Warm weather is inspiring. It makes you think of family, friends, and summertime fun. This is the perfect season to bring everyone together in your backyard to create memories and enjoy one another’s company. Here are some tips to help you host a summer party with ease.
Serve Delicious Food
When you think of a party, you think of tasty food, too. Buy lobster rolls to serve your guests a crowd-pleasing option that you can easily purchase from a reputable source. Look for food you can prepare (or at least partially prepare) in advance. Premade versions of your favorite foods are perfectly acceptable as they allow you more time to focus on the upcoming fun.
Aside from the main meal, you should have a variety of non-perishable snacks on hand. Once everyone is finished eating and the perishable items are packed away, set out overflowing bowls of chilled grapes and strawberries. Cover food in pretty yet functional mesh cloches to keep interested bugs at bay. Crackers, chips, and other finger foods are good selections to have available for your guests to ensure everyone is satisfied throughout the party. Take a break a few hours into the festivities to serve a delicious dessert and give the party-goers a chance to sit down together once again.
Delight Your Guests with Delicious Beverages
Summer and beverages go hand-in-hand. Set up a drink or bar cart with simple recipe cards you can create beforehand and all the ingredients your guests will need to make their favorite drinks. Add stir sticks, various drinkware, and mix-ins, and keep the fun flowing. Keep the drinks on ice in labeled coolers, in large ice buckets, or in an outdoor mini fridge. Offer your favorite people a variety of drinks that range from non-alcoholic to those with alcohol. Some fun options to include are:
- Water (always have ice available)
- Iced Coffee
- Iced Tea
- Soda
- Sports Drinks
- Beer
- Spirits
- Pre-Mixed Drinks
- Wine
Remember to encourage everyone to drink responsibly. Insist your friends or family spend the night (make up the guest room and bathroom, just in case) or call a ride for them if they drink too much. Being safe is better than the alternative.
Bring on the Tunes
Nothing sets a mood like music. Curate the ultimate summer sunshine playlist at least a few days before the party date. Music evokes feelings and emotions. It gets people in the perfect state of mind to smile, relax, and enjoy themselves. Search for tunes that are easy to play in the background without overpowering any of the many conversations that will be happening throughout the party. Mellow sounds from Jack Johnson or the Beach Boys are fun and great for sing-alongs, too.
Run the music off your smart home assistant or smartphone. Place portable speakers throughout the backyard so the music feels like it belongs no matter where you go during the party. Play music on your smart home assistants and inside your home so the music flows freely inside and out.
Prepare as Much as Possible
Whenever you invite guests into your home, there is an element of stress involved, even if the guests are the best people you know. You want to entertain them well and give them a stress-free respite from their daily lives while enjoying your time together. That is why preparation is the key to pulling off a great summer party.
Do as much as possible a day or more before the party. Some things you can do to make the big day easier include:
- Go shopping for non-perishables, perishables that will last until the party date and drinks. Pick up bags of ice if you have freezer space.
- Clean your home. This is a task most people put off, but you will be much happier if you get it done earlier.
- Set out serving dishes and utensils to ensure you have exactly what you need for each item of food you intend to serve.
- Count your chairs and tables. If you do not have enough seating, ask a friend if you can borrow their card table and chair set and pick it up before the party.
- Configure the seating and tables the day before so it is not in the way of your daily routine.
- Place matching or coordinating tablecloths on the tables to unify them, especially if they are mismatched.
Play Games and Get Competitive
Backyard games are not just for kids. Set out a selection of games, such as cornhole, badminton, volleyball with an inflatable beach ball, bocce ball, a safe version of lawn darts, and axe throwing (there are plastic versions that are just as fun for adults as they are for kids). When guests have a chance to wander and mingle while challenging one another and letting their competitive spirits rise up instead of sitting around, lots of laughter and silliness will ensue.
Watch this short video for some adult game ideas.
Decorate Your Space
Since you are having a party, you might as well decorate! Consider a theme for inspiration or simply focus on the summer ambiance. String up outdoor light bulbs along the perimeter of your fence and above the seating area. They will add a touch of light when the sun goes down.
Try some of these fun decor items:
- Place seashells in glass jars throughout the eating and bar areas.
- Add battery-operated tea lights to small glass containers filled halfway with sand.
- Use bandanas as environmental and pretty napkins.
- Add tiny umbrellas to the bar cart for a touch of whimsy.
- Place striped navy blue and white fabric runners across the tables for a nautical theme.
- Add a jar of fun conversation questions printed on strips of paper. Place a jar on each table. Whether your guests have known one another for years or have only just met, the answers will bring about fresh and interesting conversations.
Host the perfect summer party by creating a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. Serve delicious food that you can easily eat outdoors, and incorporate warm-weather games. Remember to do as much as you can before the big day so you can enjoy the great food and the wonderful people you are hosting.