backyard party ideas
What you never see on Pinterest: the tired and possibly broke woman who threw that elaborate soiree for 50. Do it the laid-back way and you won't even break a sweat (until you start dancing, that is).
Want to save yourself some time, set up a s'mores bar complete with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.Since things get sticky, don't forget to have some hand wipes nearby, too.
Why not throw a picnic-style party?What looks like a fancy set-up will only take you minutes toputtogether.Usesome crates as a table and set out a blanket and some pillows and everyone will be nice and cozy while they eat their dinner.
Garden Party Ideas To Transform Your Backyard For Celebrations
One of the easiest ways you can make your backyard party look better than ever is to buy some string lights and wrap them around your trees. It won't take long to set everything up, and they'll be shining all night long.
Take a roll of brown kraft paper and run it the length of your table: Not only does it have a rustic-chic appeal, it's also
And can go straight into the recycling bin when you're done. If you've got time (or want to keep the kids out of your hair with a craft project), "paint on it, " suggests style expert Robert Verdi. "Do something simple like polka dots or go all out and trace the place settings. You can even write out guests' names or initials in lieu of place cards. But don't worry about being perfect — it's supposed to look handmade."
Backyard Bbq Party Ideas
Steal from the garden.Huge floral arrangements can look luxe, but you'll get the same bang for zero bucks by using greens clipped from your backyard. "I hosted a small dinner party and didn't have a lot of time or money to spend, " says Becca Gorski, an event planner and the blogger behind Cake Events & Design. "So I cut a few branches from each of the different trees in our yard and laid them down the middle of my table as a centerpiece."
To create the easiest bunting in the world, simply fold bandanas in half diagonally, connect them by knotting the corners together, and hang. Have fun mixing and matching colors and prints; there are tons of styles available online for about $1 a pop — we found cute ones atorientaltrading.com. (After the party's over, give them to the kids for their cowboy and stagecoach-robber costumes.)
Chop up vibrant veggies and put them in a tight grouping of pretty jars, bowls, or glass vases of varying sizes and heights. They'll look so lovely and bring the healthy.
Unique Backyard Party Ideas
There's nothing kiddie-party about helium balloons if they light up the night. Buy mini LEDs from party-supply stores likepartycity.com— they cost less than a buck each and last about eight hours — and pop one in the bottom of each balloon when you blow it up. Group a few together to maximize the starlit effect.
Add a pop of pattern to your table by spreading a strip of wrapping paper down the center like a runner. "It's super-easy and you won't care if your guests spill on it, " points out New York City-based wedding planner Sarah Pease.
Plant some great decor.Buy a flat of annuals from your hardware store, use fabric or thick ribbon to cover up the plastic edge of the container, and plop it right down on the table. What we love about this trick is that nothing goes to waste: After the party, you can plant them in your garden.
Fun And Easy Backyard Birthday Party Ideas For Kids
Watermelon refresher.Prep time: 5 minutes. In a blender, combine 6 cups peeled seedless watermelon (about 4½ lb, or 1 small melon), ? cup lime juice, ¼ cup mint leaves, and 1 Tbsp sugar; puree until mixture is smooth and only flecks of mint remain. Add ? cup white rum, stir to combine, and cover and refrigerate until cold. Serve with ice. (The watermelon mixture — before you add the rum — can be made up to 6 hours ahead. Refrigerate until serving.)
Summer's sangria.Prep time: 10 minutes, plus at least 2 hours chilling time. Combine 1 (750-ml) bottle sauvignon blanc or another dry white wine, ¼ cup St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and 1 Tbsp sugar; stir to dissolve sugar. Add 1 ripe plum (cut into thin wedges), 1 peach (scrubbed to remove fuzz and cut into thin wedges), ½ lb strawberries (hulled and halved), 6 oz raspberries, 2 (3-inch) strips lemon zest, and 2 Tbsp lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Serve over ice.
Tipsy tee.Prep time: 10 minutes. Combine 3 cups lemonade, 1 cup bourbon, 1 small lemon (thinly sliced), and 1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger (peeled and thinly sliced, about ½ cup). Stir well to blend flavors. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Add to a dispenser and top with 2 (12-oz) bottles chilled ginger ale.
Ideas For Designing A Backyard Party Space
Rock the buffet table.Grab some flat stones from your yard (or get the nice ones at a garden supply store), give them a quick cleaning, and write a menu item on each with a white paint pen. You can also use them as place cards or napkin weights on a breezy day.
Ice-cold bubbly is heavenly on a hot night, and blogger Kelly Lyden of The Party Dress suggests turning it into the most delish grown-up dessert: Chill well and pour over a scoop of your favorite sorbet. (Here we used raspberry and mango.) "Be sure to serve it with a spoon, " she says, "so guests can enjoy every sip and bite."
"Snazz up store-bought lemonade by adding frozen blueberries or strawberries to each glass, " says event planner Dabney Lee. "They're prettier than ice cubes and add great flavor without watering down your drink."
Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas
Flag your straws.Take a small piece of washi tape, double it over a straw, and you've got a colorful accent in less than a minute. "They're adorable and help guests keep track of their drinks, " says blogger Helena Schaeder Söderberg of Craft and Creativity.
Chef Chiarello adheres to one rule when it comes to cooking for a crowd: "Less is more. Stick to one main idea and let that be the big event. Guests would rather have a single great main dish than a mediocre six-course meal." When he's got a backyard crowd at his house, he makes a giant four-pound burger. Have your butcher at the supermarket prepare two ground-beef patties, two pounds each, for you (or shape them yourself in two round cake tins). Place each in a grill basket and cook over high heat until an instant-read thermometer registers 125°F for medium rare — 8 to 9 minutes per side. Remove from grill and place cheese and whatever other fillings you'd like (Chiarello suggests caramelized onions) on top of each; let rest for 15 minutes. Sandwich the patties together and place them on a one-pound, hollowed-out loaf of round artisanal bread. Slice into wedges as you would a cake using a serrated knife, and serve with all the usual burger condiments. Find the complete recipe here.
Serve gourmet chips without hiring a fancy caterer: Just warm plain packaged Kettle Chips or Cape Cod Potato Chips in the oven to release their oils, then toss with your favorite seasonings. Food Network star Michael Chiarello likes smoked paprika and chipotle powder.
Best Outdoor Party Decorations Ideas
Brown-bag it.Serve snacks in paper lunch bags. Snip off the tops and (if you want to get fancy) wrap them with colorful butcher's twine, then fill with chips or fresh fruit. "They're easy to grab and walk around with, " says New York City-based event planner and blogger Amy Atlas. "Plus, it's one less dish you have to do."
It doesn't cost much to spruce up your table. By picking up some cute paper plates and napkins, everything will instantly become more festive. (Plates: $2.90 for 8;partycity.com. Napkins: $2.49 for 16;orientaltrading.com.)
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