Credit: Cotier Brand
Summer is HERE! The delicious smoky smell of BBQ rising from the grill, rooftop happy hours, and the familiar smell of freshly cut grass means summer is in full swing!
If you’re anything like us, you’ll jump at the opportunity to throw a party to celebrate both the time off and warm weather (finally!).
Below, you’ll find 5 tips for throwing a fun and stress-free party because raising your cortisol levels is totally uncalled for, especially in the summer!
1. Pick a Theme
Credit: Nancy Mantei Events Az
Giving your summer party a theme is the best because it automatically gives you a color palette, game ideas, decor inspiration and even fitting food ideas. If you’re stumped on a theme, here are some that are popular:
- Hawaiian Luau
- Garden Tea Party
- Backyard BBQ
- 4th of July Carnival
- Pool or Beach Party
- Crawfish or Lobster Boil
Do you like glitter and metallic details? Go for a Glam 4th of July. Are you more rustic or are you into modern designs? Pick your style and bring it to life at the party.
2. Think Conversation Starters
Credit: Pinterest
People love talking and engaging. So, give the people what they want! Search on Amazon for backyard games, dinner party games and conversation starters and you’ll see endless options.
A key tip here: choose games that cater to the crowd that’s coming over. Got a couple coming over? Play a couple’s trivia game.
Here’s a short list of some of my favorite games grouped by audience:
- Adult Games
- Cards Against Humanity
- Pick Your Poison
- The Voting Game
- Family Friendly Games
- Family Feud
- Heads Up
- 5 Second Rule
- Couples; Games
- Mentally Stimulate Me
- Code Names
3. Make a Food Bar Mandatory
Credit: Be Inspired PR
Party Planning HACK! Are you ready for this one? Guests LOVE FOOD BARS...⠀
And we're not just talking about alcoholic ones (although, those are nice too!). We're talking about pretzel bars, donut bars, taco bars, ice cream bars, candy bars, hotdog bars, nacho bars, and many more!
Food bars are so easy and fun to assemble because of the singular ingredient nature of them—try it out!
4. Incorporate a Drink Bar
Credit: Cotier Brand
You know we couldn’t mention a food bar without mentioning a drink bar, right? Our personal favorite for summer is a Mimosa Bar. So much so that we recently launched our very own Mimosa Bar Decoration Kit that takes any party to the next level—check it out on Amazon!
The different juices and toppings you can pair to make a delicious mimosa are endless. This is one of the main reasons why our Mimosa Bar Kit comes with 23 pre-printed juice tags that cover the most popular juice combinations.
5. Get into the Details
Now you have to be very careful here because too much detail can create overwhelm but having just the right amount will have your guests swooning over your party!
Keep the details stress-free by choosing only ONE major area to channel your inner Martha Stewart. Ask yourself, “What details matter the most for this specific party with this specific group of people?” Hosting a food-themed party like a Crab Fest? Go all in on your menu and server ware. Hosting a pool party? Up the ante with pool games but keep food simple with hotdogs, burgers, salad, and premade sides.
What are some other ways you prep to host a summer party? Let us know in the comments!
Written by Amber S.
Amber is the Owner and Co-Founder of Cotier Brand which is a party supply company that aims to take the anxiety out of hosting social gatherings. She’s passionate about creating products that inspire a vibe, generate buzz, create laughter and facilitate the connection we all long for that truly makes an event a hit.