Summer is coming, and people want to get out and enjoy the sunshine. If you’re going to throw a party, shouldn’t it be outdoors? Yours is sure to be a hit – as long as you follow these outdoor summer party planning tips.
Tackle Your Guest List
So much depends on your having an accurate headcount for your party. Get the invitations out ASAP so you know who and how many. That’s going to make your party so much easier to plan.
Give Your Guests Plenty of Information
Let your guests know exactly what they can expect at your party. Don’t just share when the party starts and ends, but give a bit of an itinerary. Let them know when you’ll be serving up food. Is it BYOC or BYOB? Give them a heads-up!
Also, let them know what the vibe’s going to be. The last thing anyone wants to do is show up dressed for a casual gathering when you are going for sophisticated garden party.
Think Stations
Stations aren’t just buffets. They can help you plan your party better and use your outdoor space in the best way possible. Here are some ideas:
Grilling Area
This is where you’ll be grilling up delicious food and plating it up for service. Stock this area ahead of time with a cooler, ice, drinks, and some extra chairs for your friends who are grilling aficionados themselves.
Beverage And Cold Food Service
This could be as simple as a folding table with a few tubs of ice beneath to hold drinks. Keep cold food safely cool by filling a larger aluminum pan with ice and placing it on the table with the cold dishes inside.
Chill Spot
Even if you plan a raucous party, it’s nice to have a spot away from the noise where people can relax and converse. Try some folding chairs around a fire pit.
Game Area
Is it really an outdoor party without a game of lawn darts or cornhole? Mark off an area where the most competitive of your friends can enjoy a fun evening of games.
Make a Great Soundtrack
If you’d like to hire a band or DJ, that’s great! Otherwise, put together a fun soundtrack for the evening. Remember that if your party has a theme, the right music makes a big difference.
Serve Soft Drinks Too!
Not everybody wants to booze it up. Be sure to offer up other options. Soda is great, but non-drinkers often feel like a party afterthought. Spice things up with:
- Sparkling water
- Juice
- Iced tea in different flavors
- Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
- A signature mocktail
Save on Booze
First, it’s perfectly acceptable to simply not serve alcohol. You can inform your guests that it’s BYOB. You might also opt to serve a pitcher of cocktails or an old-fashioned punch. Some hosts will opt to serve beer and wine, but not hard liquor.
Conversely, there’s nothing wrong with offering up a full bar. Sometimes, you just want to go all out.
Plan Your Food
Don’t guesstimate your food needs. You might end up with more leftovers than you can handle, or worse, run out of food. Plan for every person to eat about two of whatever main dishes you are offering and around two cups of sides. If you serve dessert, plan for about a cup of that as well. You’ll also want plenty of cups, plates, and napkins.
Hint: You can ditch the wasteful paper and plastic. Hit your local thrift store for plenty of plates, cups, serving dishes, etc.
Reduce Your Cooking Labor
Rely on make-ahead and store-bought items to help you serve plenty of food without spending the party cooking and serving. You can focus on the grill or just mingling with guests.
Encourage your guests to DIY as much as possible. Try a walking taco bar, for example. At least serve things buffet-style.
The More The Merrier
One of the great things about outdoor parties is that there’s usually plenty of room. This is a great time to expand your social circle and get to know new people. Feel free to invite that hilariously funny guy from work, or extend an invitation to the little brother you’ve been wanting to spend more time with.
You can also be a bit more generous with your plus-one policy. Your friends will appreciate being able to bring a date. If you don’t want to host alone, feel free to find local singles through an app like this one to secure a hot party date.
Count Your Chairs
Have you ever been to a party that didn’t have enough places to sit? It’s pretty miserable. If you simply don’t have the chairs you need, let people know. Most are more than happy to show up with their own lawn chairs. You can also throw out cushions or lay down nice blankets.
Final: Be Prepared to Bring it Inside
Always have a backup plan in case of bad weather. Have a clean living space and bathroom available if your outdoor party has to quickly become an indoor party. Even if you don’t use the space, your guests will appreciate a clean bathroom and a place to freshen up.