Summer is the ideal season for getting together outdoors. But what is the key to achieving a festive and relaxed ambiance?
Keeping things simple and being well prepared, whether it be the decorations or the meal, will guarantee success. This will also ensure you get to spend time enjoying the party as well as with your guests.
Comfort Comes First
To encourage your guests to linger at the table, it is recommended you equip the chairs and benches with cushions. Protect the meal (and your company) from bad weather and the sun’s rays by installing the dining set inside a gazebo or tent, adding mosquito netting if you can and so desire. A propane patio heater will be useful and appreciated by all on cooler evenings.
The Charm of Fire
Sitting around a fire is a great way to continue the party following the meal. Again, comfortable seating here is essential. Place a basket filled with blankets near the fire area so your guests can bundle up if they feel chilly. Keep the mosquitos at bay by burning citronella candles.
Pick a Theme
Country? Chic? Rustic? Sophisticated? Determine your decor and meal’s theme. Then, plan the party’s various components around it.
- Set the table with earthenware dishes, stemmed glassware, cutlery, napkins, a tablecloth, and a table centrepiece. Everything you would typically use inside can be transposed to the backyard. It’s always more pleasant to eat on real tableware. Plus, it’s better for the environment!
- Set the mood with lighting. To ensure the party atmosphere never lets up through the evening, layer multiple light sources, such as string lights, candles, lanterns, and even your Christmas lights wrapped around your trees.
- Don’t forget the music. Synchronize a Bluetooth speaker with your smartphone and let a thematic playlist you’ve compiled play during the gathering.
- Use scents. Think about perfuming the air with scented candles or essential oil diffusers if there aren’t too many mosquitos buzzing around outside.
- Plan enough seating. Sometimes, you don’t have enough dining chairs for the number of guests. In this case, poor seating is better than no seating at all, so take out the camping chairs!
A Special Centrepiece
Is your backyard furniture protected from rain damage by a gazebo? Be creative and use the structure to suspend your centrepiece instead of placing it in the middle of the table. Composed of greenery and flowers with either solar or battery-powered lights, the effect will be enchanting as the sun goes down.
For the Kids
To ensure your younger guests don’t feel left out, plan something special just for them like a menu tailored to their tastes, a mini version of the main dining table or even games. If you have the space and the budget, consider renting inflatable structures. This is guaranteed to get your guests’ children excited.
You could also spread a paper tablecloth on the kids’ table and supply crayons so they can draw while they wait for the meal to be ready.
A note on safety: If your yard has a pool or water feature and the children are young, plan on always having a designated supervising adult. You could provide a whistle or gaudy necklace and set the rule that whichever adult is wearing it is responsible for keeping an eye on the water area. Make sure people take turns frequently throughout the evening, so everyone has a chance to enjoy the party.
These are just a few ideas you can implement this summer when receiving guests at home without too much hassle. Don’t forget to focus on having fun as well!