The Best Memorial Day Table Decorations and Easy Party Ideas

Planning a patriotic party? I’m sharing my favorite Memorial Day table decorations, easy meal ideas, and fun games to help you celebrate with family and friends.

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It’s hard to believe, but Memorial Day weekend and the beginning of summer are just around the corner.

Having a son in the navy, hosting a Memorial Day picnic is one of my favorite ways to kick off summer and honor the brave men and women who have served our country.

Whether you’re planning a backyard barbecue or a casual picnic it is the perfect time to gather your family and friends together to celebrate outdoors and have some fun.

If you need some ideas and inspiration to help you plan your get-together, I am sharing simple Memorial Day table decorations, plus party planning tips, and a few favorite family recipes that would make a great addition to your menu.

How to Plan Ahead for a Memorable Memorial Day Celebration

Before we dive into Memorial Day table decorations, let’s chat about how to plan ahead for a celebration.

A little prep goes a long way in making the day feel easy, festive, and stress-free so you can spend more time enjoying the day with your family and friends and soaking up the sunshine.

Make a List of What You Want to Accomplish

Start by jotting down everything you’d like to include in your celebration including food, drinks, patriotic decorations, games, music, you name it. Seeing it all in one place helps you stay organized and avoid any last-minute scrambling.

Create a Shopping List for Each Store

Once you’ve got your plan, break it down by what you will need and where to get it. Group your list by store to save time and energy including stops like the grocery store, craft store, or even big-box stores.

Make a Simple Timeline

Work backward from the day of your gathering and assign tasks to specific days. When will you prep the food? Set the table? Arrange the flowers? And don’t forget, of course, about the patriotic Memorial Day decorations for your table! A timeline helps you stay on track and avoid feeling rushed.

Do As Much as You Can Ahead of Time

Anything you can prep in advance like folding napkins, labeling place cards, or prepping your food means more time for relaxing and enjoying the day with your favorite family and friends. Trust me, your future self will thank you!

Easy and Affordable Memorial Day Table Decorations

Now let’s talk about how to create a beautiful patriotic table using a few simple Memorial day table decorations.

For a patriotic red, white and blue theme, I styled my Memorial Day table setting using a blue and white checkered tablecloth paired with red and white check napkins.

I have to admit, most of this table came together with treasures I found at estate sales. What can I say, I’m a bit of a junkie when it comes to a good find! Estate sales (and thrift stores too) are such a fun way to score unique pieces you might not use every day, and the prices make it easy to experiment without guilt.

If you are new to the hunt, I have shared some of my thrifting tips for beginners to help you get started. Even my husband can’t argue with a great deal!

When it comes to Memorial Day table decorations, your dishes and place settings can make a big impact, so don’t be afraid to get creative! I started with a wicker charger, added a solid red plate, and topped it off with some American Fitzhugh enamelware I found at an estate sale.

If you’re not into thrifting, no worries. You can find similar wicker chargers here and red plates here to recreate the look.

I also used a mix of two vintage glasses, but you could use these adorable blue glasses if you don’t have any. And to add an extra un touch I included some patriotic straws.

How to Make a Patriotic Centerpiece with Flowers and Vintage Finds

If you need an idea for a simple centerpiece as part of your Memorial Day table decorations, try using a basket filled with fresh flowers.

If you have a flat basket, place it on the table as a base, then layer a picnic basket on top to create height and interest

Fill your picnic basket with three 1-gallon red geraniums from your local greenhouse or nursery.

For a little extra touch, make a bow and drape it over the geraniums.

I also grabbed some checked stars from the Dollar Store, added skewers to the backs, and tucked them into the flowerpots for a little extra whimsy as part of my Memorial Day table decorations.

You can also plant a few smaller flowers such as white bacopa paired with a smaller red geranium, or pot up some red and white striped petunias in small aged terra cotta pots.

Lastly, I embellished my table with a cute red stool (another estate sale find) some American flags, and a cute red and white check throw.

And if you are in need of some special garden lighting for an evening party, check out my post on how to create garden basket lights.

They look amazing hanging over the rustic farmhouse table in our backyard at night!

DIY Memorial Day Table Decorations with Clay Star Place Cards

Adding a personal touch to your Memorial day table makes your guests feel extra special, and DIY place cards make the perfect addition to your table decorations.

To make these white clay stars, you will need to purchase Crayola Model Magic in white and a set of imprint letters.

First, roll out a piece of clay with a rolling pin on a piece of waxed paper. Use a star cookie cutter to create the tag shape. Then, using a pencil, make a hole at the top of one of the points of the star.

To finish these DIY decorations, use your stamp set to create names imprinted onto the tags for the perfect finishing touch to your Memorial Day table.

I tied up my napkins with the silverware and placed a personalized white clay star at each place setting.

Patriotic Food for your Memorial Day Table

Around here, food is a big deal, especially when my husband’s cooking. We love creating meals that are not only delicious but also add a festive touch to the table. I’m sharing some of our favorite patriotic food ideas that look just as good as they taste and pair perfectly with your Memorial Day table decorations

Easy Patriotic Appetizers and Charcuterie Ideas

While charcuterie boards are not technically decorations, this one is so beautiful it doubles as a centerpiece for your Memorial Day table and makes the whole spread feel extra special.

We will start with a beautiful charcuterie board that everyone can graze on.

For Memorial Day, I love adding festive touches to our charcuterie board like cutting stars out of watermelon or making little skewer “sparklers” with blueberries and fruit. It’s such an easy way to tie your food into the celebration and make your Memorial Day table decorations feel even more special.

One of my favorite things about charcuterie boards is how creative you can get with them. Use in-season fruits and veggies to keep things simple, then mix in a few fun or unexpected details for the occasion.

The best part? There’s no right or wrong way to do it! Just switch up a few ingredients and you’ve got a fresh new spread every time. And let’s be honest, everyone finds something to love when there’s a big beautiful board on the table!

Main Course Recipes Your Guests Will Love

When it comes to main dishes for your Memorial Day celebration, it doesn’t have to be fancy, it just has to be delicious! We love a mix of classic favorites like grilled hot dogs and hamburgers—simple, nostalgic, and always a hit with.

But if you want to take things up a notch, my husband makes the most incredible smoked chicken. We love to serve it with bacon-wrapped asparagus plus two of our all-time favorite dishes: creamy garlic parmesan potatoes and sweet carrot pudding.

And don’t forget the drinks! A smoked old fashioned is a fun cocktail to serve for a special occasion like this.

Sweet Memorial Day Desserts with a Personal Touch

Dessert is always my favorite, and I never seem to be able to say NO!

Using a special bundt pan makes it look extra pretty, along with some fresh cut roses from my garden.

We love this easy sherry bundt cake, and it seriously takes about 5 minutes to make it. Serve it with vanilla ice cream or some whipped cream for the perfect finishing touch to your meal.

Keep the Fun Going with Backyard Games

Of course, a party at our house would not be complete without some fun and games in our backyard.

We love to play corn hole or ladder golf. We always have an excellent competition going on within our family. And who doesn’t love a giant lawn dice game?

Other Patriotic Posts You’ll Love

Memorial Day Table Decorations to Help You Celebrate, Remember and Enjoy!

Whether you’re honoring a loved one who served or simply gathering with family to welcome summer, I hope these Memorial Day table decorations and ideas inspire you to create something heartfelt and festive.

With a little planning, a few thrifted treasures, and some thoughtful touches, your table can become a beautiful tribute to the season and the meaning behind the holiday.

Wishing you a safe and joyful Memorial Day!

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