The dog days of winter are now long gone and it seems everyone is looking to be out in the sun. This summer, move your entertainment to the outdoors in style! With these outdoor party ideas, I hope to provide you some inspiration to create an outdoor oasis with the pests out of sight and the guests buzzing with our outdoor party ideas!
Invitations
There are three important pieces of information that every outdoor party event should have on its invitation. The first is the time when the main course will be served. Note that this may be different from the time you might hope to expect your guests to arrive. Set a specific time that the grill will be on so that if people are keen on coming over for the delicious BBQ they will be able to enjoy it while it is fresh. This will also avoid someone standing at the grill all night long, being on duty the entire time and not enjoying themselves to the fullest.
Another thing to keep in mind is a dress code. Some outdoor events are more formal than others so give your guests a sense of the vibe you are trying to emulate.
Finally, consider a back-up plan for rain. Some people have the facilities to host a party rain or shine, but for those who don’t it may be a good idea to have a scheduled back up party date arranged in case the rain is coming down cats and dogs on the original date of your soiree.
Decorations
Decorations have a great impact when you are setting the mood and comfort level for your guests. From the essentials to the artful, make sure you have covered all your bases.
An important thing to consider for your outdoor party is lighting. All is well while the sun is up, but do you have enough light available so that you will be able to tell who you are talking to throughout the night? Lighting can add both important visibility, as well as ambiance, to your shindig. Would tiki torches be better suited to your event, or would fairy lights? Perhaps hurricane lanterns or tealights? If you do need to run cords through the yard, snip some old wire hangers and bend them into skinny U-shaped pegs and arc them over the cords so that they do not become a tripping hazard.
For some unique ambient outdoor party ideas consider carefully carving out your pineapples and your watermelons. Your guests can still enjoy the yummy fruit inside but save the hollowed-out rinds and turn them into flower vases for the night.
If you want to do something fun with the fruit you have taken from the pineapple rinds and watermelon rinds, consider using a melon baller to carve them out and put them in the freezer. They will infuse any drink you serve with a delightful flavour.
Birdcages are a great outdoor decorative piece. They are easy to find, affordable and can be decorated plainly or filled with candles or flowers, or whatever else you can think of! They make excellent centrepieces and can enhance your outdoor party theme.
As well as décor, you also need to think about the furniture arrangement, for example you may have only five patio chairs, but 25 people are coming over. One option is to take dining room chairs, and other indoor seats you can use, to the outdoor space. Another option is to rent folding chairs (which can be very affordable!) and folding tables.
Entertainment
An outdoor party usually lasts approximately five hours so plan the evening according to that timeline. This means you should have approximately five hours of music going in the background (playlist websites like Spotify, 8Tracks and YouTube are great for this). A great tip for planning a music playlist is to keep mostly classics with a few tunes your guests might not have heard in between that will make you the trendsetter amongst your group. Great new bands to throw into your playlist are Elliott Smith, Bon Iver, Beach House and the White Stripes. Try not to have speakers too close to where guests will stand as no one will want to be near a blaring speaker.
If kids are going to be at your party have some diversions just for them. Beach balls, bubble blowers and some disposable cameras will work a treat throughout the night. If you have the space, a sprinkler or a slip ‘n slide will make you stand out from the crowd.
Finally, consider the comfort of your guests. To avoid bugs from joining the party get rid of any standing water near the event, plug in some fans if you can and offer guests bug wipes that will not create a smelly fog the way bug spray does. If the day is going to be particularly sweltering have some handheld fans and ice-cold compresses nearby to ensure everyone is enjoying their time outdoors.
I hope these outdoor party ideas will inspire you to make the most of summer with your family and friends.
