Whether your home is the location for an intimate family get-together or a large neighborhood potluck, you’ll entertain like a pro with our easy-to-follow ideas for outdoor parties. We’ve included tips for planning, decorating, and food prep—making it easier for you to relax and enjoy the company of your guests.
Outdoor Party Planning Tips
Follow these simple outdoor entertaining tips when organizing and planning your next party.
- Send invitations if you’re going to invite more than 12 people or if you have a theme for your outdoor party. Otherwise, call, email, or invite guests in person.
- Ask guests if they have any food allergies or special preferences (vegetarian, kosher, diabetic, etc.), so everyone is able to enjoy the party fare.
- Lessen the stress of hosting an outdoor party by making it a potluck. Assign each guest a dish—appetizer, salad, side dish, or dessert—to contribute, so you only have to make the main dish. If you want a cohesive buffet, organize the potluck around a theme, such as Tex-Mex, Asian, or All-American.
- Mix up the seating. If you have multiple outside spaces, set up a table, chairs, and blankets throughout the yard.
- Make 50 percent more food than you think people will eat to ensure you have enough. For large parties, rely on dishes that will freeze so nothing goes to waste.
- Account for anything that might prevent entertaining outside: if you think bugs, rain, heat, or cold might get in the way of your party, make sure you have a backup plan.