As the spring and summer months approach, the weather gets warmer and you might want to start entertaining guests outside during the evenings. If you’re like most people, you probably want to make sure that you do everything you can to make your party seem fun for your guests. After all, who likes a dull party? Here are some must-haves to make your evening outdoor party especially memorable and fun.
Lighting
There are lots of creative ways you can use light to make your backyard more appealing to guests. One idea that uses cool, long-lasting LED lights is to place glowing “moon balls” over the tables. These balls just need to be charged during the day, and at night they glow without wires or cords for hours. An even more dramatic lighting scheme is to place large, glow-in-the-dark planters topped with flower arrangements in your yard. Other ideas include garlands of Edison bulbs strung over your backyard patio, fairy lights twined through the trees and shrubs, candleholders made of mason jars either grouped on tables or hung on walls or from trees, and different sized Moroccan grillwork lanterns placed on the edges of steps.
Heating
If you’re throwing an outdoor party in the cooler part of early spring, you might need to find solutions to keep your guests warm as the hours tick by. In that case, you’ll need to find ways to keep your guests comfortable. One way is using a fire pit. Fire pits come in a variety of sizes, and some are lightweight enough to carry. Others can be permanently installed in your backyard to complement the decor of your house and landscape. A chiminea is also portable, resembles a pot-bellied stove, and is often made of terracotta. Other heating options include propane heaters that can be simply placed on the table or floor or hung from the ceiling or pergola, bonfires, and outdoor fireplaces. Warm beverages also help to banish the cold.
Food
Food for an outdoor party should be simple to make and easy to eat. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and grilled steaks are staples at many outdoor parties, but you don’t have to limit yourself to them. Try a pasta salad, crudites with a cool dip, or a fruit bowl. Other food options include open-faced sandwiches, tiny quiches, meatballs, and yakitori, which are just chunks of chicken breast and green onions grilled on skewers. Homemade ice cream during a summer party is a must, while hot chocolate is the perfect drink in the winter.
Inventive lighting, enough heating to keep everyone warm during the frostiest evening, and delicious but unfussy food are the ingredients for a party you and your guests will remember for years. Plan everything well in advance, then sit back, and enjoy!
Here’s another article you might like: Keeping Your Front Yard Attractive
