This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TIKI® Brand. All opinions are 100% mine.
This is my absolute favorite time of year. The warmer temperatures outside have everyone out of their winter slumber and ready to get social. Today, we are going to be sharing our 7 Secrets to Backyard Entertaining to get you prepared!
Having friends and family over doesn’t have to be difficult. With the summer months ahead, you can entertain in style right in your own backyard and we are going to show you how in a few simple steps.
Step One. Decide on an easy menu. If you are a gourmet cook and love to shower your friends with an amazing meal, that is wonderful! For the rest of us, I suggest keeping things simple so you won’t be stuck in the kitchen while your party guests are in the backyard. Grilling is such a delicious option this time of year. Simple hamburgers and hot dogs usually are a crowd pleaser and you can prepare everything ahead of time, but the grilling of the meat. I also love setting out a pimiento cheese dip for my guests to snack on while the food cooks. It is a great make-ahead appetizer and tastes delicious on hamburgers, too!
Step two. Create a beautiful tablescape. You don’t have to decorate every square inch of your backyard, for it to be stunning for a party. Create a focal point around your table. Use a simple burlap runner that will match everything and add fresh flowers from the supermarket. Having a set of white plates to use will come in handy for any occassion and you can use a fun patterned napkin. I love to include a little lighting on my table like these tabletop TIKI® Brand’s OFF!TM/Bighter® Torches. It also helps to keep those pesky mosquitoes away from the table!
Step Three. Add a little torchlight to your table, hang outdoor string lights in a few trees, or stake a few torches to the perimeter of your backyard. A little added lighting will keep your party going long after the sun goes down.
Step Four. Have comfortable seating for your party guests. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but a few outdoor chairs with a festive pillow will look amazing and your guests can have a place to rest and chat. Be sure to mosquito repellency control around your seating. I suggest using TIKI Brand OFF!®/BiteFighter® Citronella & Cedar Torch Fuel in your torches. I even use it in my TIKI Fire Sculpture. It really does its job and your party guests won’t include pesky mosquitoes. Just fill the torches ahead of time and you will be good to go for your party.
Step Five. Prepare your drinks ahead of time. Purchase all of your canned and bottled drinks the day before the party and keep them refrigerated until party time. Fill up your coolers generously with ice, so you won’t have to worry about them during the party. I also love to serve naturally flavored water with a variety of fruits. Not only will it keep your party guests hydrated, it tastes delicious and looks beautiful. You can’t beat that winning combination.
Step Six. Include some classic party games to keep your guests entertained. We love to play a good game of cornhole with our friends and it is perfect for the backyard. You can even set up a volleyball or badminton net, depending on how large your yard is. I like to keep bubbles and hula hoops on hand for the little guests that come to our party, too.
Step Seven. Include music in your party. I think that music really brings people together and is such an important part of planning any get-together. Decide upon a long playlist ahead of time and set it on repeat. You won’t have to change out your songs at all and you can include some fun summertime favorites!
I hope you have enjoyed these tips and will be able to use them to throw an amazing backyard party this year. Have a wonderful time!
Find all the TIKI Brand products mentioned in this post here.
OFF!® is a registered trademark of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. used under license.
Trish Flake
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Those are all great tips! I love the ambiance that the Tiki lights/candles add. They look so summery!
Thanks Randi! They really do create such a great environment!
Take care,
Trish
Love all of your tips and your beautiful outdoor decorations!!
Thanks Vanessa! We sure do love getting outdoors and spending time together!
Take care,
Trish
SUCH great ideas!! I love outdoor entertaining, but the mosquitos are ridiculous around here. I’ll definitely be trying these tiki suggestions!!
They are so good and keeping the mosquitoes at bay! Thanks for stopping by!
Take care,
Trish
Love all of the fun colors! So happy it’s almost summer !!
It is time! We had a small cold snap over the weekend and are so glad the temps are climbing back up! Have a great day!
Take care,
Trish
Great tips! Now I’m ready to get my party on!
Thanks Megan! It is party time!!!!
Take care,
Trish
These are great tips. Easy recipes are an absolute must. I love entertaining outdoor as soon as the weather turns nice. So much fun to utlize the outdoor spaces in our home.
You are so right about easy recipes. I hate getting stuck in the kitchen when I can be outdoors living it up! Thanks for popping in Shannah!
Take care,
Trish
Where can I find those cool light bulb string lights and fruit water decanters? Thanks!
Hi Maura!
I purchased the water bottle from Carolina Pottery, but I have recently seen them at Wal-Mart. The string lights came from Target! Have a nice weekend!
Take care,
Trish
Fantastic tips! I want to come to your next party!
Come on over! Hope you guys are well!
Take care,
Trish
What is the name of the playlist that you were able to post to your blog. couldn’t catch the name at the beginning.
Thanks!
It looks so lovely…can I come?
What a fun post! I love all these wonderful outside entertaining tips, and especially the easy menu planning! I am all for simple! Great job, ladies <3
I love your tips and I am so ready to get this party started!!
Trish & Bonnie…you two came up with such a good list that anyone can follow and have a smashing success of a party! Shared on FB! Happy Memorial Day weekend!!
Love the tips – I hope the weather holds out so I can get out this holiday weekend! Take care, Laura
Great post Trish! I LOVE the roses in the wine glasses, so simple but so beautiful!
Anna 🙂
I love all these ideas! I save different varieties of glass soda bottles for fresh flower vases- they add such a simple but pretty element to the table. I’ll have to be sure and make flavored water next time- looks delicious!
We are headed out this weekend to grab some TIKI torches to put around our new pergola!! Thank you so much for sharing your tips!!
Ah, I love a great outdoor party! Great tips, too. I’d love for you to share at our link party going on now, if you’ve not yet! http://www.delineateyourdwelling.com/2014/05/link-it-or-lump-it-party-number-39.html
You give us some great ideas! I’ve gotten started, but will use some of your ideas to finish it.
Thanks for sharing!
Great idea, Trish! I love that table top tiki!
Thanks for sharing Trish! I love the tikki torches. Everything looks great 🙂