Summer has arrived and many of us are already enjoying the better weather, the warmer temperatures and a little more time outdoors. Kids are heading on summer break and we’re using up more of our annual leave to accommodate them. Of course, this means that more of us are spending more time in our gardens and looking to catch up with family and friends while we can. If you’re considering throwing some sort of BBQ or garden party, you’re far from alone. There’s good reason why these activities are so much more popular during the summer months. You can easily accommodate and cater to a larger number of people without having everyone traipsing through your home. Plus, it can prove lower cost than throwing a dinner party. Sure, you could just whip out a disposable BBQ and throw a few sausages on. But if you’re looking to create more of an event and sense of occasion, this type of get together is going to take some effort, planning and investment. Here are some steps to take that will allow you to keep things running as smoothly as possible.
Choose a Date
First and foremost, you need to choose a date. Ideally, you should choose this far enough in advance that you can ask people to keep the date free before they have other plans, but also not so far in advance that you’re unable to check the weather. After all, you need to choose a day that has clear skies and little to no chance of rain, cold temperatures, wind or other adverse weather conditions.
Choose Your Guests
Next, who is going to be attending? Only you can know who you want to come to your get-together. It may be family. It may be friends. It may be a mixture of both. Will you be inviting children? Remember that this will require providing some means of distraction and entertainment for them. Once you know who you want to invite, make sure to send a message and get an RSVP so you can start planning how much food you need to prepare and provide.
Choose an Outfit
Of course, you’re probably going to want to wear something nice to this event – especially seeing as you’re the host. It’s good to choose your outfit well in advance so you have time to order something and have it delivered if you decide to shop online. Whether that’s Summer Dresses, shorts and a top, some nice sandals, sunglasses, a sun hat or anything else, give yourself time to get everything in order so you can feel great on the day itself. If you want to go all out, you could even schedule your hair or nail appointment beforehand to look your best.
Decide on Food
Food is going to be a central feature of this type of event, so you need to make sure that you provide enough for everybody. Most people will arrive with grumbling stomachs and will be looking forward to some sort of feast laid out. Make sure to check your guests’ dietary preferences, requirements and allergies. This will ensure that you provide something for everyone. Some guests may be vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, dairy free, gluten free or adverse or allergic to nuts, seafood or other allergens. Some guests may be halal or kosher. Consider cross contamination too. If you are having a BBQ, options are pretty clear cut, with burgers and hotdogs in buns being pretty standard. If you want to get a little fancier, you can try cuts of meat, skewers or other great recipes. If you’re having a garden party, finger foods tend to be popular, such as pizzas, chips, nachos and dips, breadsticks and dips and more. At the end of the day, the choice of food is entirely up to you. Choose something you feel comfortable with and keep it manageable. You don’t want to stress yourself out or load yourself up with too much work.
Lighting and Music
If your event is in the day, you don’t have to worry about lighting, but if it’s likely to continue into the night, you may want to consider some different forms of outdoor lighting and maybe even a fire pit. You may also want to invest in a speaker or radio for some music in the background.
Sure, this may seem like a lot. But once your event is in full swing, it will all prove more than worth it. Hopefully, some of the guidance above will help you along the way!