What is it about college friends that, even after all these years, makes you feel so connected?
I think it’s because, in essence, you grew up together. The training wheels came off, and suddenly you were navigating the world of adulting, complete with some big wins, epic losses, and more than a few questionable decisions. 😂 And somehow, reliving those moments decades later can still make you laugh until you cry.
I recently got to experience that firsthand when I hosted a reunion for some of my sorority sisters. And what a fun night it turned out to be!
At a party this past spring, I reconnected with two of my Kappa Alpha Theta sisters, and we had such fun catching up. Eventually, the conversation landed on the inevitable, “We really should get everyone together!”
Well, Shelley-I-love-to-throw-a-party-Padilla called their bluff.
“I’ll host it if you’ll help me!”
And just like that, a casual conversation turned into a super fun soirée at my home.
We had no idea how many people would actually come. Let’s be honest, finding a date that works for everyone is practically an Olympic sport. But I left the save-the-dates, invitations, texts, and RSVPs in the capable hands of Tanny and Jennifer, while I got busy doing what I love.
Enter…Fun-Size! 😉
And since I know I’m not the only one who loves a good gathering but doesn’t necessarily want to spend a fortune (or lose my mind in the process), I thought I’d share how I pulled it all together.
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First Things First: The Game Plan
1. INVENTORY: Shop Your Stash First!
Before you buy a single thing, take stock of what you already have—or what you can easily borrow.
I had recently borrowed some fiesta decorations from a friend for an event I helped organize at church. And since a fiesta is such a fun, versatile, and timeless theme, I already had a collection of my own goodies tucked away.
We wanted this reunion to be casual, festive, and easygoing, so a fiesta fit the bill perfectly.
And the best part? Between my own stash and a few borrowed treasures, I had a great head start without spending a small fortune.
Fun-Size Tip: Don’t underestimate the power of borrowing! Chances are, someone you know has just the thing you need sitting in a cupboard or garage.
2. FOOD & BEVERAGE: Let Your Theme Do the Work
Once you’ve settled on a theme, let it guide your menu.
For our fiesta, this was a no-brainer.
A Taco Guy!
I love the casual vibe of having someone preparing fresh food on the grill, complete with all the fixin’s. It’s delicious, festive, and, perhaps most importantly, keeps me from spending the entire party in the kitchen.
Chicken and carne asada tacos, rice, beans…yes, please!
And what goes better with tacos than margaritas? Or, in our case, Theta-ritas! 🍹
Because when you’re hosting a bunch of Kappa Alpha Thetas, you simply cannot pass up an opportunity for a little wordplay.
3. RENTALS: Know What You Have (and What You Don’t)
We have a pretty decent inventory of entertaining supplies, but unless I plan to open a party rental business, there’s only so much we can store!
For this gathering, I rented a couple of additional round tables with linens, along with a few extra chairs to keep things looking uniform.
My advice? Reserve your rental items early. The last thing you need is to discover that every round table in town has already been claimed for the weekend.
4. GATHER DECOR IDEAS: Inspiration, Not Intimidation
Pinterest, Instagram, and other social media platforms are wonderful places to gather inspiration.
But here’s the thing: Your party doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. It just needs to feel like you. I love finding little touches that I can recreate with things I already own, inexpensive supplies, or a little DIY creativity.
Sometimes the simplest ideas make the biggest impact. And sometimes the best ideas come from figuring out how to make something work when Plan A goes sideways. More on that in a minute!
5. MAKE A LIST: Check That Box!
Oh, how I love a good checklist.
And yes, I may or may not have written something on a list AFTER completing it, just for the satisfaction of crossing it off. 😂 Don’t judge. You know who you are.
But seriously, staying organized saves time, reduces stress, and helps keep those little details from falling through the cracks. Because if I don’t write something down, there’s a very good chance it will disappear into the black hole of my brain.
Make the list. Check the boxes. Repeat as necessary.
It’s All in the Details!
With the big decisions made, it was time for my favorite part: pulling together those little touches that make a gathering feel special.
And this is where a little creativity, a few things from my stash, and some good old-fashioned improvising came into play.
A Picture-Perfect Backdrop…Well, Almost!
I wanted a fun spot where everyone could take pictures together, so I created a budget-friendly photo backdrop and incorporated our sorority’s kite symbol.
Nothing too fancy, just something festive that would make a great setting for photos and memories.
Of course, no DIY project would be complete without a little hiccup.
My letter balloons were supposed to represent Kappa Alpha Theta, but somewhere along the way, I discovered I was missing an O (my stand-in for the Greek letter Theta).
So what did I do? I improvised with a Q. KAQ instead of KAO. Close enough, right? 😂 And here’s the best part: Nobody noticed! Well, at least nobody mentioned it. Of course, now that I’ve shared my little secret, EVERYONE will notice. You’re welcome!
Sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got and keep moving.
I also videoed the process of putting the backdrop together, so I’ll be sharing a little budget-friendly how-to over on Instagram. Stay tuned!
A Little Extra Love for the Everyday Details
Even practical things can become part of the decor.
Rather than simply setting out the silverware, I rolled it and dressed up the basket holding it with a little festive decoration. Nothing complicated, nothing expensive. Just a small touch that made something functional feel a little more special.
Those are the details I love most: easy, inexpensive, and just enough to make guests feel like you put a little extra thought into the gathering.
Flowers, Flowers, Flowers!
You didn’t think I was going to throw a party without flowers, did you? Of course not! Flowers are one of my favorite ways to add color, warmth, and personality to a gathering.
They don’t have to be elaborate or expensive to make an impact. (Love me some Trader Joe’s) A few thoughtfully placed arrangements can bring everything together and make even the simplest tables feel special.
And for a fiesta? A little extra color is always welcome!
Mixing, Matching & Making It Work
One of my favorite things about this party was how much of the decor came from things I already owned or borrowed. A little of this, a little of that, and suddenly it all came together.
Entertaining doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch or buying something new for every occasion. Mix what you have. Borrow what you don’t. Add a few personal touches. And save your money for the things that really matter…like good food and a house full of friends!
A Little Something for Going the Extra Mile
Since our reunion brought together friends from different places, I thought it would be fun to recognize the person who traveled the farthest to join us.
Now, in a perfect world, I would have planned some clever, Theta-themed gift. But this idea came to me at the last minute. Enter…the stash! I happened to have a lovely fall candle tucked away, and just like that, we had a prize.
Was it perfectly coordinated with our fiesta theme? Nope. Did it matter? Not one bit. Sometimes thoughtful beats perfectly-themed.
Shop the Fiesta Fun! 🌸
One of my favorite things about entertaining is finding inexpensive little touches that make a big impact. And as you can see, you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a fun, festive atmosphere!
I’ve rounded up some of the goodies I used for our fiesta, from colorful table decorations to the supplies for my DIY photo backdrop. Whether you’re hosting a birthday, Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo celebration, or just gathering your favorite people, these are easy ways to add a little fiesta flair!
For the Tables:
- Fiesta Table Runners
- Large Zarape
- Fiesta Paper Flowers
- Glass Vases in Three Sizes (Bulk Set)
- Mini Sombreros & Maracas
- Multi-Colored Votive Candles (similar to mine)
For the Photo Backdrop:
And don’t forget to check out my Instagram for a little behind-the-scenes look at how I put the backdrop together. It’s easier than you might think!
I PLAN, GOD LAUGHS
Now, you know that saying about the best-laid plans? Well, apparently Mother Nature decided she wanted to attend our reunion, too. And she brought the heat.
We ended up with 25 Kappa Alpha Thetas gathered at our home on what felt like one of the hottest days of the year. Seriously.
And the funny thing is, this isn’t the first time I’ve managed to plan an outdoor gathering during a ridiculous heatwave. Apparently, it’s a gift. 🙄 So much for my perfectly planned outdoor cocktail hour! But as any hostess knows, sometimes you just have to pivot.
A Warm Welcome…Literally!
Of course, I couldn’t let the heatwave go without a little humor. I had a letter board that welcomed everyone with:
“Welcome Theta sisters! Chicks so hot we created a heatwave!”
I mean, if you can’t beat the heat, you might as well make fun of it! And believe me, we were ALL feeling pretty hot by that point. 😂
Cocktail Hour…and a Half!
Instead of gathering outside as planned, we extended cocktail hour to an hour and a half inside, where the air conditioning was working overtime.
I moved the beverages indoors and set up several drink stations so everyone could help themselves. And honestly? It worked out beautifully.
Everyone was so busy catching up, hugging, laughing, and reconnecting that I don’t think anyone cared where the drinks were being served. Sometimes the best hosting decision is simply making sure everyone is comfortable.
Appetizers, Anyone?
For appetizers, I put out homemade guacamole, several kinds of salsa, chips, and a veggie platter. Because, you know, we should at least have something on the table that looks healthy.
But here’s the funny thing. Everyone was so busy talking that hardly anyone touched the food!
Rather than let all those goodies go to waste, we simply moved the guacamole and salsas to the dinner tables so guests could enjoy them with their tacos. Problem solved.
Dinner Is Served…Finally, Outside!
Thankfully, once the sun began to set, the temperature dropped enough for us to enjoy dinner alfresco as originally planned.
Our Taco Guy served up chicken and carne asada tacos, rice, and beans, and I rounded out the menu with Caesar salad, guacamole, and chips.
Nothing fussy. Just delicious food, a relaxed atmosphere, and plenty of time to visit. Exactly what we’d hoped for.
Dessert was served buffet-style, with mini Nothing Bundt Cakes, treats from Crumbl, and some homemade sweets courtesy of one of our guests. A little something for every sweet tooth!
The Best Part Wasn’t Planned
Now, here’s where the evening took a turn that I absolutely loved.
Several of my sorority sisters brought their old college photo albums. I hadn’t asked anyone to bring them. It wasn’t part of my plan, and it certainly wasn’t on one of my beloved checklists. But oh, what a treat!
Before long, everyone was poring over old photographs, remembering people, places, and moments that hadn’t crossed our minds in years. And the laughter!
There’s just something about seeing your younger self, remembering the stories behind those pictures, and sharing them with people who were actually there. The hairstyles (lots of big hair!). The clothes (shoulder pads, anyone?). The memories.
Some things are probably best left in the past, but what fun it is to revisit them together! 😂 And it reminded me of exactly why I’d wanted to host this gathering in the first place.
Old Friends Really Are Something Special
When I think back on our reunion, of course I loved the decorations, the flowers, the festive food, and all those little details that went into making the evening special. That’s my happy place.
But the moments I’ll remember most aren’t the ones I spent weeks planning.
They’re the spontaneous laughter, the stories, the old photographs, and the joy of being with women who shared such an important chapter of my life.
Friends who knew you before careers, marriages, children, and all the other things that come with growing up. Friends who can take you right back to those college days with one photograph or one hilarious memory.
And isn’t that what entertaining is really about? We plan the parties, set the tables, arrange the flowers, and make the lists. But what we’re really doing is creating a place for people to connect. And sometimes, the best memories are the ones that never made it onto the checklist.
So here’s my little nudge to you: If you’ve been saying, “We really need to get everyone together,” maybe it’s time to stop talking about it and pick a date.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t even have to have all the right letters for your balloon backdrop. 😉
Just get your people together. Because good friends, great stories, and a whole lot of laughter? That’s always worth celebrating.
Cheers to old friends and new memories! ❤️
A Little More Fiesta Fun!
Looking for more ways to add a little fiesta fun to your next gathering? Check out my post, Create a Fiesta with Flair, for more colorful inspiration and entertaining ideas!
And if you love practical ideas served with a healthy dose of FUN, I’d love for you to subscribe to Fun with Fun-Size! You’ll get new posts delivered your way, plus access to my exclusive Resource Library, filled with printables and other Fun-Size goodies to make everyday life a little easier—and a lot more fun.
You can also follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for more entertaining inspiration, gift ideas, and little reasons to celebrate.
Because you don’t need a special occasion to make memories. Sometimes all it takes is a few friends, a little food, and someone willing to say, “I’ll host!”
Until next time…keep finding the FUN in getting together! ❤️