Thank you Christmas Tree Shops for sponsoring this post.

Nothing sums up summertime in New England quite like a lobster bake!

Truth be told, it has been a very long and rainy May so far. So when warm weather appeared on the radar, I wanted to take advantage of it by planning something fun. I took the opportunity to finally hit the beach, and to celebrate, I decided to host a lobster bake! But first, I needed to update my beach and outdoor dining essentials.

I was over the moon when Christmas Tree Shops reached out to partner with our crew because so many of my blog props and coastal decor come from their store. I knew it would be the perfect spot for me to grab my beach day essentials. 

With a set a budget of $300, my mom and I traveled to our local Christmas Tree Shop to stock up on essentials for fun in the sun!

Christmas Tree Shops never disappoint.

At first browse, I found adorable lobster placemats and punny cocktail sauce holders. With the tablescapes in my cart, I scoped out the patio section and came across two classic white tables that matched my Adirondack chairs from home perfectly! Now if you don’t already own Adirondack chairs, don’t fret! Christmas Tree Shop had plenty of these chairs available and in a multitude of summer colors; like red, white and blue! 

  Extra large beach towels, ribbon rimmed hats, lobster bibs, and a navy and white striped umbrella rounded out my shopping list. The light but sturdy umbrella was just $14.99 and held up against the New England beach wind perfectly! 

As you may know, I’m a fan of creating a tablescape with candles, vases, tealight holders or lanterns. So, before I left the Christmas Tree Shop I stopped by my favorite spot – the candle section! From coastal lanterns to boat-shaped tealight holders, I found exactly what I needed to bring extra New England style to the shore.

My total came in at $118 under budget, which to be honest I wasn’t expecting! I mean my cart was full to the brim with everything I needed to pull off a lobster bake on a budget.

Now if you plan to kick off beach season in the most quintessential New England way, may I recommend hosting a lobster bake on the beach for family and friends. From good food to picturesque moments, a budget-friendly lobster bake embraces all the spirit of New England’s most iconic season, summer.

On that note, if you’re overwhelmed with where to start, or how to decorate for your beach lobster bake, be prepared with our checklist below.

What You’ll Need For A Beach Bake On A Budget:

+ Adirondack chairs

+  Adirondack tables

+ lobster placemats 

+ beach towels

+ lobster bibs

+ cocktail sauce holders

+ lobster crackers and utensils

+ plates, straws and napkins

+ wipes for lobstery hands

+ tealight candles and tealight candle holder

+ coastal lanterns and matches

+ Mini American Flags 

+ straw ribbon tied hats for guests

+ beach umbrella

+ trash bag for cleanup

Whether you’re throwing a budget-friendly lobster bake on the beach or in your own backyard – one quick stop at Christmas Tree Shops and you’ll have everything you need – minus the lobsters! 

Disclaimer: Everything in this shoot (except the Adirondack chairs) is from Christmas Tree Shops.