We use our own and 3rd party cookies on this site for analytics and advertising. Carry on browsing if you are happy with this, or find out how to manage your cookies.
Create the guest list…
Now comes the hard part - who will you invite to your summer party? Do you want to keep it intimate or make a special event out of it? It could also be worth thinking about whether or not you plan to invite children, or keep it to just adults. If the latter, many of your friends may have to make childcare arrangements, so be sure to give plenty of notice.
Planning the menu
It may be a while until the party takes place, but planning the menu is an essential part of the preparation and should not be left until the last minute. Hungry guests are generally unhappy guests, so it’s best to treat this as a priority.
If you plan to make the most of the sunshine, a BBQ would be the perfect option. In warm weather, people generally want to eat less, so serving up grilled meat with fresh salads is an ideal option. Plan your menu based around seasonal ingredients too, with berries, fresh herbs and tomatoes from a local farmer’s market.
It is best to select dishes that can be prepared in advance, giving you more time to host and socialise with friends. And there is no harm in asking your guests to bring perhaps some snacks or a dessert with them.
Initial planning
Ok, so you’ve decided you want to have a summer party, but there is so much more that you need to consider. Is it an intimate gathering or a big event with lots of guests? Who will you invite? Will it be outdoors? Will it have a theme? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself at this stage.
Once you have decided on the location, time and date of the event, it is time to get into the nitty gritty. If you love to be super-organised, create several lists that can be updated and amended in the lead up to the party. This could include:
● A master to-do list, which highlights everything that must be done
● An overarching costs sheet containing details of the budget
● A shopping list - including everything you think you will need for the big day
...And invite them
Depending on the scale of party you want to host, you may want to send out official invites for your soiree. There are plenty of places online that specialise in creating stylishly designed invitations - just make sure you provide clear and accurate information, along with travel directions for those who have never visited before.
On the other hand, a Facebook event, online calendar invite, simple email or word of mouth is the ideal option for smaller events.
Inform (or invite) the neighbours
Nobody wants the party to be over too quickly due to an unhappy neighbour, so ensure you inform everyone who may be impacted by any noise in good notice. And if you’re close to your neighbours, why not invite them along?
Stay tuned to our Light up your Summer campaign, where we will be providing you with all the help and advice you need for throwing the best summer parties!
