Father’s Day in my house was celebrated the same way every year. Mom bought a cake from the bakery at Publix. It was a quarter sheet cake decorated to look like a men’s dress shirt. Sometimes the tie was made with frosting, other times it was a plastic one stuck onto the cake. There were the requisite Father’s Day gifts followed by dinner. Not bad, but not exactly inspired either (sorry, Mom!).
To make up for our lack of inspiration, I’m sharing 10 creative ideas for celebrating this Father’s Day. Whether the dad in your life enjoys golf or fishing, a crazy movie, hanging at the beach, being the handyman, or a laid-back barbeque, these themes are bound to put a smile on his face.
Happy celebrating!
Office Party
Show your appreciation for Dad’s long hours at work with this “company office party meets Father’s Day” setup. Grab some old ties and a vintage briefcase for this business-y look. Make it the centerpiece of a relaxed buffet table featuring finger foods, fruit, salad, and dessert. Stash his favorite beer or other libation within arm’s reach and let the festivities begin.
Thanks so much to Dawn at Revel & Glitter for this incredible Father’s Day spread.
Let’s Go Fishing
If Dad loves angling for the catch of the day, try a fishing theme for his special day. The folks at Catch My Party did a fantastic job with this super-cute idea.
Fishing creels, rubber boots, tackle boxes, nets, and bobbers decorate an old fish cleaning table. Add Dad’s favorite fishing hat, some colorful flowers in repurposed cans, and a dessert spread complete with gummy worms for a memorable occasion.
Another fishing-themed celebration comes to us from The Sits Girls. This imaginative tablescape uses everyday items like canning jars, newspaper, twine, and your standard dinnerware. Fill glass jars with pebbles to steady fishing poles made from twigs, twine, and printable fish cutouts.
Fashion a centerpiece from small tree logs in varying heights and add moss for an earthy feel. Comic pages stand in for placemats and small potted succulents serve as place card holders.
The Sophisticate
This elegant table setting is perfect for the dad who enjoys the finer things in life and it’s one of my personal favorites. An edible centerpiece features dark chocolate, bourbon, fruit, nuts, and cheese. Freshly cut herbs in glass jars add a touch of green and a lovely scent, while photos of dad decorated with mini bow ties make the sweetest place cards.
Black plates set atop beaded chargers and black and white striped napkins add to the masculine feel without being heavy.
We have the creative mind of Courtney Dial Whitmore at Pizzazzerie to thank for this fresh take on Father’s Day.
The Handyman Special
Celebrate the dad who loves his tools and tinkering around the house with a handyman-inspired tablescape from Liz Bushong. Small wrenches and clamps make fun napkin rings especially when paired with bold primary colors (think: Home Depot orange). Tape measures, squares, and a toolbelt sitting on some blueprints make a fitting centerpiece and will surely make him smile. Anyone got a leaky faucet?
Another, more subtle idea for your tool-loving dad is this picnic spread from Camille Styles. Serve up silverware in a makeshift tool box with fruit, cheese, and baguettes set atop a plaid blanket throw. That leaky faucet will have to wait!
A Hole in One
Bring the links to Dad with this Caddyshack-inspired Father’s Day spread, complete with stuffed gopher! If your dad is an avid golfer, he’ll love this theme from Southern Home & Hospitality. Vintage golf clubs add height to a floral arrangement, while a piece of artificial turf cut into the shape of a golf green serves as a table runner, replete with tees and golf balls.
Printed quotes from the iconic movie will keep folks laughing and look perfect on a plaid background. Fore!
Nacho Libre
This one is a bit of an homage to my nephews in Utah. They love this quirky movie, so when I saw this idea from Michelle’s Party Plan It, I had to include it. If your dad is a fan of the film, this one is for you!
Michelle knocked it out of the park: the wrestling masks, movie quotes, and décor are brilliant. Summon your eagle powers!
A Good, Old Fashioned Barbeque
Let us not forget the power of a classic barbeque! Treat dad with a celebration fit for his inner pit master. Fire up the grill, chill his favorite beer, and decorate your outdoor table with this color combination of black, red, and white. A sign proclaiming “We Love Dad” pairs with a stand of cupcakes for an easy centerpiece, while paper plates and faux-wood chargers make cleanup a breeze.
Our yummy potato salad is a perfect complement for this theme.
Idea complements of Catch My Party.
Using the same theme, set up a buffet table like the folks at Deavita. Red and white gingham paper plates, napkins, hot dog and hamburger holders, and dessert cups add a splash of color to a wooden picnic table. Substitute Father’s Day sentiments on the chalk board and/or pennant for a cohesive event.
Beachside Bash
Show Dad how much he’s appreciated with a lively, but laid-back day at the beach. This super-cute dessert table in blue and white mixes burlap and netting with seaside elements. (How fun is that crab and anchor garland?!) Touches of red keep things bright and the black and white Father’s Day backdrop is genius.
Make things even more special by serving authentic Maine lobster rolls at this celebration.
Get additional party details from creator Kate Aspen.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Honor Dad’s love of baseball with this imaginative day at the ballpark. While this party from Kara’s Party Ideas took advantage of a real dugout, it could be recreated easily in your backyard. Folding wooden chairs, pennants, baseballs, bats, wooden drink crates, and a scoreboard give this outing an authentic vibe.
Serve up hot dogs alongside peanuts, popcorn, and Crackerjacks (of course!) and you’ll create memories for years to come.
Short on Time
If you find yourself short on time, you can still pull out a thoughtful look for Father’s Day. Make a cute centerpiece out of a pack of Dad’s root beer like the team at Make Life Lovely.
Set some colorful mums set in the root beer bottles and you have a creative centerpiece minus the hassle of a full-blown event. You can even use two or three sets for a more complete arrangement. Easy peasy!
Wishing you and your family a very happy Father’s Day!