How We Planned a Relaxed Boat Party on Lake Union

Every summer I try to plan one fun thing with friends that isn’t just meeting for dinner.

When one of my best friends came to visit from Austin, I knew it was the perfect excuse to do something that felt uniquely Seattle. Summer here is too beautiful not to get out on the water, so we rented an electric boat on Lake Union, invited a few girlfriends, packed a bunch of Trader Joe’s snacks and spent two hours cruising around.

It ended up being one of my favorite girls’ nights we’ve had in a long time.

I skipped elaborate decorations, didn’t spend days cooking and didn’t even do party favors (which is saying something if you know me!). Instead, I focused on a few thoughtful details that made the evening feel special without creating a bunch of extra work.

If you’ve ever thought about planning a boat day with friends, here’s everything I did, what I’d absolutely do again and a few things that made hosting feel surprisingly easy.

Want to recreate this summer boat party? I’ve linked everything we used below.

Why We Chose an Electric Boat

One of the questions I know I’ll get is why we chose a boat instead of just hosting at home.

I wanted everyone to experience one of my favorite things about living in Seattle. There’s something about being out on Lake Union on a summer evening that just feels special. It’s relaxing, the views are incredible and everyone gets to slow down for a couple of hours.

We rented from The Electric Boat Company, and it couldn’t have been easier. No boating experience is required, you can bring your own food and drinks, and the boats are surprisingly simple to drive.

We rented ours for two hours, which I think is the sweet spot. It was long enough to relax and enjoy ourselves, but short enough that nobody felt like we needed a full meal or an entire day’s worth of activities.

Boat Rental Cost

At the time of booking:

The Invitations

I kept this super casual.

No formal invitations. I simply texted everyone the details, where to park asked them to send me three things:

It ended up being one of my favorite parts of the whole party. Everyone had something to contribute before they even arrived, our playlist felt personal and the snack board included a favorite treat from each guest.

The Food

One decision that made hosting so much easier was keeping the menu simple.

Since we’d only be on the boat for two hours, I didn’t feel like we needed dinner. Instead, I built two charcuterie boards, picked up chips and snacks from Trader Joe’s, added everyone’s favorite gummy candy and packed a few simple sips in a Yeti cooler.

Sometimes simple really is better.

The Decor

This might surprise you…

I barely decorated.

Instead of buying flowers for the entire boat, I tucked a few blooms into the charcuterie board. It added just enough color without taking up valuable space.

I also picked up inexpensive serving pieces from Target. Boats move, things slide around and I didn’t want to spend the entire evening worrying about breaking something expensive.

One thing I would absolutely bring again?

A lightweight blanket for every guest.

Even on warm Seattle evenings it cools off once the sun starts setting, and everyone appreciates having one nearby.

Girls’ Boat Party Shopping List

Charcuterie

Fresh Fruit

Snacks

Drinks

Flowers

More summer posts:

Why This summer boat Party Felt So Easy

I think it’s because I gave myself permission to keep it simple.

I wasn’t trying to create a Pinterest-perfect party.

I wasn’t making twelve appetizers.

I wasn’t spending hundreds of dollars on decorations.

Instead, I planned ahead, bought almost everything at Trader Joe’s and Target and focused on spending time together.

That’s the part everyone remembers anyway.

If I Were Planning It Again…

I wouldn’t change much! 

I would absolutely keep it to two hours, I’d still skip a full meal and I’d definitely pack blankets again.

If anything, this party reminded me that some of my favorite gatherings are the ones that require the least amount of work.

Shop the Party

How You can Plan an Easy Summer Boat Party

After hosting this girls’ night, I realized you really don’t need much to make a boat party feel special.

My simple formula is:

Choose a two-hour boat rental. It gives you plenty of time to relax without needing to plan an entire day on the water.

Invite a small group. Eight people felt perfect for our boat and gave everyone room to sit, snack, and visit.

Skip the full meal. A beautiful charcuterie board, chips, candy, and drinks were more than enough for an evening cruise.

Ask guests for their favorites. Having everyone send me their favorite gummy candy, chips, and summer song made the party feel personal without creating more work for me.

Keep decorations simple. A few flowers, colorful snacks, and cute serving pieces added plenty of personality.

Pack for the temperature change. Even if it’s warm when you leave, bring lightweight blankets for later in the evening.

That’s really it. This wasn’t a complicated party, and I think that’s exactly why I enjoyed it so much

Things I’d Skip for a Boat Party

Anything you’re worried about ruining.

This boat night was such a good reminder that getting friends together doesn’t have to be complicated.

I didn’t spend days prepping food or decorating. I picked up snacks, packed a cooler, made a fun playlist, and asked everyone to meet me at the boat. A few hours later, we had watched the sun go down over Seattle, eaten way too much gummy candy, and spent an entire evening catching up.

Sometimes I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to make gatherings feel special that we forget the people and the experience are what make them memorable in the first place.

If you’ve been trying to plan a girls’ night that feels a little different from your usual dinner reservation, rent the boat. Pack the snacks. Invite your friends.

This was easily one of my favorite summer nights, and I would do it all over again.

If you recreate your own summer boat party, I’d love to hear what you packed and what ended up being everyone’s favorite part!

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