It is that time of year when summer nights are drawing to a close, but you can still enjoy a few hours of balmy autumn sunshine outside before the seasons change. If you want to make the most of these precious evenings, having a backyard party is one of the best ways to go about it. Throwing your own outdoor bash may seem simple enough, but you need to ensure that you plan appropriately, so everyone can enjoy the event equally.
You can go all out and host your backyard party in a fancy white marquee to wow your guests when they arrive or go for a more straightforward approach but whatever direction you go, it is important to have a basic outline of the event, and an idea of how you want the evening to go. Every person’s backyard party will be unique, but there are things that everyone can do to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible and the attendees have the best time possible.
Let’s take a look at some helpful backyard planning ideas to ensure you make your event a night to remember.
Be RealisticIt starts with looking at the space you have available and being realistic about the type of party you want to host. While you may have two hundred of your favourite people you want to invite, not every house design and backyard has that kind of room, and nothing would kill a party quicker than ramming too many people where they simply won’t fit. Get a rough idea of how many people your place will comfortably hold, and try to keep to that number when doing your guest list. Some people may not get invited, but limited space is going to require a bit of finesse and fewer guests to ensure a better overall event for those that are there.
Put It On PaperYou don’t need to be an artist to do this or even be good at drawing stick figures, it just needs to be visualised. Draw out the boundaries of your backyard party area, and get a feel of just how much space there is. With this done, you can start placing all of your furniture and party supplies to see how they best fit to make the most of the space you have available. Nothing has to be perfect here, you are just looking for a rough idea of how everything will come together before you start.
This is a great thing for people with a new home or who are first-time party throwers, as their backyard may have never been utilised in this way before. You may not know what fits where or how much space you can use. Drawing it out can help you to see the bigger picture.
Making sure the yard is well-maintained is essential to hosting a party. You don’t want to leave your landscaping until the last minute, but you also don’t want to do it too early and risk having it grow back too much. If your party is starting later in the day or evening, the morning of the party is a perfect time to do the landscaping before setting everything up for the big night ahead.
Consider Physical BoundariesIf you are throwing a party in your backyard, and don’t want guests to be in certain areas of the property, or inside the home, it may be worthwhile to install temporary boundaries. You don’t have to do anything overly drastic, for example, a simple rope can do the trick, as long as guests know the reason. As the evening goes on, and some people consume a little more alcohol, they are more likely to wander, and physical boundaries can help you to keep them where you want them.
Outdoor furniture should be at the top of your priority list if you want to throw a good backyard bash. Sure, people can stand around and talk for quite some time, but they will eventually want to sit down and rest for a bit. As a good host, you must have enough seating for your guests, especially if a meal is being served or if you have older people attending your party.
A lot of outdoor parties will feature buffet-style meals where everyone can just grab what they want from a central table, and find a comfortable place to sit and enjoy their meal. If you plan on serving food, don’t forget about people being comfortable while they eat.
Remember to Have Fun And Enjoy The OccasionThe point of throwing this party is for everyone to have a good time, which includes you. Don’t stress over any of the little things, as most of them will work out on their own. If you plan your party right, everything should flow smoothly, and people should be talking about it for years to come.