Summer is finally here and with it comes yet another excuse to throw a party. Celebrating the sun is part and parcel of a really successful summer season and when it comes to pulling off your own gathering, it pays to put in the legwork. Having a few friends over for a few light bites is a great way of kicking back, coming together and unwinding in the late afternoon sun and if you ramp up your routine just a little bit, you can have a party to remember. The simplicity of a summer gathering requires just enough planning and forethought, with a little spontaneity thrown in for good measure. Want to make the most out of your next soirée? It’s time to take things down a notch.
Sharing Is Caring
If you want to make the most out of your party and enjoy it just as much as your guests, it’s a great idea to get everyone to muck in together. Asking your friends to take along either one dish or a few drinks can help to spread the load and arm you with a whole lot of variety. To keep things as simple as possible, it’s worth looking to dishes like salads, cold soups and dips; think cool, transportable and easily shareable. When it comes to cutlery and plates, opting for paper or wooden varieties can help to cut down on the mess and ensure that there are no awkward breakages along the way. The trick is to go for a “thrown together” vibe; that way, you can get going with the party even sooner than you had thought!
Take The Inside, Out
Looking on Pinterest is a great way of getting inspiration for your next summer party but if you want more of a laid back, relaxed atmosphere, don’t be afraid to make use of what you already have. Investing in a new set of outdoor chairs to match your theme might seem like a good idea but if you’re only going to use the set once, it can be a waste of time and money. When seating your guests, don’t be afraid to take existing furniture outside and making use of things like quilts, stools and cushions. You want people to be comfortable but ultimately, your party should be easy for you to put together.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
Want to be the effortlessly relaxed host? It’s all about getting things ready before your guests arrive. Choosing options that can either be prepared and stored beforehand or need time in which to marinate can help to give you a leg up so that when your guests do arrive, all you need to do is take the food out and throw it on the barbecue. Choosing marinated meats and vegetables is also a great way of getting even more flavor out of your dishes and whipping up a culinary storm. By the time your guests arrive, everything will have already been prepared!
Create The Perfect Mood
Keeping things going when the sun goes down is one of the trickiest hurdles you can deal with, particularly if the activities are all based in the garden. To keep your guests from the dark, try filling your garden with a few tea lights, strings of bulbs and tree lanterns. The low lighting can be just the thing to create the right kind of atmosphere and will throw out enough illumination to help your guests see what they’re doing.
Keep The Mood Light
Having friends over can be enough fun in and of itself but sometimes, you might want to provide a little extra something to keep people in the party spirit. Providing entertainment of some sort, be it music or an outside game, is a great way of enhancing your party and bringing people together. Keeping the music going throughout the gathering can help to keep things feeling relaxed and using your outdoor space to get people involved in a quick game will keep things feeling light. When it comes to picking a game, simple is always best. Choosing something that takes hours to explain will just leave people feeling bored and frustrated; the key is to have fun whatever you’re doing.