterest board – updated daily!

If planning is your jam, check out The Perfect Gatherings Digital Party Planner and keep all of your party plans, tasks, to-do lists, and more… organized in one easy-to-access digital file!