12 Chic Outdoor Entertaining Tips for your Next Gathering

Today I am joining some entertaining savvy bloggers for their outdoor party tips. I love entertaining in my outdoor spaces once the temperatures rise . Let’s chat about my 12 Chic Outdoor Entertaining Tips for your Next Gathering

KEEP THE MENU SIMPLE

I love entertaining in the summer but it can get hot here. I like to keep the menu simple and avoid the stove and oven if at all possible. We usually opt for simple grilled meats or seafood and vegetables that can be cooked on the grill, and cold salads. You can find all of my favorite grilled recipes here Grill Recipes When it is too Hot to Cook.

USE CASUAL DISHES AND GLASSWARE

If I am having a small gathering (six or less) we at at the round table in our courtyard. I normally set it with my fete home melamine tableware. You can read more about that in my post Seven Stylish Tips for Hosting the Perfect Outdoor Party with Fete Home.

CREATE AMBIANCE WITH CANDLES & LIGHTS

We are lucky to have several sources of lighting in our courtyard. We added a light that we fabricated out of a root ball that we purchased from Atrium Mercantile over the outdoor dining area. I enjoy adding votives to the outdoor dining table as well.

The outdoor fireplace has gas lanterns on either side of it. We love the ambiance the lanterns create.

The former owner’s installed these great string lights that span the courtyard. We really appreciate the extra light. The large vintage planters on either side of the fireplace are from Atelier de Campagne, I sure miss having them close. Steve recently drilled holes in the bottom and tops of our side tables so that our new umbrellas fit inside and I love the way they look!

BRING THE BAR OUTDOORS

You can easily set up a bar outdoors whether your gathering is large or small. If we have a big group we set it up in our courtyard entry (sorry no pics), but for a smaller group, we set it up on a vintage Mexican table we have under the eaves.

PROVIDE PLENTY OF SHADE

We are fortunate to have a large overhang on both the courtyard and patio sides of our home for shade. This year we were fortunate to partner with Midtown Umbrellas (you can read the post Elevate your Outdoor Space with these Chic Patio Umbrellas here). Their striped umbrella is made to withstand the wind, are simple to operate and look beautiful. I can’t tell you what a game changer these umbrellas are.

MAKE A SIGNATURE COCKTAIL

Our friend Geoff always creates a signature cocktail when they entertain. He has it ready in the fridge when guests arrive. It is much simpler than preparing individual drinks for each guest. If you are looking for some great cocktail ideas check out my friend Juliette of Make Mine a Spritzer here. She is the cocktail queen. You also may enjoy our post Easy to Make Summer Cocktails and Mocktails.

PROVIDE COMFY SEATING

We decorated our outdoor seating area before we did anything else when we moved to this house. We purchased some new patio furniture to compliment the furnishings we already owned. Our home has beautiful outdoor spaces and we wanted to create outdoor rooms with maximum relaxation and comfort.

Since this area is covered by an eave, we were able to use one of our antique benches with some pretty throw pillows for extra seating

This outdoor sofa from Pottery Barn is super comfy and a nice addition to our outdoor living room

ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION

Set up your appetizers in one location and drinks in another location to encourage mingling. If we are having a large party I set up the bar in the large courtyard entry. The console is from Habitat Home and Garden.

I will place the appetizers on the coffee table in front of the fireplace. This charcuterie tray was made entirely from purchased ingredients from Trader Joes. You can read about that in my post Let’s Make a Harvest Charcuterie Board from Trader Joe’s Ingredients.

KEEP THE DECOR SIMPLE

Use simple blooms or leaves to decorate your platters. Use a simple bouquet for the centerpiece.

I have this succulent centerpiece on our courtyard table and I normally don’t move it. It looks great with almost everything.

KEEP BUGS AT BAY

We don’t normally have many bugs, but earlier this year we had our share of mosquitos. My daughter in law purchased these citronella torches, so we purchased the same ones from Target and they work great. Amazon has some cute black ones and other choices here.

PROVIDE THROWS FOR COOL EVENINGS

MIX UP YOUR DECOR FOR A COLLECTED LOOK

Don’t be afraid to use some vintage pieces like this sink from France. We sometimes fill it with ice and use fill it with wine.

This year we added shutters to the patio area to create some interest up against the house. Since the area is covered we were able to add a couple old mexican pieces that we did not have room for (from our former home). I like the mix of the old and the new. The pillows are from Pottery Barn but no longer available (similar linked at the bottom of the post)

SHOP THE POST

You might find this article from Real Simple 30 Outdoor Entertaining Ideas & Tips helpful.

You might also enjoy my post that inspired the courtyard design here.

Table of Contents for more Outdoor Entertaining Ideas:

Simple Poolside Dinner

Simple Summer Entertaining Tips

10 No Fail Appetizers Guaranteed to Impress your Guests

Summer Entertaining-Simple Poolside Dinner

Five Simple Tips for Hosting a Farm to Table Dinner

Thanks for reading 12 Chic Outdoor Entertaining Tips for your Next Gathering. Now let’s pop over and see what our friends are sharing. Click on the links below the graphic. I will share my pool outdoor living area next week.

CLASSIC CASUAL HOME

MOST LOVELY THINGS

LIFE OF BLISS