Posted by Fire Pit Art on Jul 6th 2021

How to Plan A Backyard Party

Hosting a party in your backyard can be a lot of fun, but there is a lot of planning that goes into it. This blog post will discuss some ideas, tips, and tricks to plan the best backyard party.

Pick A Theme

The first thing to do when planning a backyard party is to pick a theme. This helps you choose every other aspect of the party, such as food, drinks, and decorations. There are many theme ideas to choose from, from very simple to much more detailed ones. If you want it to be as easy as a Backyard BBQ, you can do that. If you want to involve more theming, consider a Tropical Luau. You can also choose to do a Garden/Tea Party or a Pool Party. Or, maybe you want it to be a holiday party. There is no limit when it comes to what experience you want guests to have.

Invite Guests

After your theme is set, you must choose who to invite. It is standard in today's times to invite guests through an event on social media. If you want the party to be more formal, you may mail out invitations. If you want it less formal, texting or calling friends and family is also an option. If you're having a themed party, this is the time to let guests know about any dress code or attire requests you may have.

Plan Your Food and Drinks

There are many options for a party when it comes to food and drinks. You can grill food, cook food on a fire pit, cook food inside and bring it outside, order catering, or have it be potluck-style. The foods you choose may also depend on your party theme. If you choose to have your party be a potluck, we recommend asking each guest to bring a particular part of the meal. This guarantees variety and assures you have plenty of sides and desserts to share. You don't have to ask for a specific dish, but sometimes it can be helpful if you have a specific theme. If you have invited guests via a social media event, consider creating a post where guests can comment on what they will bring. This helps prevent too many repeat dishes.

When it comes to picking your drinks, there are many possibilities. If it is an adult party, you may want to offer alcoholic beverages. Make sure there are still plenty of non-alcoholic options as well. If the party is catered more toward kids, you can have punch, sodas, tea, lemonade, and more. Parties for families may include a combination of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. You can always ask your guests to bring drinks either for themselves or to share.

Plan and Buy Decorations

Decorations bring your party theme to life. They don't have to be too extravagant by any means, but they are something to consider. Decorations create an environment for guests, so it is up to you to decide what that environment may be.

Some decorations you may want to consider include:

Streamers
Lanterns
Candles
Torches
Place settings
String lights
Table centerpieces
Tablecloths
Balloons
A photo wall/backdrop

While none of these are required to have a fun party, decorations are still something to consider.

Plan Your Seating and Table Arrangement

If you have invited many guests to attend your party, make sure you have a seat for everyone. You may need to rent or purchase tables and chairs if you don't have enough already. Think about which part of the yard you want guests to sit and eat in. You may want guests to gather around your beautiful fire pit or maybe around a table on your patio. Consider the party theme and the environment when planning your seating and tables.

Buy Plates, Cups, Napkins, and Utensils

It is easy to forget things like plates, cups, napkins, and utensils. These are a necessary part of your party, so make sure you purchase them. We also suggest purchasing or placing a garbage can near wherever guests will be. This makes it easy for guests to discard their trash after consuming food and drinks.

Plan Games and Activities

Depending on the type of party, games, and activities aren't always necessary. But, they can be a lot of fun for the right party. They are often a good icebreaker when having a party with guests who may not know each other.

Some great games for outdoor parties include:

Cornhole
Horseshoes
Ring toss
Giant Jenga
Hide and seek
Flip cup
Limbo
Tug-of-war
A treasure/scavenger hunt
Backyard mini golf
Various water games
Various races

Have Fun!

The most important thing to do during your party is to have fun! Once you have everything set up and ready, your guests will arrive, and the party begins. Now is the time to enjoy all the hard work you put into planning your backyard party.

We hope these ideas helped you in planning your party. Keep up with Fire Pit Art on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. Let us know all about your backyard parties!