Celebrate the extra hours of daylight with summer parties that stretch well into the evening, from the first Memorial Day barbecue and the last Labor Day lobster boil. Start your summer off with a splash and beat the early heat waves with a pool party or seaside bash. Choose an aquatically inspired invitation for your party, whether the accessory of choice is floatie wings or fluttering caftans. As the season marches on, invite your pals to set off fireworks, chow down on barbecue, and imbibe a few domestic drafts on the 4th of July—it’s what makes America great, after all. If you have a closet full of white outfits to work through, squeeze in a few more cookouts before Labor Day—no one will complain. Any themes, cuisines, or cocktails you haven’t tried yet can form the theme of your end-of-summer party invitations. We have ideas that inspire, but also have plenty of choices for traditional lobster bakes on a surfboard and other regional favorites. The heat lasts well into the end of September, so go ahead and throw a late- summer night’s outdoor feast after everyone is back from their summer vacations. (Like the Europeans, we take as much of August as we can.)

As you consider the theme of your summer party, you’ll have plenty of ways to make your invitation as unique as your event. Personalize your message and fonts with the online design tool, but consider adding a seasonal backdrop or envelope liner, too. Find your favorite co-revelers in the online address book, or pluck a few contacts from your email accounts—it’s easy to import them. Putting together your intended guest list is simple, but, with party season in full swing, don’t be surprised if you attract a few more party people than expected. Give everyone who’s coming a plus-one (or more) and keep an eye on the headcount with online RSVP tracking. If you find the bar needs restocking, a quick guest message will let you give last-minute instructions to your attendees. When the last ember of your summer bonfire has blown out, share any good photos you and your guests snapped in your party’s online gallery. It’ll warm you in the coming cooler days.