Summer has finally arrived and the weather is incredible! It’s time to plan a relaxing, casual gathering to celebrate with friends and family. So what makes for an outstanding party? It is one that is comfortable and fun for your guest as well as being easy on you the host. After all, you also deserve to have a great time. Get the party started by following our top tips below.
Set Your Date and Make a Plan
The first thing that you need to do is set a time and date for your party? Are you planning to have a theme? How many guests do you want to invite? Will it include children? Invitations should be sent out three weeks ahead of time at least so that your guest have enough notice to schedule your party in with the other summer obligations that you have. You can have whatever kind of invitations you want, from mailing printed invitations to handwritten to an Evite, the choice is yours. Including an RSVP is essential so you have a fairly good idea of how many people will be attending. After all, you need to feed all of those people. A week prior to the event follow up with all of your outstanding invitees to give you as accurate a headcount as possible. If you need to have a comprehensive checklist to keep you on track there are party planning checklists that are available that include all of the various details that you need to stay on track as your plan your summer event.
Atmosphere
It is an absolute must to provide your guests with a comfortable place to socialize, drink, and eat. Because it’s summer, there is a good chance that your party will be taking place outdoors. Make sure your yard is in good order. Your lawn should be mowed and raked as well as free of toys, tools, and debris. Be sure to check all of the places in your home where your guests might gather, such as the bathrooms, kitchen, and entryway to ensure they are ready for company and clean. Spread the festivities out. Set up a drinks spot, buffet, dining area, and sitting area across the outdoor space so the flow of your party keeps going. Make sure your guests have plenty of available seating. If you do not have enough chairs or tables, an inexpensive option is to rent them which frequently includes dropping off and picking up. You also can ask neighbors and friends if they have any available that you can borrow for your party. Or your event could be turned into a picnic with comfy blankets spread out on the grass with some pillows for your seating.
When it comes to decor, you can go as crazy or simple as you want. For a casual feeling, your tables can be covered with brown paper. Some colorful markers can be provided to guests for them to doodle. Cleanup will be quite easy. Many styles of LED bubble wands will make your party fun. You can have nature incorporated into your tablescape. For au natural centerpieces add greenery or flowers to empty mason jars or wine bottles. A functional and fun condiment set on every table makes these essential ingredients within easy reach for all of your guests.
For an excellent summer party, incorporate some inflatables both for entertainment and decoration. Inflatables are a fun way to decorate for a summer party and impact the overall atmosphere of the event. For example, if the main reason for the party is to play some table games and enjoy some beer, then you can design an inflatable beer bottle with a special message and have it placed by the beer serving table. In addition, unique custom inflatables used for entertainment will provide guests with an opportunity to play and have fun. Kids are fond of bouncy houses and adults will play tossing games with the greatest pleasure. Whichever type of inflatable you choose, make sure to set them up in a safe area away from any sharp objects or heat sources. With creative planning, decorating for your summer party will be a breeze!
Help ensure that your guests are prepared for mosquitos and the hot sun. Create a place for housing a basket full of bug spray and sunscreen that can be accessed by all your guests. Of course, it should be set apart from food and beverages.
Plan for recyclables and trash. Set up pop-up hampers or baskets with trash bag liners so that everything is kept contained and clean. Make sure that everything is clearly labeled.
If you are expecting that your party will be going strong still after dark, make sure that you plan some ambiance. White party lights can be strung across your trees, fencing, or deck to light the night up and offer a cozy atmosphere for your guests. White Christmas light can work perfectly fine. Lanterns can be hung from sturdy tree branches. Tea lights can be placed in mason jars and set on tables. To avoid flames, battery-powered candles can be used in clusters in seating areas, or on tables, your patio, or deck to provide a warm glow for your event.
Music is great for setting the mood. Cordless Bluetooth speakers can be used. Make sure to select music that is pleasant and entertaining, and not too overwhelming or loud. If you are putting your own playlist together, be sure to plan enough hours of music so the same songs are not constantly being repeated.
Serve Excellent Food and Drink
When it comes to your food, one of the most important things to keep in mind is to keep things simple. It can be easy to get overwhelmed and try to come up with a menu that will please everyone. However, that is not necessary. Avoid dishes that need lots of preparation time or have lots of ingredients. Fewer ingredients mean that there will be fewer items that you need to purchase. And when things are kept simple you will have more time you can spend with your friends, instead of having to spend a lot of time preparing food. For your main course, grill a couple of meats. Add a couple of easy sides such as corn on the cob or veggie skewers. When you have a large crowd to entertain, try out this easy method. When guests get your invitation, one of the very first things they will tend to do is ask you what they should bring. Allow them to help you out by bringing a side dish. This will result in a lot less stress and you will have a wide range of items. Keep your desserts easy also. If there is a fire pit in your yard, roast marshmallows to make s’mores. Or have an ice cream station so your guests can cool down. Individual ice cream servings can be scooped ahead of time into small cups and add on various toppings before setting them out.
It’s hot in the summer. You will need to make sure that your guests stay well-hydrated. Have plenty of drinks available that guests can serve themselves. You deserve to relax and enjoy your party with a drink in hand without having to be the bartender all night long. Set a drink station up in a place where it is easy for guests to grab a beverage. Place wine, beer, and bottled water in galvanized tubs or plastic coolers with plenty of ice to keep everything cool. Tie an opener to a ribbon and tether it to the handle on the cooler. To deal with condensation, have a dish towel draped nearby. If there will be children at your party, add some juice boxes or prepare a kiddie punch ahead of time – a great choice is a fruit-spiked lemonade. Add it to a beverage dispenser and have some plastic cups available. There are drink calculators that can help you determine what you are going to need, depending on how many guests you are expecting.
Fun and Games
One of the easiest ways to get your guest out of their seats and interact with other guests is to play games. It is also an excellent way to involve the kids. Anything goes. Pull your yard games out such as cornhole and ladder ball, or classic games like croquet and bocce. Set up whiffle ball, volleyball, or badminton to get everyone’s competitive juices going.
Make your own photo booth. Create or buy a big picture frame. It can be hung from a tree or an area can be created where your guests can take silly selfies and create fun memories.
Days are long and the weather is warm, which makes summer the best time for entertaining outdoors. Put your guest list together, and plan a tasty meal, specialty beverages, and fun activities. This is the best time to throw a great summer party.