The Ultimate Beach Bash Bonfire Guide

photo: Wendy Laurel Photography

We know the only cure for the work-week blues is a healthy dose of Vitamin SEA. We'll maintain (cross our hearts and hope to die) that the beach remains one of the most beautiful and natural places to gather with your favorite peeps, any time of the year. When Summer shakes it's golden mane, there's no denying the pull of lush palm trees, salty hair and ocean breezes with your best buds. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros captured it best when they sang "we laugh until we think we'll die on a barefoot summer night." Here are your must-haves for throwing a perfect beach bash!

Photo:Wendy Laurel Photography

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Rent A Surfari Wagon!

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

What better way to make your way down to the beach than in your own Surfari Wagon? Rent one of these rad rides and pack up your posse for a weekend road trip complete with the coolest photo prop… in the entire world. Recreate by renting one from many rental places across the globe like VW Surfari or California Campers. Photo: Wendy Laurel | Planner: Couture Events Maui | Florals: Mandy Grace Designs

Photo:The Beach People

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Pull Carts and Round Towels are everything

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

You're young and free so pull this cart to the sea! Fill it with towels, blankets, the kiddos.. or get creative and use it to store your beach drinks! Shop the beach cart here for $245. Then gather 'round (literally) on this Moroccan-inspired Roundie Towel for $99. Hot tip from The Beach People: "Have fresh oysters + a squeeze of lime followed by swig of beer = sublime." Photo: The Beach People

Photo:Free People

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Pillows Are Not Just For Couches.

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Want a way to make your beach bash feel a little cozier? Pack up some perfect pillows like our friends at Free People and create your own Insta-worthy finishing touches – both cool & comfortable! Think outside the typical towel box.
Find lots of Free People pillows here to recreate the look. Photos and Styling: Free People

Photo:Shop Bando

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Keep Your Beverages cool and cool

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Keep your drinks both looking cool and feeling cool with this pop of pink Bando 'Too cold to hold drink sleeve.' Four pack; $17.

Photo:Uncommon Goods

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Tequila Toasting Glasses

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

While we are on the subject of drinking... Snag these tequila toasting glasses. These fine fellas are sturdy so you won't have to worry about them being breakable on the beach! Even better.. they are made from Himalayan sea salt, perfect for tequila or mezcal because you will get a salty bite with each sip. Bonus: Salt is naturally antibacterial so you also don't have to worry about cleaning mid-fiesta! Who has time for that on the beach?! Set of four; $28.

Photo:HM.com

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Blankets & Plates

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What are you going to eat on?? Are these not the coolest disposable plates you ever did see? HM.com

Photo:Grin Photography

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Custom Umbrella

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Super serious about your sun game? Invest in a one-of-a-kind beach umbrella upholstered in custom fabric to stay haute (when it’s hot). These are truly the heirloom pieces for you beach bums. Photo: Grin Photography

Photo:Love Grows Wild

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S'mores and popsicles

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

No beach bash is complete without s’mores or popsicles.. so why not combine them together?! The genius behind Love Grows Wild came up with the perfect recipe here!

Photo:West Elm

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Beach-Bash Friendly Serveware

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Plastic serve ware is so National Lampoon’s Vacation (the first one) - pack up your own perfect party ware in the cutest colors - eco–conscious and elegant for any beach event!

A really cool cooler bag

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

With all of these treats and drinks.. you better get a really cool cooler bag. Wet your whistle with this watermelon shaped bag. Delicious AND water resisistant for $32. Photo @OneTurnKill

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Photo:Free People

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Surfboard Bags

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

If you are going to host a beach bash, surely you will want to surf. These surfboard bags double as decor and a cozy place to keep your board. This years model features the original aztec pattern, applied with hand carved stamps! Plus they are the love child of two cool brands, Chapman at Sea and Free People.Limited Edition Surfboard Bag; $228

Photo:Linus Bike

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Step up your bike game.

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Speaking of surfing.. you better have a cool ride too! Inspired by French bicycle design of the 50s and 60s these bikes preserve the simple elegance of that golden era. Linus Bikes; $399+

Photo:Free People

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Beach Games

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Let' the fun games begin.. We mean.. continue. Moon Star Dominos: $80

Photo:Uncommon Goods

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Lawn Games on The Beach

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Clearly we love games.. frisbee is fun but jumbo dice?! Maybe you’re in the mood for a little larger-than-life competition with your seaside collective? Spend only $50 for these gorgeous handmade solid pine dice & bag and ratchet up the ridiculous fun quotient only rolling these babies can bring. Jumbo Dice; $50

Photo:Blue Ribbon General Store

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Giant Beach Burger Ball!

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Beach balls are so last year. Have fun in the sun with this zero calorie beach ball burger that inflates to over 4ft!
A giant burger with no calories? Sounds like our kind of fun in the sun. Beach Ball; $32

Photo:Urban Outfitters

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Tunes by the tide

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

No beach bash is complete without a perfect playa-side playlist! We’re crushing on this cool vintage-inspired portable radio from the beach-obsessed product expert Aussies at Sunnylife. Water-resistent and able to hook into your own device – we call this #winning. Portable Radio; $49

Photo:Say Yes Blog

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DIY Indigo Beach Blanket

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Dear Pinterest lovers – in lieu of spending your hard earned dinero, why not DIY yourself a little cheerful beach blanket? You may have seen this Japanese Shibori technique all over Insta in the form of pillows & throws, but bringing this to the beach will elevate your bash to a whole new dip-dyed design level of indigo intimate. DIY Indigo beach blanket instructionshere.

Photo:Tayrn Kent Photography

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Beach Baby Babylon

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Do you have little beach babes too?! When two awesome local California brands collide, they give birth to the coolest beach baby blankets. Cleobella plus Gunn and Swain, how we heart you. Drape these ikat dreams like a tent, lay them on the sand or use them as shade. These beautiful beach throws are gorgeous for groms and moms alike. Cleobella Ikat Throw; $59 Photo: Taryn Kent

Photo:Urban Outfitters

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Pendleton Towel

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Pendleton isn’t just for the mountains anymore, peeps. Bringing their signature soft style to the beach, snuggle up after a swim or lay out in luxury – p.s. - it looks cool too! Layer it like a rug on the beach, or just fall asleep after one too many drinks. Pendleton Beach Towel; $49.50

Beach Babe Sunnies

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Throwing a party and gathering with the gang is great! But what will you wear? From 60's style twiggy shades to sunnies in shades of pink, purple and sherbert, Wildfox Couture has the beach babe look down to a science. Grab your gals, wear your sunnies and bonfire the night away. Wildfox Sunglasses; $169+

Photo:The Beach People

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Build a tipi lounge

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Every good sun-filled party needs shade. Hats are cool and all, but tipi lounges take your beach bash to the next level.
First buy a whole bunch of $49 tapestries from Urban Outfitters here, then don't forget to snag your Beach People Roundie Towel. The towel doubles as a cool rug (and tipi entrance). Now just pop this puppy up. Stuck on how to recreate this? Here are DIY instructions on how to pitch the perfect beach tent anywhere. Photo: The Beach People

Photo:Sugar and Charm

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How To build your bonfire and your menu

Sandy Beaches Everywhere

Now for the really important part! Besides your s'mores and beach beverages, what are some yummy and easy snacks you can prepare ahead? And how will you build your bonfire?! Sugar and Charm has all of the instructions right here.