Summer is in full swing and you might be thinking of cool ways to get your friends and family together for an outdoor meal. Luckily, there are countless ideas for you to choose from that will make your event fun and special.
- Comfortable chairs and/or cushions will keep your guests seated at the table.
- Use a disposable tablecloth for a simple look and very easy cleanup at the end of the night, or don’t be afraid to skip a tablecloth altogether.
- Define your outdoor dining room with a large umbrella or a tent.
- Reuse indoor furniture for the outdoors, such as a cot or a coffee table.
- Set up areas in the backyard for different things, such as drinks in one spot, appetizers in another, and dessert in another, to get people moving around and mingling.
- If you’re planning on offering a bar, make sure it’s stocked with all the essentials—glasses, ice, shakers, garnishes, etc.
- Offer fun non-alcoholic beverages, such as flavored lemonade, to keep guests hydrated.
- Put a twist on a centerpiece by trimming the stems off your flowers and adding water to a large serving platter to make floating flowers.
- Keep dips, dressings, and other cold items cold by filling a large bowl with ice, sprinkling with kosher salt, and placing cold dishes on top.
- Re-purpose wire-mesh colanders as food covers to keep bugs away.
- Provide plenty of seating, even if it’s non-traditional such as a tree stump, or pillows and blankets on the ground.
- Give your party a theme and bring it out in the decorations, such as napkin rings, vases, buckets, place cards, etc.
- Provide plenty of lighting after the sun goes down with paper lanterns, string lights, or LED candles.
- Set up a fire pit so guests can enjoy the perks of a campfire.