How to Turn a Dude's BBQ Into a Cute & Festive Occasion

It's all in the desserts!

Valentine's Weekend 2018

Before I started making weekend plans with Benny and Toby, my husband let me know he would be having his Jiu-Jitsu friends over for a Backyard BBQ on Sunday. My first question was-- but are they bringing their wives though!?

We all know a bunch of dudes wrestling, grappling and sweating on mats can be a source of intrigue, yes... but after a while, a woman needs to have someone to talk to about makeup and celebrity gossip and annoying husband facts, etc. Right?

The weekend arrived and Paul went to pick up meat, beer and chips. I called my parents over and they agreed to join us and bring salsa and all the ingredients required make chorizo tortas...yum!

Carne Asada-- not too visually appealing if you ask me!

Here's my husband holding a tray of Chorizo tortas made by my dad!

Then it donned on me that it was the weekend right before Valentine's Day. So I went over to my laundry room where I store party and craft supplies and found an entire bin full of Valentines Day decorations!

On Sunday, when the guys arrived, they brought their wives! I was happy and decided to start making Valentine's Day-themed desserts: Chocolate covered strawberries, cupcakes, and fruit skewers with heart-shaped strawberries (yes I know, strawberries already look like hearts but there's a way to make them really look like hearts). By the way, I actually delegated the strawberry and cupcake decoration duties to my friend Ashley, wife of Paul's friend AJ!

Sweets

Cupcakes are easy to make & everyone loves them!

Fruit

Because something healthy(ish) should always be included!

Once the guys were done with their Jiu-Jitsu roll, I put out my little dessert table and suddenly the backyard BBQ looked like a mini pre-Valentine's Day gathering... Awwww.

All this to say, the way to turn a dudes' BBQ into a cute and festive occasion is by way of sweet treats and small details like flowers, drinks served on champagne glasses and pretty serving trays.

The drink stirrers served no purpose other than to make a the sparkling wine glasses look more Valentiney!

We had a lot of fun and the desserts were actually quite a hit!

Thanks for reading!

Xo,

-Anabel M.