Sean just turned 30 and we celebrated with a backyard party! Since we moved into our new home, we have really loved throwing backyard parties. I wanted to stop by today and share my five best tips for an awesome backyard party!
Keep it simple - guests aren't going to expect tassels and banners and confetti in the backyard. Let your yard do the talking and just decorate with fresh florals for a little extra pop. Bonus points if you have potted plants already in your yard that you can bring over to the party zone. A pot of herbs can be beautiful and smell heavenly!
Make the food self service - I know that it can be tempting to grill for a backyard party but hear me out - you are already hosting. You want to be able to greet and socialize with your guests. You don't want to have to man the grill for big chunks of time! My favorite party food is a crock pot of pulled pork, cooked overnight. For Sean's party, we set it up in a buffet giving our guests the option to make either sliders or pulled pork nachos. It was a huge success! Of course, don't forget a few finger food appetizers - my go-tos are pimento cheese, a veggie tray, and guacamole.
Cool off - there's nothing worse than sweating through your sundress ten minutes into a barbeque. In my experience, there are 2 crucial things to beat the heat - shade and cold drinks. We like to put up a simple pop up tent to let our guests get out of the direct sun. A cooler or two full of iced beverages is also super important - no matter what the cocktail on special is, be sure to have bottles or pitchers of water!
Everyone loves a fire - my favorite way to end any backyard bash is with a fire. My best advice is to set the wood up in advance and set some extra out to keep it going. Kids and adults alike are mesmerized by fire. It is beautiful and can be a fun activity as well. Start the fire while it's still dusk to encourage people to stick around. Sometimes, when a party starts in the afternoon, people feel like they need to leave when it gets dark, so kick the fire off early!
Make it bug free - don't let mosquitoes ruin your big day! We were so excited to partner with TruGreen to have our yard treated prior to this party. TruGreen Mosquito Defense targets pests where they live, and the company’s professionally trained specialists use an innovative mosquito control formula to treat all areas of the yard where mosquitoes hide, including trees, shrubs, mulched areas and all types of ground cover. Unlike other pest-fighting tactics, TruGreen Mosquito Defense comes with a guarantee. They’ll gladly perform a free re-service on any full mosquito plan any time you see biting mosquitoes between treatments.
Benefits of TruGreen Mosquito Defense include:
- Targeted control: Monthly applications using specialized equipment targets mosquitoes where they live
- No more cans of repellent: Spray your yard, not your kids
- TruGreen expertise: Professionally trained specialists use an innovative mosquito control formula
- Added protection: Helps protect against biting mosquitoes that can transmit Zika, West Nile Virus, and other harmful diseases.
What are your favorite tips for a backyard party?
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Hello, I'm Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I've transformed three homes and now I'm dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let's turn your house into a home together!
heather says
Love the view from your gorgeous backyard! And happy 30th Sean!
Yoshiko Flora says
I find it cool when you said that a person can host a great party in one's backyard by adding several pots of herbs in order to make it look and smell great. Aside from that, they can also opt to rent a tent through a local service. Doing so will help protect everyone in case it rains and let the party continue for longer.