Are you looking for easy ways to throw a no-stress summer party? Summer is almost here and I’ma itchin to throw a party! Not the fussy kind like Easter and Christmas where you lay out all the good china and cloth napkins. I mean the kind of party like the 4th of July with paper plates, watermelon and homemade potato salad! I love playing a low-key game of corn hole and just enjoying the company of friends.
Some of my best parties have been no-fuss, backyard summer parties. Here are my top entertaining ideas for this type of party. First off, nothing too fancy. Nothing is cuter than watermelon served on this sweet 3 tier serving tray.
Paper plates and napkins and plastic silverware are a must. Plastic table coverings are also a requirement for a no-fuss party. This way you can leave all the tableware on the table, wrap it all up in the tablecloth and throw it in the trash! Presto! Clean-up is done!!!
Drinks is next on the list. We usually ask guests to bring what they want to drink. This way you won’t have a ton of leftover liquids in the fridge that nobody in your family drinks. You could have lemonade, sweet tea or a flavor-infused water on hand for those guests who would like something a little different from the norm. We do not normally serve alcohol at our parties. We like our fun to happen organically and not “enhanced” so to speak. It is perfectly fine for guests to bring their own and we do like to have a cocktail every now and then, but nothing spoils a party faster when you have to tell guests that they have had enough or feel bad if someone decides to drink and drive. If you do decide to serve alcohol, be prepared to offer lodging for the night if someone “over-does it.”
Next is lighting. Do you want your guests to stay past dark? If not, skip the lighting and they will leave. But, if you like that after dark, twinkle-light kind of conversation, then lighting is a must! I use white Christmas lights around the screening of our pool cage. It’s just the right amount of lighting and it feels so cozy. No screening? How about stringing lights in the trees or around the back of your home? This string of paper lanterns could be just the thing to add ambience to your party!
I also like candles all around if electricity isn’t an option. I use battery operated candles mostly. The newer ones flicker just like the real deal, but no one can get burned if they get too close. Mine are activated by remote control and actually have a timer setting if you forget to turn them off. Bonus!
After dinner is done and everyone is feeling relaxed, bring out a dessert Charcuterie board of hand-held munchies. This keeps guests around a little longer. And who doesn’t like fruit, chocolate and oven-roasted marshmallows while watching fireflies?!
— Danielle
