Outdoor Entertaining Essentials

It seems we now have two seasons: Summer and Winter. There’s no in between. So for the summer months which have been extending through fall, there’s still plenty of weeks ahead for outdoor entertaining! Since I’m always outdoors when it’s warm outside and I love entertaining, I thought it would be helpful to round up some outdoor entertaining essentials for you! Here we go….

Food + Beverages
I love to cook and I especially love to grill! When I host in my backyard I like to keep the menu simple, fresh and seasonal. I usually use the farm stands to dictate my menu. For example, in August, the corn is on fire. It’s so fresh, bright and delicious so I always find a way to incorporate it into my menu.
Now although I love cooking, sometimes, I like to take a little help and if my budget allows for it, bring in a chef. Locally, I work with The Culinistas a ton as they have fabulous chefs and are a delight to work with. The food they cook is gorgeous and always incredibly tasty.
To serve, I only use melamine or paper products. I don’t like to use glass or ceramic outdoors for obvious reasons. The Little Miss Party shop has the sweetest outdoor party in a box that is a breeze to set up and clean up when your party is over!

Of course when it comes to bar, there are many ways you could go with this…
Personally, I like to keep it simple with wine, beer and a signature drink. You’ll need to make sure you have plenty of water on hand to keep your guests hydrated and of course, a ton of ice. I use this drink calculator for beverages and ice to ensure I have enough to serve every time I host a party.

Decor
Something I always account for when hosting outdoors is wind and bugs. Both - completely out of my control! My go to decor for a backyard soiree is glass jars filled with fresh herbs. I grow tons in my garden so I snip them, wash them, use them for cooking and put the rest of the bunch into water in glass jars. Fresh herbs act as natural bug repellents and they look + smell amazing.
Of course I always love to have fresh flowers on the table and in the summer it’s easy to find flowers locally either in your backyard (!!) or at the farm stands.
If the bugs are really bad, light a citronella candle somewhere that is not too close to the food so you’re not inhaling the flames while you eat but close enough to keep your guests protected from the bugs. I’ve linked to a few of my fave candles in our Amazon Shop here.

Lighting
I love soft lighting when the sun goes down! Candles are a staple for me at any party. When hosting outdoors, I like to set out lanterns and use battery operated candles so I don’t have to worry about the flames blowing out. I also love tiki torches. So easy to set up around the backyard creating a romantic, festive vibe. Of course bulb lights always look beautiful. Something to consider is the power to plug these in. If you don’t have the right set up for outlets, go with battery operated fairy lights.

Activities
First and foremost is music. It’s a must for any party and should be turned on before your guests arrive. I always have music on especially during my party set up - totally gets me pumped up and this way I don’t forget to turn on the tunes when my guests arrive.
Second, depending on the timing of your party there are so many different activities that you can set up for some extra fun at your party. If you have a pool and the party is going to be during the day then definitely get your hands on some fun pool floats! Corn hole is always a winner at outdoor parties. If you have the boards and bean bags, it’s worth schlepping them out and setting them up.
Other games include ring toss, bocce ball, jumbo Jenga and/or connect 4.
If you’ve got kids in the mix, consider some extra fun for them…I have a few tee pees that I love setting up for the kids with toys, books, games. They love hiding out in there! You can go the extra mile and bring in an ice cream or snow cone truck and go down as the best host in history!

Extras
If your party is going past sunset, consider setting up a bonfire with a S’mores bar. ALWAYS a hit at backyard parties and a great way to gather and hang.
Speaking of gathering and hanging…you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of seating at your party. Whether it’s table and chairs to dine at, lounge chairs, Adirondacks, folding chairs or picnic blankets, you’ll want to consider your guests having a place to kick back and relax throughout the party.