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It’s time…for a summer patio party, that is!
POV: It’s a gorgeous sunny evening, you’ve invited your friends over for a night full of delicious food, drinks, and games, you’re table is beautifully set and you can’t imagine a better evening to soak up the long days of summer.
Summer is just around the corner, and we’re already planning dreamy nights like this with our friends. Whether you live in an apartment in a city, a townhome, or a house with a backyard of your own, patio parties are the perfect way to hang out as the weather gets warmer.
While patio parties are super casual occasions, they still require some planning — everything from a menu full of fresh foods, cold drinks, and the perfect tableware for outdoor settings. Today we’re breaking down all the essentials you need to make to host the perfect patio party every single time.
Summer Patio Party Guide
Send the Invites
Patio parties are super casual, so invites aren’t necessary. Still, if you’re hosting a special occasion like a birthday party, or a 4th of July event or need any other celebratory occasion this summer, an invite would make the event more official.
Summer Fling Invitation
Summer Cocktail Party Invitation
Dinner Party Invitation
4th of July Invitation
Plan the Menu
Casual dinner parties are always an excuse to make casual food as well—everything from finger foods, simple salads, and crisp, cold cocktails for a refreshing treat.
There are a couple of ways you could go about this. (1) You could prep and cook all the food and drinks yourself, or (2) you could offer for your friends to pitch in and bring an item to contribute to the menu. Whichever hosting style you want to go for is totally up to you, but having easy recipes to make is a must. Here are some of our favorites:
Peanut Chicken Chopped Salad
Crispy Crab Cakes
Pretzel Crusted Hot Honey Chicken
Peach Tortellini & Arugula Salad
Key Lime Cheesecake Bars
New York Style Banana Pudding
Create a Beautiful Table Setting
When it comes to table settings, you can get as elaborate or simple as you like. However patio parties are often times more casual events — we’re thinking durable tableware like melamine plates, plastic coupe glasses, and paper napkins.
For a simple table centerpiece, opt for some fresh flowers and small votive candles. These decorative items will create a cozy glow as the summer light begins to fade on the horizon.
Striped Melamine Dinner Plate
Tangier Oasis Melamine Side Plate
Plaid Table Cloth
Acrylic Wine Goblets, Set of 4
Woven Seagrass Charger
Blue Wave Napkin
Real Touch Tulip Bundle
Rattan Pillar Candle Lantern
Play Games
Playing games with your friends is always a fun way to make memories and break the ice with any people at the party who haven’t met everyone before. Here are some of our favorite games to play on the patio with a bunch of people:
Yahtzee
Monikers
Send Your Friends Home with a Treat
After a good night of food, drinks, games, and laughter, we always love sending our friends home with any leftovers of a homemade sweet treat. It’s so simple, but it’s our favorite way to tell them “thank you” for coming.
The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies
Personalized Treat Bags
Other Cute Summer Patio Essentials:
Making our space comfortable for our friends to gather is super important. As we spend more time outdoors on our patio, we like to refresh some items and make them feel like an extension of our home — tidy and stylish. Everything from an outdoor rug to an outdoor dining table and some decorative pillows.
Outdoor Dining Table
Wicker Outdoor Dining Chair
Mix Print Floral Outdoor Pillow
Floral Outdoor Rug
Slatted Porcelain Hurricanes
