You’ve just finished setting up your new outdoor living space, complete with the perfect outdoor furniture. The only thing that’s left to do is invite some friends over to enjoy the area with you. As you’re getting ready for your next outdoor party, there are a few things you can do that will impress your guests and make your party one of the best events they have attended. This article will outline a few steps and tricks for you to follow as you plan your party.
1. Make a List
It can be easy to get lost in all that’s required of you when you’re planning a party. This is especially true if you’re planning a large gathering with decorations and a multi-course meal. To keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed and forgetting about key details, begin by making a list of everything you’ll need to do to prepare for the party. As you complete tasks, you can cross to-do items off of your list, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and progress.
2. Choose a Theme
This may seem elementary, but it will help considerably when you're choosing decorations and putting together your menu. If you’re getting ready to celebrate a holiday, it may be easier to generate theme ideas. However, if your party falls outside of one of these specific times of the year, you may have to get a little more creative.
3. Create Invitations
You don’t have to spend large amounts of cash to print each invitation. What’s more important is making sure your invitations have all of the information your guests will need to prepare for the party. You can print hard invitations if you want, or it might be easier to opt for an electronic option. This way, guests can easily access the information from their phone or computer, and they can electronically RSVP, so you know exactly how many guests to expect. Use the invitation to tell your guests what to bring, what they should wear, and if they should eat a meal before they come. Also, your guests will learn a lot about your gathering by the way you design your invitation. If this is a casual get-together, use colors and fonts that reflect a more relaxed approach. If this is a formal gathering, use language and styles that are more elegant in nature.
4. Design your Decor
The decor you choose has a great deal to do with your theme. For example, if your outdoor party includes an outdoor movie, perhaps you will lay out a red carpet. If you’re going with a beach theme, maybe you trade out your regular outdoor furniture for beach chairs and towels. This will help the area feel more unique and festive.
5. Plan the Menu
Most expert party planners suggest finalizing your menu at least one week in advance. This gives you enough time to shop for all of your ingredients or work with the caterer to plan how much food you’ll need. In some instances, the caterer will need more advanced notice, so make sure you clarify the timeline and deadlines with whatever provider you’re working with. If you would rather have a potluck-style party, you can coordinate with guests to bring different dishes. Perhaps you make a main dish, and your guests bring sides, drinks, and desserts. Another fun idea is to plan a cooking contest as a part of your party. Maybe you invite your guests to bring their best chili, casserole, or pie, and you let the guests vote on which dish is their favorite.
6. Make a Signature Cocktail
You can always fill a cooler with beers or invite guests to bring their favorite bottle of wine, but parties are often more fun when there’s a signature cocktail involved. When you’re planning a signature cocktail, think about something you can make in a large batch or quantity ahead of time. This way, you’re not scrambling with one more task on the day of the party. Ideally, this is something that you can make in a non-alcoholic variety in addition to an alcoholic cocktail. Sangria is a great crowd-pleaser and makes a good mocktail in addition to the traditional variety. On the other hand, if you’re planning an island or pirate-themed party, maybe you choose a rum-based cocktail instead. There are plenty of possibilities here.
7. Streamline Clean-up
Many people will use paper goods for their outdoor parties because they eliminate the need to do dishes afterward. If you decide to go this route, make sure you have at least one trash can available outside, and keep an eye on it throughout the evening. Make sure it doesn’t become too full and empty it as needed. If you’re using glassware, you can set out a table or a plastic bin where guests can leave their used items when they are finished. This will make the post-party clean-up much easier and quicker than it would otherwise be.
8. Set up for the Party
As you set up for your party, make sure you have plenty of seats for everyone in addition to plenty of space to mingle and move around. You can use a variety of different types of outdoor furniture, such as lawn chairs and folding chairs, in addition to your permanent couches and seats. What’s most important is to make sure all seats are on level ground. Depending on how formal your party is, you can also put down a blanket for people to sit on as long as the ground is dry. Many guests won’t mind bringing their own chairs if asked, so if you’re short on seats, you could include this detail in the invitation as well.
Perhaps you like the idea of throwing an outdoor party, but your current home doesn’t have any designated outdoor living spaces, and there’s not enough space to add or build one. If you want to find a home with the best possible outdoor gathering areas, Shawn Kemp can help. Shawn served his country for years in the Marine Corps, and now he serves individuals who are buying and selling homes in the Charleston area. When you’re ready to start shopping for a new home, or if you have a property to sell, give Shawn a call.
