Now summer is finally here, are you thinking about ideas for a BBQ party in your backyard? Turning your outside space into an enchanting and inviting gathering zone can begin with something simple like hanging festoon lights to create a cozy and chilled atmosphere. Or using colorful paper lanterns and bunting to give your fences or trees a different feel. It doesn’t have to be complicated but if you’re stuck here are some tips…

The first step in planning an unforgettable party is choosing a theme. A well-chosen idea creates the mood for the entire party and makes planning much more straightforward. It might be that you want to stick with stereotypical ‘summer barbecue’ party feel. Or perhaps you want to add a pool party element or a festival vibe for a bit of fun. 

Think about setting up a comfortable sitting area using cushions, outdoor rugs, and blankets for peace and comfort for guests. Use potted plants, flower arrangements, and candles to give your event an feeling of being welcome and unhurried.

The ideal outdoor gathering has cute decorations and fun activities like outdoor games. It also has plenty of food, drinks, and practical options to keep your guests comfortable and relaxed. Set the stage with an accessible photo booth or a backdrop to capture unforgettable or hilarious moments. If you have space put out lawn games, giant Jenga or board games like chess for a little friendly competition and laughter during the evening. 

For an enjoyable backyard party within budget, careful planning is crucial. Start by establishing what you want to spend, then set aside funds for different aspects of the celebration, like decorations, food, drinks, entertainment, and any other extra-special events you plan.

With a few innovative ideas, your backyard party will be a fantastic memorable event for all. Here's what we recommend... 

Leverage Nature

A great way to keep costs down is to use the features of your garden or backyard and the nature around it. Maximize the outdoor area by including natural elements in the decorations. Enhance your garden with some real or faux plants and greenery to create a lively but natural decor. Be aware of the season, choose plants which are flowering now and stick to one colour. Just white and green look great.

Make your backyard the perfect location for the event by cleaning the area, cutting the grass, and clearing any debris.

Illuminate your outdoor space with outdoor lighting

Lighting is crucial to any celebration. When adorning your outdoor space, lighting can be a game changer. String lights can be strung across your backyard or patio to create a warm and welcoming glow. You can also use candles or lanterns to add a romantic touch to the mood. Solar-powered LED lights and flameless candles are eco-friendly and provide a soft, warm glow. These lights create a magical look for your backyard and are beautiful, but they also ensure the party continues throughout the night.

Hire a Hog Dog Cart

If you don't want to worry about catering; hire a professional who offers hot dogs, burgers and brings it all to your doorstep! Not only will these keep your guests extremely happy with good food, it will remove one thing from your to do list and you won't regret getting that extra help.

Often hot dog carts will bring all the supplies you need and additional food such as loaded fries, bacon and mozzarella sticks and much more. This creates a wonderful atmosphere for a backyard barbecue and the most important thing is your friends and family will have a great time. 

You won't have to think about whether to use a gas grill or a charcoal grill, if you bought enough burger buns or potato salad! Just enjoy the delicious food and wish for a hot summer day!

Grab a Seat

To ensure maximum comfort for your guests at an outdoor party, create a comfortable gathering area. Do this by setting up different groups of furniture outside to encourage chats and relaxed conversation. You don't need to buy in more comfy couches, just use what you have or can borrow from patio furniture like normal chairs, the odd picnic table, hammocks and cushions. 

Put blankets or throws over any items you think may get a bit dirty or don't match your theme. Make use of items you have around the home to bring some quirkiness to the outdoor decor. Think about colours, patterns, and props to help bring the party together and make your celebration more memorable.

Create a DIY Bar Area

A well-stocked, visually appealing bar can be the centre of your backyard gathering. Make a bar from scratch that offers a range of summer drinks, including refreshing soft drinks and cocktails. Set the drinks up with pretty herb garnishes and provide glasses or coloured paper cups. Again one colour will look better than many, keep things simple. This area is not just a place to serve drinks but also allows for socialising between guests so it’s quite important.

To make your life a bit easier stick to a small range of drinks. Maybe Pimms, Prosecco and beer. Or jugs of Pina Colada and Cosmopolitans for an 80s twist! You don't need to supply every type of drink ever created. Offer non-alcoholic beverages too, as many people don't drink alcohol and want healthier options. 

Bring a dish

The easiest way to let people lend a hand at bbq parties is to get friends to bring a side dish, summer desserts or homemade lemonade. These are the perfect way for people to help out and usually everyone wants to bring something. These specific items are a good idea as it takes a task from you and people like to share what they bring. It’s a good way to get to know new people and gives everyone something to talk about.

Embrace the Fire pit 

There's nothing like an open fire to bring some atmosphere to the garden. This really helps people gather and chat more, get to know each other and generally feel good. These are a big hit and a great opportunity to start grilling S’mores later into the night. 

We hope you found plenty of summer bbq party ideas for the coming sunny days! Enjoy the summer season and make the most of your al fresco barbecue parties! 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.