Whatever the cause behind your desire to throw a tennis themed party, I am glad you are here. This theme is by far one of the cutest party themes I’ve covered, and I love a good themed party! The theme is specific enough to work all on its own but also broad enough to give yourself room to expand upon. You can stick to simply tennis, or you can go for a broader country club theme.
However you decide to approach it, I’ve done some of the footwork for you to make it easier. I have been planning and hosting parties in some capacity for over 10 years and sharing that knowledge for almost just as long. So, to say I’ve broken down the process to something almost formulaic would be an understatement.
The best part is that you can take as much or as little as you want from this. Just throwing a simple watch party? We’ve got you covered. Throwing a bash? Still got you covered. Here are all of the considerations and ideas you will need to throw a tennis-themed adult party. From the decor to the menu, I’ve got you covered.
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A Chic Tennis or Country Club Inspired Invite
I’ve said it before, but that won’t stop me from saying it again: your invitation is the foundation of your party. The invitation is usually the first point of contact your guests will have with the event, so a simple text message won’t do. The invitation allows you to set the tone and expectations early. For this theme, you will want to go with something simple and classic to mirror the traditional and classic styles associated with country clubs and tennis. You don’t have to be boring; add small details like your own club name or mixed fonts for some personality.
Party Color Scheme
The color scheme for this party theme is pretty pre-determined, especially if you’re sticking with tennis specifically. If you are going with a broader country club theme, you have some wiggle room to add more colors. However, this color scheme works just as well.
Green and white, in reference to the courts, the balls, and the traditional clothing style, is going to be your friend. Focus specifically on the darker green and white, and use the bright green sparingly if you choose to do so. Allow the tennis balls themselves ( if you use them) or bright greenery from florals to serve as the lighter green accent. If you want a bit more dimension, try adding silver accents reminiscent of the trophies. Silverware, silver serving trays, and silver vases are a few places to start.
If you decide to branch out and add more colors, perhaps the guest of honor’s favorite color, make sure the tones are complimentary to the greens you have used elsewhere. Pink and yellow work really well.
Tennis Party Themes
Before you start on decor, you will want to decide exactly which theme you want, so that you can showcase the theme in some of the details. You have quite a few options with this theme, here are just a few:
- Wimbledon Watch Party
- Country Clubs and Cocktails
- Après Tennis
- 40-Love *
- The Perfect Match
- Tennis and Tinis
Party Decor
It can be quite easy to move from chic to kitsch with this theme accidentally, and while there is nothing wrong with kitsch, it’s not what we are currently aiming for. No matter what event you are using this theme for, take a look at any and all events using the theme for inspiration. Search “tennis themed party”, “tennis themed bachelorette”, “tennis themed birthday,” and so on.
Dark green and white decor will be the foundation. Think white tablecloths, dark green napkins. The entire vibe is quite minimal, so you don’t need to overdo any aspect of the decor. Keep it minimal.
To grab attention and to further your theme, use elements of tennis as decor, such as tennis balls and tennis rackets, preferably white or vintage rackets. Use them sparingly, so if you use tennis balls for centerpieces, you don’t also need to use them on the food table.
A custom logo country club-inspired backdrop is the perfect way to display a bit of the party theme without being too on the nose; you can also make your vintage rackets a central element here.
If you aren’t a fan of tennis balls being front and center, like in centerpieces, consider using only a few in a more discreet way, like as a rest or feet for the serveware. This way, you can still see them, but they are not necessarily on display.
Green and white floral arrangements will be your friend with this theme. Not only are they reminiscent of dining at a country club, but they also bring life and dimension into the space to break up the dark green and white elements. You can also choose some greenery with brighter greens if you would like to allude to the tennis balls without making them a central element.
If you are ok with a bit of on-the-nose decor, you can use the tennis balls as vase filler or the rackets as signs. Just remember not to overdo it. If you have one table to decorate, do three floral arrangements, with the center one filled with tennis balls. If you have multiple tables, only use the tennis ball vase filler on every other table.
Tennis-Themed Food Ideas
In moderation, using thematic food can still fit in with chic decor. The key is to choose one or two and make them features of the food table. Don’t get carried away, or it will end up more in kid’s party territory. Here are a couple of thematic food ideas that I think could work well.
Tennis Ball Foods
Tennis Ball Cake Pops
These cake pops work well because they can serve as a conversation piece, table decor, and treats for your guests. They are also easy to grab and go, and guests are always more likely to grab something easy over something that takes any kind of effort. The same goes for something like a cupcake display so you can get creative.
Tennis Ball Fruit and Cheese Tray
A fruit tray works well no matter the event, but especially at something like a brunch-style party or a viewing party. It is also incredibly easy to make. You can customize the fruit and snacks and their ratios to fit your preferences. I would swap out the white snacks with white cheeses instead!
Cake Centerpiece
If you are going to do a cake, whether for a birthday party or bridal shower, use it as a centerpiece as well. A well-designed cake can serve as both decor and food. You can show off your creativity in the design of the cake, just be careful not to make it look too much like a kid’s cake.
Wimbledon Mini Cakes
If you can pull it off, creating mini cakes for each guest or the table could be a cute addition to the party. This recipe is inspired by the Wimbledon strawberries and cream. It’s light and fluffy and has a delicious, bright filling.
Tennis Event Inspired Foods
These food ideas are inspired by foods that you would find at venues and events. Well-known or signature recipes offer great options while giving a subtle nod.
Club Sandwiches, Cucumber Sandwiches, etc.
Sandwiches are light and easy options that you can customize and scale up or down. You can serve mini versions or full options. When choosing which recipes to use, think about what you would grab at a country club, like cucumber sandwiches or club sandwiches.
Strawberries and Cream
Wimbledon is synonymous with strawberries and cream, however, you can serve something a bit more involved and tasty. Opt for a strawberry-and-cream-inspired dessert instead. Like these amazing strawberry mini pavlovas that have a light and creamy whip and fresh strawberries.
Tennis-Themed Drink Ideas
Customized Bar Cart
Go the extra mile and decorate a bar in the style of a juice bar or country club beverage cart. You can stock the bar with fun cocktail and mocktail options. You can also use the bar as an opportunity to show off the custom elements you create for the party.
Pimm’s Cup
Transport your guests right to London by offering up Wimbledon’s Pimm’s Cup cocktail. The cocktail is refreshing and fruity. Your guests will truly enjoy the bubbly refresher.
Honey Duece
You can bring the US Open right to your guests with their signature Honey Duece cocktail. This cocktail is easy to make and tastes amazing, especially on a hot day. The raspberry and lemonade create a nice mix of sweetness and tartness. Don’t forget the melon ball garnish!
Guest Favors
The guest favors can range from cookies to merch, it’s really up to how detailed and extra you want to be. Custom hats, visors, crewnecks, and totes fit almost any version of this party you throw. You can even set them up like a pop-up store.
If you don’t want to create or wear merch, you can also gift Scrunchies, sunglasses, etc, all things that can be used during tennis. Just be sure to gift things your guests will actually like and use, not just dust gatherers.
Party Specific Additions
Tennis Watch Party – Wimbledon and Opens
If you are hosting a watch party for Wimbledon, The US Open, The French Open, or any other event, you will want to keep your focus on matching the vibe of the event. Wimbledon has signature food and drinks you can replicate, while the US Open has a curated variety of foods to showcase American diversity, you can also do so in your menu.
Each of these venues has florals and decor elements that are specific to them, you can adjust your florals to the venue you are showcasing as a cute nod.
For a watch party, you can also create custom activities. Create a game around guessing anything from winners and scores to things said by the announcers. Have fun with it!
Birthday Party – 30/40- Love
A tennis themed birthday party will most likely include a play on the game scores. You can do this for a 30th or 40th birthday by making the theme 30-Love or 40-Love *(NOTE: 40-love would not be called in a real game. Instead, it would be 40-all. But this is a birthday party, not a game, so choose whichever you like.) Making it whichever-Love will not only showcase your birthday but also give you a chance to have decor and food that lean into the word love or general tennis jargon.
Bachelorette Party – The Perfect Match or Match Made in Heaven
For a bachelorette party, you can use the bridesmaids’ gift bags as a chance to further the theme. Put into the bags things that are both useful and a chance to showcase the theme, such as custom visors, shirts, or sunglasses.
If you will be doing outdoor activities or celebrating somewhere hot, you can add custom towels with the branding as well. These can be useful during the trip and when the guests go home.
For more inspiration, try searching up “the perfect match bachelorette”, “match made in heaven bachelorette”, or “last swing before the ring”.
For more visuals and tennis party inspiration, you can check out my Pinterest Board!
