Summer should be FUN! (IYKYK)

Summer is a magical time of year. I’m sure it brings back childhood memories for a lot of us. The freedom of no school, being outside as much as possible, eating popsicles on hot days and chasing fireflies on cool nights. I personally prefer more casual gatherings in the summer. The goal is for everyone to be relaxed and enjoy some carefree time together, including the hostess! Sometimes you need to simplify and take some shortcuts to make it happen.

Here are my top tips for hosting an outdoor summer party:

Hire a food truck

I did this for my last summer party and it was a hit! This will save you the trouble of cooking, minimize cleanup and gives your guests a fun, interactive food experience. It also helps to support a local business!

Create a self serve bar outside OR hire someone to serve drinks

This allows you to be available to mingle instead of scrambling to prepare drinks as people arrive.

Make sure there’s sunscreen, bug spray and lots of water available

Make a station for these hot day essentials so it’s easy for your guests to stay comfortable and hydrated.

Have a cool, shady place for people to sit

Whether it’s umbrellas, shade under some trees or a small tent, always make sure there’s somewhere shady for people to lounge and stay cool.

Make a summer playlist

I have an ongoing summer playlist that I love and add to each year. Lots of rock & roll and summer classics!

At the end of the party, let people help!

I know this is a hard one for a lot of us who want our parties to be perfect and for guests not to “help.” However, especially for something more casual, let friends and family help at the end of the event if they offer. In my experience, this ends up being a surprisingly fun part of the day. It’s a way to have more time together while bonding and usually ends with someone saying “should we have one more drink?”