Summertime is the perfect opportunity to gather your friends and family together for a festive summer party. With 16 hours of sunshine to enjoy during the summer, it’s the perfect season to entertain outdoors with a party!
If you’re thinking of hosting a summer bash, then check out our tips on how to make sure your party is one to remember. Not the summer? No problem! Our tips work for any party, any season! Bring the fun indoors – who doesn’t like to party in a Hawaiian shirt when there is a blizzard going on outside!
So let’s get to those tips to help ensure that your summer party is a success.
How to Plan an Unforgettable Summer Party
1. Choose the right location
2. Summer Party Ideas: Choose a Theme
3. Set the Date and Time
4. Send Out Invitations
5. Prepare the Food and Drinks
6. Decorate the Party Space
7. Set the Mood with Music and Lighting
8. Preparing Games and Activities
9. Set Up a Self-Serve Beverage Station
10. Have fun and enjoy the party
11. Plan for contingencies
12. Bonus Tip
1. Choose the right location
One of the most important aspects of throwing a great summer party is choosing the right location. If you have a large backyard, then that’s the perfect spot to set up a picnic or barbecue.
If you live in an apartment, then your balcony or roof deck may be the next best thing. Maybe take it to a local park where there are BBQ grills you can use.
Just make sure that wherever you choose to host your party, there is enough space for your guests to move around comfortably.
2. Summer Party Ideas: Choose a Theme
Whether you’re hosting a BBQ party in your own backyard or a poolside soiree, adding a few festive touches can make all the difference. Warm weather, clear skies, and long days are the perfect ingredients for a summer party. But what’s a party without a theme?
To help get you started, we’ve rounded up a few summer party ideas and fun summer party themes:
Is there anything more summery than a picnic theme? Spread out blankets in your backyard and enjoy some good old fashioned outdoor eating. Have a pot luck and have everyone bring a dish.
For something a little different, why not try a beach party theme? Set up your towels and umbrellas in the grass and enjoy the sound of waves crashing in the background. You can set up a volleyball net, have a picnic lunch, and build sandcastles.
A pool party theme is always a fun summer theme. You can have games, music, and food all in one place. Just make sure to have plenty of sunscreen on hand! (You don’t even need a pool to do a pool party theme!)
A BBQ party is perfect theme for celebrating summer. You can have a barbecue, play patriotic music, and set off fireworks. Ice cream, Corn on the cob and burgers on the grill.
A luau is a great summer party theme. You can wear Hawaiian shirts, serve tropical drinks, and eat food like Hawaiian pizza and chicken katsu. Don’t forget to put some flowers in your hair!
3. Set the Date and Time
Now that you’ve chosen the perfect location and theme, it’s time to set the date and time for your party. The best summer parties are usually held on weekends so that everyone can enjoy the festivities. However, if you’re planning a smaller gathering, then a weekday evening may work just as well.
4. Send Out Invitations
Now that you have all the details sorted, it’s time to invite your guests! Send out personal invitations for your party! Science shows that most people are more social during the summertime than in the winter. Don’t be shy!
To prepare your invites, include the date, time, location, and any other important details about your party. If you have a theme, make sure to mention it on the invite so your guests can dress accordingly.
And don’t forget to include your RSVP info so you can get an accurate head count of who’s coming and plan ahead.
5. Prepare the Food and Drinks
No summer party is complete without refreshing food and drinks especially on a hot summer day! If you have an adult crowd, consider this delicious Recipe for Lemon Drop Shot! Pair it with some light finger foods like Cucumber Bites with Dill Yogurt Dip and your guests will be happy.
For the kids, try making easy and healthy Watermelon Popsicles. As for drinks, keep them cool in a DIY Cooler Bar or beverage dispenser.
6. Decorate the Party Space according to your Summer Party Theme
Now it’s time to get creative and start decorating for your party! You can go all out with a theme or keep it simple with some elegant summer party decor.
If you’re doing a picnic theme, set up a space in your backyard with a blanket and some pillows. Place the food in baskets and put the drinks in a cooler. Don’t forget to pack some paper plates, napkins, and utensils!
If you are doing a beach themed party, set up your space with some beach towels, blankets and umbrellas. You can also use some seashells and starfish to decorate for a summer twist.
If you’re throwing an actual pool party, set up some lounge chairs and umbrellas around the pool. You can also hang some beach balls or pool toys from the ceiling if bringing the fun indoors.
For a BBQ party, set up your grill and have all the necessary cooking utensils ready. Have ice creams and fresh fruit and veggies on hand.
And for a luau, hang some Hawaiian decorations like palm trees and tiki torches and grass skirts. You can also set up a table with Hawaiian food and drinks.
7. Set the Mood with Music and Lighting
What’s the best summer party without music and dancing? Choose a playlist that will get your guests moving and grooving all night long. And don’t forget the lighting! String some fairy lights around the party area to create a festive and fun atmosphere.
During the summertime, some of the best lighting options for summer party ideas include tiki torches, solar lights, and even Mason jar lanterns.
All of these great ideas are creative, inspire summertime memories, and can help complete your fun atmosphere!
8. Preparing Games and Activities
No party is complete without entertainment, so be sure to set up a television for the little ones and have some games on hand. This will keep your guests entertained and will help make your party one to remember.
For the adults, try setting up a classic board game or lawn game like cornhole. And for the kids, try setting up a coloring station or making balloon animals.
Whatever games you choose, be sure to have enough for everyone to play. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on entertainment. A little DIY can go a long way!
9. Set Up a Self-Serve Beverage Station
Keep your guests hydrated by setting up a self-serve beverage station. This can be as simple as putting out some pitchers of iced water with fruit or setting up a DIY lemonade stand. You can also set out some sodas, iced tea, and other non-alcoholic beverages such as ginger beer. And don’t forget the cups!
10. Have Fun and Enjoy the Party!
Now that you’ve got everything set up, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the party. Be sure to mingle with your guests and have a good time. After all, that’s what enjoying the people you invited is all about!
11. Plan for contingencies
Summer weather can be unpredictable, so it’s always best to be prepared. If you’re hosting an outdoor party, make sure to have some shade available for your guests. Set up tents or canopies in your backyard or on your balcony to create a comfortable space for your guests to enjoy.
And don’t forget the sunblock! Have some SPF ready to go for your guests, since the sun’s rays can be dangerous during the day.
12. Bonus Tip: Send Your Guests Home with a Favor
As your guests are leaving, be sure to send them home with a little summertime party favor. This can be anything from a sunscreen tote bag to a homemade Mason jar candle. Whatever you choose, your guests will appreciate the gesture and will be sure to think of you every time they use it!
Summertime is the perfect time to throw a party but even if its not warm out, you can bring the party indoors. There are plenty of ways to make your party memorable no matter what the season! My wife and I have thrown a Hawaiian and Mexican themed parties in the snowy months!
Thanks for reading and I hope these tips help you throw the best summer bash ever!
