** By Christie Ann is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and affiliate links to Amazon.com. I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

Summertime is here and this means it is time for some casual backyard dinner parties, an al fresco dinner party is a great idea for the weekend the pool opens at my house.

So let’s pull those string lights out and get ready for a great time. I love to use outdoor space when entertaining. In Texas, it is important to be able to cool off from the warm weather and the pool is a great way to do that. So get ready to invite your closest friends and family to their next outdoor party.

I found that when you spend time outside a nice gazebo with a fan helps a lot in keeping people comfortable. This is the one we have. We bought it at Sam’s Club. We also added the perfect addition with this Grill gazebo for my husband and it has helped to keep him covered from the rain and sun and has a small table for the trays as he prepares the food because the grilling must go on. No matter what Mother Nature’s plans are, we now feel prepared. These Gazebos were well-researched. Not only are they the perfect size for a backyard dinner party but they also have electrical outlets for guests to charge their phones and it also provides outlets for the string lights. We have not invested in the mosquito screens but they could easily be installed to make the outdoor experience more enjoyable.

Personally, I tend to be pretty list-oriented when it comes to a party. My preference is to keep a running list on my phone so I can edit and make changes when things come to mind. The very first thing you want to do is decide the date of your event.

About a month or two before the Backyard Casual Dinner Party.

1. Decide on the Date for the Event or Party.

2. Is there a Theme? What are you Celebrating? e.g. Graduation, Birthdays, Wedding

3. Where will this event take place?

4. Who’s coming? Make a guest list and mail invites.

5. Decide on a Budget.

6. Hire out services or rentals as necessary. If you decide you want to invest then I have included some links for Amazon.

bartender-helium tanks-food services-frozen drink machines-entertainment-pa system–house cleaning–tents-gardener-valet-bouncing house-photographer-tables or chairs-party planner

7. If you are making DIY projects then you should start them now. There are so many great options on Pinterest of fun things you can make for your event if you are crafty like that.

8. Hashtags are all the rage so if you want to create one then you can start using it for event updates. Some examples would be #floatingintosummer2024 for a summer pool party.

9. Create a music playlist or a photo slideshow.

10. Now it is time to decide on what activities will happen at your party. Activities can include a fire pit, swimming, a Jenga game, and maybe a big sheet for displaying photos or a movie later from a projector.

3 weeks before the Backyard Casual Dinner Party

11. Plan Family Outfits.

12. Create a Basic Kit for Party Prepping.

a variety of batteries–duct tape–scissors-extension cord–paper–safety pins–pens–bottled water

13. Create a photo checklist on your phone of photos you would like to have from your event. If you want a picture of the kids and their Aunts then write it down to review when it’s time because you will forget and the evening will be over before you know it.

14. Choose the menu.

If you are preparing the food then find the recipes and take inventory of what is needed.

If this is potluck-style then suggest/assign dishes to guests.

Seasonal ingredients are a nice touch to any outdoor event. I love to have fresh fruit even though I know my grandkids are looking for hotdogs. I recommend thinking of all the party guests that are invited and taking into account their allergies and food preferences when planning the party. Great food leads to great conversation which in turn leads to a great event so don’t miss out on putting some thought into what you will serve. There is a reason why so many people gather around the food table.

15. Make a timeline.

If things can be prepared ahead, then make time for that.

If things can be frozen, then make ahead as much as possible to avoid last-minute rushing.

16. Inventory linens, tableware, chairs, tables, platters and utensils. Make arrangements to rent or borrow what you do not have.

17. Buy wine beer and liquor.

18. Shop non-perishable items.

19. Buy decorations.

20. “Dress Rehearsal for Your Dining Table Setting” Set up a dinner table and or buffet. This enables you to see if there is enough room for everything to fit along with the guests, borrow or rent last-minute items. If you are using place cards this will give you a chance to start figuring out where to seat the guests for best interaction.

21. Have extra serving ware and flatware on hand. You can never have too many place settings.

https://by-christie-ann.com/2024/02/02/spring-dresses/

Two weeks before

22. Clean the house in detail 

23. Stock the bar area!

24. Notify the Neighbors of potential noise and traffic issues.

One week before the Backyard Casual Dinner Party

25. Firm up the guest list. Remind guests who have not RSVP’d that they are about to miss out on one of the best outdoor parties of the year!

26. Create a seating chart that seats people with things in common together, this is a fun idea.

28. Confirm rentals.

29. Assemble some things that your guest might need such as towels, sunscreen, and bug spray. Identify an ideal place for guest purses, coats, and bags.

4 day before

30. Prepare food that will remain fresh for four days.

31. Go over your shopping lists. Double-check final shopping lists.

decorations-food-beverages

Two days before the Party

32. Put anything away you don’t want a guest to see. (Don’t forget the medicine cabinets.) Clear off the coffee table to ensure guests who need to cool off indoors will find a place to sit and place their beverages.

33. Save all vendor and important phone numbers in your phone for emergencies.

34. Place frozen foods in the refrigerator to defrost, except the ice cream, don’t defrost the ice cream.

35. Iron Table Linens.

36. Do any last-minute cleaning.

37. Wash Serving Pieces, De-Spot Glasses, and polish Silver

One Day Before Party

38. Final Shopping trip.

39. Prepare any final menu items.

40. Set the table and put out décor. Find the perfect place for the flowers by putting the vases out ahead of time. This will help you know how many flowers to buy too.

Today is the DAY for YOUR Backyard Casual Dinner Party

41. Finish setting up.

serving area-bar-tables/chairs-special activities

42. Set out flowers.

43. Double-check that the bathrooms are clean.

44. Finish prepping food, and set out covered foods, you have gone the extra mile. The place is coming together nicely.

45. About 4 hours before the party chill wine. This simple dinner party is coming together.

46. Assign a greeter to greet guests and give directions such as welcoming guests, and directing where to put coats and purses. They also direct to drinks and appetizers so guests can have direction and feel more comfortable.

47. Assign little jobs to guests to make them feel at home, open bottles of wine, light candles, toss salad, put bread on the table, check the appetizers, slice meat, stir soup, etc. When guests have a job they feel useful and more comfortable.

48, Uncover all foods and serve drinks.

49. Relax and enjoy your hard work. Now that sounds like a good idea!

Whether it is a garden party or just a quick get-together with some close friends you should be able to get prepared using this list I compiled for you and feel prepared for whatever life throws at you.  Outdoor party ideas are so much fun. There is no better place to celebrate summer than in a loved one’s home.

This post has been full of great ideas to help you prepare for your next outdoor dinner party.

https://by-christie-ann.com/2024/04/10/pool-party-outfits-for-plus-size/