Be it Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or any regular day of the summer, my husband and I can always find a reason to throw a party at our house. We have a modest deck overlooking a big, open backyard that is perfect for hosting outdoor get-togethers with our closest friends. If you’re like me and like to throw awesome shindigs at your place, here are some tips you can use to create the ideal party.
Easy Tastes Just as Good
My first go-around with summer party-planning left me in a tizzy – I assumed that I needed to produce some award-winning finger foods that my guests had never seen before. As impressed as my guests were with the food, it didn’t make up for the amount of stress and anxiety I experienced as a result. Bottom line: free food is as impressive as free gourmet food. Don’t stress about preparing something extravagant. Pigs-in-a-blanket and veggie wraps always please a crowd without causing emotional breakdowns in the kitchen.
Create the Mood
The way you decorate can dictate your party’s general mood. If you want a nice, quiet, cozy soirée outside, you can entertain within the warm firelight of torches and small outdoor candles. If you’re going for a more exciting party, you could opt to huddle guests around a bonfire. The loud pops and cracks of the fire encourage a louder celebration. Take it a step further with a décor theme. For example, if you want your guests to feel nostalgic, try using all vintage serving dishes and decorations.
Go Green
It may be easier to use disposable flatware, serving utensils, and silverware, but you’ll save money if you just use your own. Not only will you be saving money, but you’ll be saving the environment, too! Plus, it kicks your party up one more notch on the classy scale. If you’re embarrassed about the plates you got for your wedding in 1985, don’t worry! You can always rent flatware from party stores, usually for less money than you’d spend on disposable items.
Snap Some Memories
Make sure to take lots of pictures of your events. Not only will it create physical mementos for you and your guests, but it will also help you remember all the things you did for your party. That way, you can use them for inspiration later!
Hopefully, these tips will not only get you excited about summer entertaining, but also help you ease into it more comfortably. Have fun!
