What a Patio Party’s All About
Summer is the ultimate season for a cookout on the patio. Everyone can relax in bright, casual summer clothes – shorts, T-shirts, and sandals – and sip beer or cocktails in lawn chairs. If you have a pool, guests can enjoy a swim. If you at least have a lawn, they can cool off with a run through the sprinkler. Growing up in a neighbourhood of houses with grassy yards impressed this experience into my summertime psyche. Being outside is what summer’s all about. And enjoying the sun, grass and good company with good food is how we relax in summertime. So if you are ready to enjoy summer the classic way, let’s plan a fun patio party!
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How to Throw a Patio Party
1. Set Up Your Patio/Outdoor Space for Entertaining
Before we cover outdoor party staples, it’s best to always have an indoor Plan B so you and your guests can move the party inside if a storm rolls in. Even if your region experiences mostly arid, sunny days, it doesn’t hurt to have a plan in mind should the weather unexpectedly change! Make sure your indoor space is at least set up to accommodate the number of guests you expect, with ample seating and space for food and drinks. The party must go on, my friend. Otherwise, what makes a patio party so enjoyable is relaxing with friends in beautiful weather! To make an inviting outdoor atmosphere, you’ll want to at least secure some basic furniture and equipment.
Whether your patio party involves a patio, a lawn, a deck, or a spacious balcony, you’ll need plenty of outdoor seating for guests. Lawn chairs or patio furniture are great options, and so are blankets spread across a grassy lawn with cushions. It’s also a good idea to provide shade if your outdoor space is in direct sun. Depending on where you live, summer temperatures can be sweltering so putting up a large table umbrella or tying up a sun covering or even a tent can make all the difference in guests’ comfort. The last thing you want is for anyone to be uncomfortably scorched. Being warm in the summer temperatures is expected, but shade from the sun is crucial – especially for protecting eyes and skin.
Refreshments Setup
If you have a grille or an outdoor stove, stock up on whatever fuel source you need and plan to put it to work! Cooking patio party food over an outdoor grill is a lot easier (and, for some, more fun) than having to cart a bunch of platters from inside. Yes, you’ll of course still need to bring out the raw foods to cook, but grilled food preparation is a simple way to cook tasty staples. So if this is or can be an option for you, definitely use it. A cookout is the ultimate way to feed guests at a patio party.
If you don’t already have a spacious, quality cooler, this is a great investment for hosting any number of outdoor events. Most people love a cold drink in the summer. Keeping refreshments – beer, sodas, waters, seltzers, etc. – over ice is the way to do this. An alternative is to fill a large bucket or tub with ice. Here is where your shade comes in handy: ice won’t melt as fast as when it’s in direct sun!
You’ll need a table for serving food and any drinks that aren’t in the cooler. If you’re in a pinch for space, try this balcony space saver folding table. It won’t hold large platters, but it may make a difference depending on your needs. If you don’t have an outdoor table large enough for all the food, buy or borrow a sturdy one that’s easy to set up. Or, if needed, move your indoor table outside. Whatever table you use, it’s primarily for food, drinks and serveware. If it’s large enough, some guests may want to sit there to eat, but most people sit in a chair and hold their plate on their lap at casual outdoor parties.
Patio Party Decorations
If you and your friends have no intention of ending the fun come nightfall, string up some outdoor party lights to set the ‘party mood’ lighting after dark. Most other decorations that you would use indoors – such as party streamers, hanging paper fans, banners, and the like – can be used just as easily outdoors when you can find places to hang them (such as from your party light strands)! The only drawback is, as noted above, any sudden change in weather. But unless the forecast turns wet or windy within a matter of minutes and you haven’t already resorted to Plan B, your decorations should be fine outside. Alternatively, you could seek out weather-proof party decorations.
If you need to keep expenditures low, there are plenty of inexpensive party supplies if you know where to look. Everyone’s party will look different and that’s the beauty of hosting. I’ve been to everything from delightfully extravagant soirées to humble Solo cup parties in modest spaces, and I love them all! So even if you don’t have much in the way of decorations, remember that small efforts done with love and enthusiasm can go a long way.
Here are a few fun patio party decorations for inspiration that will brighten up any outdoor space:
- Rainbow honeycomb fan garland
- Tiny rainbow bunting
- Outdoor colourful multi-pattern bunting
- Paper party plates (for serveware)
- Recycled plastic outdoor rug (year-round décor)
2. Prepare Patio Party Food and Beverages
Fire up that grill! If you can get a load of fresh, seasonal vegetables and whatever choice of protein, you have the majority of your menu covered. Get some kabab sticks to make veggie kababs (and/or meat kababs), roast veggies in aluminum foil, cook burgers, or roast corn on the cob. Cut up some fresh fruit for a fruit salad and set out some chips and dips, and you’re set! Everything after that is icing on the cake. If you need to prepare food indoors, that’s okay too! You’ll just want to avoid anything very heat-sensitive that may become ‘iffy’ when left outside in high temperatures for a while.
Here are some tasty party recipes for the more ambitious and culinary-inspired:
- Patio pintos
- Cookout sides
- Grilled corn salad
- Caprese salad kabobs
- Broccoli and chive stuffed mini peppers
- Sweet and savory pineapple cheese ball
- ‘Party on the Patio’ (smashed hot potatoes)
3. Set the Ambience with a Good Patio Party Playlist
If you don’t already have a great party playlist, this is one of the best steps of party planning. Equally important is to secure a way to amplify the music outside. Whether you use a Bluetooth speaker to play music from your device or whether you play it the old-fashioned way from a boombox (or simply from a stereo heard through your open windows), test it out to make sure it works. You can definitely still have a good time without it, but music really amps up the party vibe!
What makes for a good party playlist? All your favourite jams that are upbeat, fun, and positive (i.e. not offensively angry or major downer)! If you make this a patio dance party where music is part of the main attraction, you’ll of course amp up a killer playlist. But if you want people to be able to converse without shouting over their drinks, maybe play something a little more laid back but still upbeat (and keep the volume reasonable). Maybe you have a list of all your ultimate summer songs. Or maybe you play lilting Spanish guitar music. There is no one-size-fits-all – your choice of genres depends entirely on your taste. Just put some thought into it!
4. Plan Patio Party Games or Activities
While games and activities aren’t necessarily required to make a great party, they can certainly be fun! If you have enough space, get a frisbee to toss back and forth. Or if you have a lawn and a bocce ball set, set it up – it’s a fun outdoor game anyone can play. Cornhole’s another popular patio party pastime. So is music: if you or another guest can play an instrument, encourage them to bring it and play! Everyone loves partying outside with friends while listening to live music.
Another fun way to engage people is storytelling. Storytelling is like conversation with specific stories or topics to share, perhaps prompted. People enjoy relaxing and getting captivated by a good story. There’s no pressure to contribute, yet others may be compelled to share as well. If you need prompt ideas, ask each guest to share the weirdest thing they’ve ever done. Or seen. Or dated. (It won’t be boring!)
5. Establish Guest Participation
Guest participation is optional and depends on how you’d like your guests to participate or contribute to your party. You could make it a patio party potluck and request that each guest brings a dish to share, while you provide the protein sources (meat, veggie burgers, buns, condiments, etc.). Maybe you invite guests to BYOB. Such participation requests certainly make your job simpler (and less expensive), and most people are more than happy to contribute. Just make sure that, as the host, you provide at least one large dish that is both tasty and filling, as well as basic non-alcoholic refreshments. Summertime is thirsty season! And, of course, be sure to clarify any participation requests when you initially invite people.
Checklist of Items You Need
These are the things you need for this party:
- Outdoor party space and plenty of seating options
- Any type of sunshade as needed (large umbrella, tent, canopy)
- Refreshments table (preferably under shade)
- Cooler or drink bucket/tub
- Grill (recommended)
- Party decorations (optional)
- Food, drinks, and serveware
- Patio party playlist and speakers
- Any game/activity equipment (frisbee, etc.)
Preparation Checklist for Your Patio Party
1. First, confirm that people can come on any chosen date:
- Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well
- Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
- Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s)
- If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure calendar date for your awesome patio party!
2. Then, proceed with the fun planning:
- Schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep as listed below (securing and/or making food/drinks, etc.)
- First, make sure you have or can quickly secure ample seating options, shade coverings, food table, and cooler. As well as a grill if that’s an option. Do this several weeks before your party to make sure you have time to set up everything you need.
- Create invitations with all the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
- Order any other smaller supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to prepare and set up)
- Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
- In your planned time slots, set up outdoor furnishings as needed
- In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
- In your planned time slots, set up any decorations
- In your planned time slots, prepare food/drinks (depending on how long things keep)
3. Day of Party (in your amply planned time slot):
- Prepare any foods/drinks that are too fresh to do any earlier
- Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations (if not up already)
- Prepare music
- Get dressed in a comfortable summery party outfit that makes you happy
- Once everything’s ready, take the time to do any preferred self-care to get in a good head space if you aren’t already. You want to be a relaxed, energized, and happy host – both for yourself and for your guests! Plus, if you’ll be grilling away, you’ll need plenty of rest to stay energized. Take a rejuvenating cat nap or kick your feet up and do nothing.
