Gather friends for luau fun!

Take your loved ones on a tropical getaway without leaving your backyard! On the menu: delicious, effortless treats and creative cocktails so you can soak up the sun and fun!

Set out a sampler of sweets

Party pro Laura Aguirre ( Lauraslittleparty.com) turned her yard into a Hawaiian escape with this bright buffet. To get the look: Hang a pink tablecloth on a wall and set a picnic table topped with a fauxgrass table cover ($ 8, Partycity.com) in front of it. Tape pink and green tissue-paper pom-poms to the wall and make a banner by taping party-store letter balloons to the wall, adding pink plastic flamingos ($ 24 for 24, Dollartree.com) for a fun touch. To finish, top the table with treats like popcorn, cupcakes, donuts and takeout boxes filled with candy.

Unwind with a cool blue tiki cocktail

Treat guests to a tropical drink that’s as fun to look at as it is to sip! To whip up a Blue Hawaiian, pour 1 oz. of rum, 1 oz. of blue curaçao, 3 oz. of pineapple juice and 1 oz. of coconut-flavored syrup (like Torani, Walmart) into an ice-filled shaker. Shake until combined, strain into an ice-filled glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry.

Make ’em smile with flip-flop favors

Display inexpensive flip-flops in a pretty bin or bucket for an easy, on-theme decoration. Plus, guests can slip them on when their shoes get uncomfortable— and take them home to remind them of the fun time they had! You can find inexpensive flip-flops at dollar stores or drugstores or order them in bulk at Dollartree.com ($ 24 for 24 pairs).

Brighten tables with a tropical centerpiece

Pretty pineapples and bold flowers make for a lovely luau centerpiece, created by Aguirre. To do: Fill a low glass vase with soaked floral foam. Insert a mix of pink and white supermarket roses (or use carnations for an even more budget-friendly arrangement) into the foam. Place the arrangement in a pretty gift box, inserting a pink plastic flamingo in the center. Pop on the table and surround it with a few fresh pineapples.

Create memories with a fun photo booth

You and your crowd will remember your party long after summer by creating a too-cute photo op like Aguirre’s. To do: The week of your party, cut summer shapes and thought bubbles from construction paper, glue onto skewers and pop in a bucket filled with tissue paper. (No time to craft? Pick up tropical photo booth props, $ 6 for 13, Party City.) When guests arrive, have them pick a prop and pose by the buffet for photos! Tip: Set out a selfie stick with a long handle (like the Extendable Selfie Stick, $7, Homedepot.com) to make it easier to take group photos.

Portion out snacks in pretty grab-and- go boxes

Instead of serving snacks in one big bowl that everyone has to dig around in, Aguirre offered up individual portions of popcorn in pretty boxes (like Green Stripe Popcorn Boxes, $ 5 for 12, Amazon.com). To make store-bought or air-popped popcorn extra enticing, try setting out a tray filled with flavorful add-ins, like Parmesan cheese, melted butter, ranch seasoning powder, chocolate chips and toffee bits, so guests can customize their snack.