If you feel like your entertaining ideas could use a refresh, consider hosting a casual outdoor party. Outdoor parties are the perfect way to show off your backyard, patio or other outdoor space and enjoy the company of guests at the same time.
However, outdoor or backyard parties can bring their own unique challenges to prepare for. Long before your guests arrive, consider these important things when planning your party:
Menu considerations
Entertaining at home often centers around serving food, and outdoor parties are no different - though they can have different challenges. Whether you serve all the food yourself or host a potluck, have options available for keeping dishes warm or cold outdoors. For hot food, this can be as simple as cooking in a crock pot or slow cooker.
You can also keep food warm in a cooler - just make sure it's a dedicated container for hot dishes! For cold food, a classic cooler or tray of ice will do the trick. Consider adding fun, decorative labels to easily differentiate.
Outdoor activities
What's the ideal mood for your backyard party? Think about your goals as well as your guest list. If children are coming to the party, have some games planned to keep their attention. For guests who prefer to relax and converse, have an area for quiet conversation separate from higher-energy party activities.
Seating for an outdoor party
Seating is another major factor in any party that becomes even more important when you bring the fun outdoors. Having the right outdoor furniture can not only enhance the style of your space, but impact the comfort of your guests.
Make sure to provide enough seating for everyone you invite, plus a few extra dining chairs just in case. Provide shelter from the elements and promote conversation with thoughtful furniture layouts.
Whether you're planning a pool party, picnic or a quiet night around a fire pit, these reminders should help you prepare for the best possible outdoor event.
About the Author
Kimberly Hering
Kimberly Hering's devotion to helping people achieve their real estate goals stems from her genuine enjoyment of the process. Whatever the task, Kimberly makes it her mission to get it done, however she can, without compromising her client's needs. Often, that means thinking outside the box. After working with Kimberly, clients describe her as being Trustworthy, Creative, Patient, Highly Skilled, Attentive to the Process and having a lot of Integrity.
After spending more than 15 successful years working on Wall Street, Kimberly transitioned into Real Estate, joining Alain Pinel Realtors, then moving to Zephyr, now Corcoran Global Living, in 2018. During her career on Wall Street, Kimberly was a Vice President working as an Institutional Equity Salesperson for Montgomery Securities for 10 years. She covered the top money managers throughout the US and Canada. She joined Jefferies & Co as a Senior Vice President managing the Western Region Institutional Sales group, while continuing to cover the top money managers.
Kimberly leverages her extensive experience selling equities to top money managers throughout the US and Canada, to successfully negotiating any Real Estate transaction seamlessly for her clients. Kimberly is well versed in Marin's neighborhoods, towns, cities, and education system.
Living in the Bay Area for 35 years, 25 years in Marin and having 2 sons in local Marin schools, Kimberly spends a lot of time volunteering in the community and serving on various local Boards. Kimberly has a collection of resources ranging from the best local breakfast spots to vetted contractors. With her reliable list of valuable resources, Real Estate experience and unsurpassed knowledge of Marin's many communities, Kimberly can guide her clients through every aspect of a Real Estate transaction seamlessly.
Relocating to Marin, downsizing, upsizing, first time home buying, final home purchase or sale, or a lot to build a dream home, no matter the undertaking, Kimberly works seamlessly until the job at hand is completed with 100% satisfaction.