Nothing says summer like hosting a fun outdoor party for your friends and family. As the best cooler brand around, we at Cubix Outdoors have seen it all when it comes to summertime fun. From seating arrangements to food options and the best coolers on the market, we know how to host outdoor events, and we’ve compiled our best backyard party tips for you! Wherever you’re located and whatever your preferences, read our article to learn how to turn your backyard into the party of the year.
Select a Time of Day
First, things first: You need to consider what time of day you’re hosting your party. Midday events can look dramatically different from evening gatherings and nighttime parties. The choice you make will depend largely on the climate where you live and the vibe you want. Do you want a high-energy pool party with cocktails and music, or do you want a fire-lit evening with charcuterie and tapas?
If you live in an especially warm climate, you’ll want to avoid the heat of the day unless you have ample shading or a pool to cool off. In cooler climates, evening events may require blankets, a fire pit, and warm drinks. Make your decision based around your personal preferences and what time of day will keep your guests the most comfortable the longest.
Make Your Party an Event
Every party needs a focal point. There’s nothing worse than having a bunch of guests standing around, unsure of where they’re supposed to be or what they’re supposed to be doing. If you happen to have a pool, most of the heavy lifting on this point is done for you. Otherwise, be sure to have something like lawn games, a bonfire, or an outdoor movie set up to serve as the central focus of your party and bring your guests together.
Plan Your Seating
It should go without saying, but make sure you have a spot at the table for everyone you invite. Having your guests balance their plate on their knees loses its charm quickly, especially if they’re having to juggle multiple utensils, their napkin, and their drink. If you want to invite more guests than your table and outdoor furniture can accommodate, there are two simple workarounds.
Standing Social Hour
The first is to not rely on seating at all. Instead, focus on having elevated spaces like high tables and bar tops where your guests can cluster and mingle, moving from one area to the next. This setup encourages socialization and is perfect for uniting different friend groups. Given the more dynamic and freeform arrangement, be sure to focus on providing finger foods that are easy to walk with, rather than larger courses.
Floor-Level Lounge Areas
The second is to have unlimited seating. Create lavish outdoor spaces and seating areas on your lawn using large blankets, outdoor rugs, and cushions and have your guests seat themselves on the ground. Having communal areas to lounge and eat avoids the limitations brought on by finite table settings while still being able to have larger foods like burgers and chicken that may require a hard surface for cutting and eating.
Select Your Lights and Create an Ambiance
The right outdoor lighting can take an event from a common get-together to a special occasion. String lights can be a great option and can help define your space. Hang them in lines over your eating area to create a ramada of light or string them along your fence to draw attention to your garden. If you don’t have string lights, white Christmas lights can be draped around bushes or wrapped up into trees to create a similar effect using what you may already have.
Chinese Lanterns, Candles, and Glowing Balloons
While string lights are a great option even during the day, if you’re having a midday party, consider adding a pop of color by hanging Chinese lanterns. Candles in lanterns are a great compliment to both rustic bonfires and elegant evening table settings. If you’re throwing a higher-energy night party, our favorite option is to put colored, waterproof mini LEDs inside of white balloons. These lights can pulse and change color, turning your backyard into the next Tomorrowland. If you have a pool, let the balloons float on the surface. Or, use helium to create prismatic displays.
Choose the Right Foods and Know How To Arrange Them
While firing up the grill is a staple of summer, the time of day you throw your backyard party will largely inform what food and drinks you serve alongside it. The hotter the time of day, the more cool refreshments you’ll want in addition to your burgers and brats. Consider fresh fruit, cucumber sandwiches, gazpacho, and iced tea in the heat of the day. Then move to warm cornbread and hot baked beans as the evening sets in. Popcorn machines, chocolate fondue fountains, and hot cider dispensers are easy ways to have warm treats for your outdoor movie night or any event after sundown.
Space Out Your Food and Drink Tables
Keep all of the food generally in one place so that guests don’t miss out on their favorite options, but, at the same time, try to have multiple refreshment stations. Having guests cluster around a single spot can be chaotic, so your best bet is to arrange the food on multiple tables or an outdoor island that they can approach from more than one side.
Pro Tip
The biggest mistake we see is having your cooler too out in the open, where guests inevitably use it as a bench and can end up damaging the top or breaking a hinge. Instead, place your cooler under one of the serving tables. This will keep guests’ drink options visible and easily accessible while avoiding the risk of it being sat upon. If your cooler has already seen better days, we at Cubix Outdoors have a lineup of great products to handle all the refreshments you could want.
Keep Your Guests Comfortable
It’s not uncommon for guests to get so excited about your backyard party that they end up forgetting to bring some essentials. You can be one step ahead by providing a few things for them. If you’re hosting a pool party, be sure to have extra towels and sunscreen on hand. If you’re hosting a garden party, an outdoor evening event, or you live in a place that is especially susceptible to insects, make sure you can provide your guests with bug repellent. In cooler climates, have blankets at the ready, especially after sundown.
You’ve Got This!
Now is the perfect time to get your perfect party underway. Whether you’re opting for fun in the sun with outdoor party games or an evening of casual conversation over hors devours and wine, these tips will help your backyard party be the highlight of the summer.
