The Secrets To Entertaining Guests, No Matter Who They Are

Five Tips for a Better Backyard Party

18 July 2017

Philip Freeman

Hosting a party in your backyard is a great way to celebrate a graduation, Independence Day, Memorial Day, or even a low-key wedding. Each of these celebrations calls for different styles of food and entertainment. But no matter what type of backyard party you are planning, it's in your best interest to follow these five tips.

Rent tables and chairs

One of the common problems with backyard parties is that guests don't have enough places to sit and relax. After all, you probably don't have enough lawn furniture for 20, 40 or 100 visitors! Having everyone bring their own chairs is one option, but if you do not want to require this of your guests, just rent some tables and chairs from a local party planning company.

When you rent the tables and chairs, have them delivered at least a day before the party. This way, you can set them up where you want them. Order about 10% more chairs than the number of guests you plan to have. This way, nobody will be forced to sit at the last seats at tables with people they don't know.

Include "dress code" in the invitations

People are never sure what to wear to a backyard party. Do you assume it's casual because it is outdoors, or do you dress up a little just in case? You can keep your guests from having to worry about this by including a dress code on the invitation. There's no need to be too specific. "Dress code: casual" or "Dress code: Spiffy" is enough information to give your guests something to go on.

Be clear about whether or not pets are allowed

Many guests assume that, when they come to a backyard party, dogs are welcome. However, there may be times when you don't want dogs in your yard, such as if your own dog does not handle visitors well or if the neighbors' children are afraid of dogs. So, be clear on your invitations as to whether or not pets are allowed. You may also want to tell guests that dogs are allowed, but only if they stay on a leash.

If you do permit guests to bring dogs to the party, keep their presence in mind as you set up and decorate. Don't hang dangerous glass bulbs where the dogs can reach them. Put food on taller tables where dogs can't grab it. Also, make sure there's a shady area where the dogs can rest and stay cool.

Supply plenty of non-alcoholic drinks

Even if you will be having alcoholic beverages at the party, make sure you have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages for guests, too. This will keep anyone from becoming overheated and dehydrated. Soda, iced tea, juice, and water are all good choices. If you are asking guests to bring dishes and drinks with them, ask a few friends to specifically bring non-alcoholic beverages so that you don't end up with hundreds of bottles of beer, but no bottled water.

You may even want to mix up a big batch of non-alcoholic punch for the party. This will give guests something delicious to drink that does not contain alcohol, which may help prevent them from over-indulging. It will also give non-drinkers a more unique option.

Serve food that can be prepared in big batches

If you'll be cooking and serving food at the party, opt for items that can be prepared in large batches. For instance, single-serve pizzas, prepared on the grill, are not a good choice since you can probably only feed a few people at one time. Burgers and hot dogs are better choices because you can cook many at one time, and they cook quickly. If you do not have a lot of grill space, consider asking a few friends to bring grills with them so you can cook more at once.

With the tips above, your backyard party will be the talk of the town. For more information, visit a website such as https://partypeoplerentals.com.

Share

Search