Patio party season is here—hooray! There’s nothing quite like gathering friends and family for a fun and relaxed outdoor celebration. As empty nesters, we’re always ready to host summer parties that are as effortless as they are enjoyable. Over the years, we’ve hosted countless outdoor soirées, and learned a few things that ensure every gathering is a success.
When it comes to outdoor entertaining, there are a few essential elements that make all the difference. Great company, perfect ambiance, and plenty of drinks (beer, wine, or cocktails) are non-negotiable. If you focus on the basics—invitations, food, music, and drinks— you’re guaranteed to throw a fantastic event. But there are also some helpful tips and tricks that can ease the stress and help you avoid feeling overwhelmed when your guests arrive.
Ready to host a memorable outdoor gathering? Check out 12 things we absolutely love for outdoor entertaining. We hope these ideas make your summer parties not only easier to plan, but also more fun for you and your guests!
Tips for Outdoor Entertaining
Take the guess work out of buying drinks:
- 1 bottle of wine per 2 guests
- 3 beers per each guest
- 3 servings of cocktail per guest
- 3 servings of non-alcoholic drink per guest
- Check out this drink calculator from Evite.
- Don’t forget the ice!
For the best tablecloth size, ChatGPT has all the guidelines:
- Standard Overhang: A typical overhang is about 6 to 12 inches on each side.
- Table Size:
- For a round table: Measure the diameter and add twice the desired overhang. For example, for a 60-inch table with a 10-inch overhang, you’ll need a 80-inch round tablecloth.
- For a rectangular table: Measure the length and width, then add twice the desired overhang. For a 72-inch long table that’s 36 inches wide, with a 10-inch overhang, you’d need a tablecloth that’s 92 inches long and 56 inches wide.
The timing of your party invitation depends on the type of party you are hosting. We turned to Paperless Post, our favorite online invitation service, for tips:
- Plan on sending invitations 6-8 weeks in advance if the event requires guests to travel, has a formal dress code, requires a head count for a caterer, or takes place during the holiday season.
- Plan on sending invitations 2-4 weeks in advance if your event has a casual or cocktail attire dress code, most guests live locally, you don’t need a formal headcount, and the guest list is small (under 30 people).
During the warm summer months, be sure to plan for the heat if you’re hosting outside.
- Shade: have umbrellas, canopies, covered porches, or tents for guests
- Hydration Stations: set up stations with ice-cold water, infused water, and other refreshing non-alcoholic beverages.
- Cooling Stations: have an assortment of misting fans, chilled towels, or handheld fans.
- Evening Parties: when possible, host in the evening when the temperatures are cooler.
One of our top tips? Get dressed two hours before your guests arrive. This gives you time to handle any last-minute details and ensures you’re ready to greet your friends, rather than scrambling around in your robe!
Christa’s Favorites for Outdoor Entertaining
Tablecloth with a Zipper
If your outdoor table has an umbrella, this one’s for you because this tablecloth has a zipper! This affordable option comes in 8 colors and nine sizes. And it’s wrinkle free, waterproof and easy to clean.
Melamine Dinnerware
Melamine dinnerware is ideal for outdoor entertaining. I might need an update for mine, and I found these dinner plates that are so cute! I can picture the tablescape now with these plates and tons of bright colored flowers! And don’t miss the matching side plates and platter.
Outdoor Serving Tray
I use this tray all summer, and the white goes with everything. It’s great for carrying meals from the kitchen to the patio. It also works well to leave in your serving area filled with an assortment of beverages, or all your plates and utensils. Comes in 5 colors and 7 sizes.
Wireless Speaker
Bring the music wherever the party is with this wireless portable SONOS Move speaker. Makes a great grad gift or Father’s Day gift, too!
Placemats
These are my favorite placemats because they’re so easy to keep clean! I keep a set of these for our outdoor patio table. Available in 19 colors.
Recyclable/Unbreakable Wine Glasses
They’ll never guess that these wine glasses are disposable because the quality is THAT good! Grab a box of 48 to use all summer long on your patio and never worry about broken glass. Especially great if you have a pool–no one wants glass around the pool deck.
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Megan’s Favorites for Outdoor Entertaining
Marshall Speaker
Small but mighty! This speaker will crank the tunes. Pro tip: Make a playlist a week before the event (3-4 hours long) and let it play during the party.
“Fancy” Disposable Cups
No one wants to wash wine glasses the day after a party. Treat yourself to these “fancy” disposable cups. Perfect for wine, cocktails, water or soda.
Extra Tables
Why are is there never enough table space for the food AND the bar? We use these foldable tables for every party we have. Don’t forget the tablecloth!
Outdoor Lights
I am obsessed with these outdoor lights. The rattan shades! They are perfect on an end table, down the middle of the dinner table or anchoring your buffet table. Pro tip: charge your lights the day before and have them on the table ready to turn on when the sun goes down.
Fly Fan
I’ve shared these with you all before but honestly it’s the #1 most important outdoor entertaining accessory, because if there are flies near, in or around your food – no one is having fun. Pro tip: charge your fly fans the day before and have them on the table going as you put the food out.
Drink Tub
How cute is this drinks tub? Perfect on the bar or standing alone. No cuter way to share drinks on the patio.
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