Outdoor Summer Birthdays, Wedding Showers, and Graduation Parties…oh my!

Summer is the perfect time to host an outdoor party at your home. It doesn’t matter the occasion, the planning & organization should be fun for the host or hostess as well as the guests. Follow our tips to plan the perfect summer event.

TIP 1: No ho-hum parties for you! Pick a theme and stick with it throughout, from the invitations and decorations to the food. Last weekend I attended a festive Pretty in Pink shower. The hostess carried the theme throughout this garden party with pink cupcake-themed invitations, massive bunches of balloons, vases of pink flowers on the tables, and the desserts: pink cupcakes, lollipops and cookies with pink sprinkles.

To make your summer party special, and one that the guest of honor will remember for years to come, try an English High Tea, perfect for a bridal shower, or A Day at the Shore complete with sand, blankets spread on the lawn, beach balls and refreshing summer beverages like lime margaritas for your spouse’s birthday bash.

TIP 2: We who live in the northeast love getting outdoors in the summer but these parties present weather and other challenges. What if it rains the day of the party, the sun is blazing hot or it gets buggy as the sun sets? Our mantra – be prepared! Have extra fans, a sprinkler for the kids, lots of shade or protection from the rain, a few bug zappers, citronella candles and bottles of insect repellent on hand.

Check with neighbors & friends to borrow pop-up tents or, in a pinch, hang a lean-to tarp from a few trees.  Of course, you could always move the party indoors if you must but try a rain date instead. For informal, outdoor summer parties, there is no reason not to.

TIP 3: Set up games for every age group. If your yard allows try horseshoes, bocce or a volleyball/badminton net. In smaller spaces, ladder golf or a bean bag toss will work. Of course a wadding pool or a sandbox will keep the kids happy for hours.

TIP 4: Don’t forget the seating!! Nothing spoils an outdoor party like having your guests stand for hours. If it’s A Day at the Shore themed open house with buffet food served all day, provide tables and chairs for about 1/3 of the invited guests and/or try a BYOBC – bring your own beach chair.

For a more formal party with a set time frame, such as the English High Tea, provide enough chairs & tables for all invited guests.

TIP 5: Did we forget the food? Of course not! Let Gersky’s help you enjoy a stress free summer party.  We’re here to help with the planning, organization and, most importantly, the food! From a backyard barbecue for 100 to celebrate your son or daughter’s high school or college graduation to hot and cold sandwiches & all the fixins’ for your husband’s 50th birthday with a few friends, Gersky’s is your party headquarters. Give us a call today!