Tell Guests What To Expect

When it comes to the invitations for your summer BBQ, specify when they’ll be eating. Saying something like, “The grill master will be slinging grub from 6 to 7” instead of refrigerating the grill for latecomers is a bad idea. Come and get it!

Another important tip: let people know what to wear. Shorts? Tankini top? Sundress? “Bring your swimsuits!” or “You wear the flip-flops; we’ll flip the burgers!” give guests a sense of the atmosphere.

Determine the amount of food you’ll need. So that you can keep the party going outside (and out of your kitchen), focus your menu on classics that you can make ahead of time and things you can cook on the grill. Additionally, eliminate the need to guess how many burgers to purchase and how much potato salad to prepare. The general rule: Guests will have 1 ½ servings of any burger, hot dog, or sandwich, and 1 ½ cups total of whatever sides you’re serving.

Allow Guests To Prepare Their Own Meals

Opt for DIY food options like taco or burger bars, a salad bar with dressing and topping options, or an ice cream sundae bar for dessert. Guests can easily create their perfect bite—and you’ll minimize the stress of serving people with dietary restrictions.

Pro tip: If you’re inviting people with food restrictions, create labels that list ingredients for foods that might be an issue, or walk them through the bar to let them know what they may want to avoid.

Concentrate On Ready-To-Eat Salads And Sides

Salads that don’t require much chopping and simple sides that can be made ahead of time and taste good at room temperature allow you to prepare everything ahead of time and simply set up the buffet for guests to help themselves to.

Make A Cool Dessert

Serve dessert cold at an outdoor summer party. You can always fill your freezer with premade ice pops and ice cream sandwiches, but it’s almost as easy to make your own, whether you opt for a super simple ice cream cake that comes together in minutes, or a just-as-easy ice pop.

Mix Up A Big Batch Cocktail

Assume each of your party guests will drink 1 ½ alcoholic drinks per hour.

Hosting Over 25 Guests?

Plan to serve 2 ½ gallons of a pitcher-style cocktail to ensure the drinks keep flowing with the least amount of hosting effort. A stone fruit sangria made ahead is our favorite.

Create An Easy Upgrade For Mocktails And Nonalcoholic Drinks

Infused drinks are super easy to make—even if you don’t feel like squeezing lemons for a homemade lemonade or iced tea. Take fresh herbs, citrus slices, berries, or watermelon chunks, and place them in bottles of iced tea, lemonade, or even just water to elevate the drinks for everyone.

Overexert Yourself On Ice

Buy (or make) way more ice than you’d expect. You’ll need it to keep beverages cool in the cooler, for people to add to cocktails and drinks, and you can also use it to help keep more perishable food items, like dairy-based dips, chilled and safe. (Typically, experts recommend between one and two pounds per person, but for a summer party, we’d go closer to two pounds.)

Have Enough Seats

So you have 25 guests and only five patio chairs? Take a look at your furniture inside. Pressing dining chairs, drum stools, and poufs into service is the simplest option. If you’re keeping things casual, you can let people drop off and pick them up. Still in a bind? Ask party guests if anyone has a folding chair or two to bring along—just ask them to mark their set so you can get them to the rightful owner once the party’s over.

Hang String Lights Or Lanterns

Keep guests in the dark at all times. All you need is a little ambient lighting, says Jimmy Duhig, the owner of Creative Lighting Design in San Francisco: “If you’re outside while it’s getting dark, your eyes will adjust.”

Just hang strands of outdoor string lights on the deck, the fence, and even tree branches, and add some hurricane lanterns or tealights. Globe string lights and classy round bulbs with a warm glow are sur that, hammer them flush into the ground by arcing them over the cords.

Make Decor Double As Entertainment

Skip going overboard on decor and invest in a festive that doubles as an activity for guests. From flamingos to hula girls, they come in all shapes and sizes so you can fit the mood of your party.

The festivities will appear more sophisticated if the piñata is filled with inexpensive prizes that are all the same color. Because they can be worn in photos, costume jewelry, bandanas, and sunglasses are excellent choices. Other fun prizes: lottery tickets and—especially for a pool party—mini water pistols.

Get Rid Of Standing Water

Bugs are the best way to ruin a summer party. The biggest tip for keeping mosquitos away? Empty any standing water lurking in your yard. According to Cornell University associate professor of entomology Laura Harrington, “that’s where mosquitoes breed.”

The week before the party, empty out the kiddie pool, the rain gutters, and any rainwater that has collected in the bottoms of flowerpots. Light incense sticks that repel insects in glass jars and place them on tables around your yard just before the party.

Still worried? Make sure to have bug spray or insect repellent wipes on hand for guests who want some extra protection. “Look for products that contain the repellent picaridin instead of DEET,” says Harrington. “DEET can degrade synthetic fabrics, damaging clothing.”

Learn How To Master The Party Playlist

We tapped Michael Antonia, the owner of the Flashdance, a production company in Los Angeles, for his best playlist tips. He advises listening to a lot of songs from well-known artists like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles.

Keep it upbeat, and mix in some newer tunes here and there. Antonia says, “I like Bon Iver, Beach House, Elliott Smith, and White Stripes.” Additionally, prepare for five hours of playtime for your playlist. “Most parties aren’t going to last longer than that, and if there’s anyone who realizes the playlist has started over at hour six, well, they probably need another drink.”

Don’t Crank The Speakers

Yes, your playlist will be wonderful. However, if your speakers are blaring, no one will want to stand near them.

Best Setup Tip

The best setup is four or more speakers, spread out and set at a lower volume. According to Antonia, “place it above ear level if you’re using a boom box or an iPod dock so it’s not blasting directly at guests’ heads.”

Also, point it to the side of the house; you can make it a little louder, and the sound will spread out better there. Another option? Choose Bluetooth speakers, which are ideal for outdoor settings, and go cordless.

Invest In A Few Outdoor Toys

Bubble blowing, a sprinkler.

Keep Guests Cool In Hot Weather

How can you get through the sweltering heat? Ice-cold compresses are a great hack. Toss a pack of inexpensive washcloths into a cooler of ice water for guests to grab, roll each one up, secure it with a rubber band, and you’re done. (The best cooling points are the neck and wrists, where large arteries run close to the skin.)

Another option: Hand fans or classic paddle fans are both available to buy in bulk and look pretty placed in a big basket.

Make Sure You’re Made In The Shade

Offering guests shade in the form of a temporary tent, a patio umbrella, or even just a sheet attached to poles or other structures is a good idea because sunburn is serious business.

Additionally, keep a few sunscreen tubes on hand so that people can reapply throughout the day.

Start The Fire Pit!

An essential part of any outdoor party is gathering around a fire pit. Choose an easy-to-start model (we particularly like smokeless options like the Tiki and the Solo Stove) and preload the firewood to make starting it simple. (And don’t forget the marshmallows and s’mores!)

Keep Your Party Table Decor Au Naturel

Use baskets as platters and bowls for serving, and adorn your table with fresh-cut garden flowers or potted plants and herbs.

Have A Few Throws

If your party will go into the night, consider having a blanket or two to help your guests stay warm.