photo by Pottery Barn
Summer is here and it is a wonderful time to plan an outdoor party with your friends and family...so many reasons (exciuses to throw a party). Get ready to fire up the grill and plan your summer party.
Send a festive summer themed invitation. I am a huge fan of paper invitations but it seems like more and more people are using online invitation sites for casual gatherings. So if you want to save money on invites and postage, this is a definite option. No better place to throw your summer party then at home (the beach or park are also great options) and the best part is that there is no site fee. Put together a budget that will cover food, drink and fun party favors. Don't be shy when your guests ask what you need...let them bring something and then cross that off your list and your budget!
Host a backyard BBQ or just make up a fun reason to have a party like an ice cream social, luau or summer fiesta. I live in LA so volleyball is always a great excuse to get friends together for a little friendly competition but my mother who lives in Napa loves bocce ball or croquet (croquet always reminds me of "Alice In Wonderland" - oh and there's another great idea for a themed party). If you are feeling extra ambitious than plan a golf outing with dinner and awards back at your house. Invite all the golfers and their families or dates to join in the fun. All these parties are easy to plan and fun to both give and attend.
For food, you can grill, cater or do pot luck depending on your budget. For decorations hang string lights or place clusters of candles in various spots to set the ambience. Favors are always fun and a great way to say thanks to your guests for coming and nowadays there are so many terrific "light up" items on the market that you can buy in bulk for very cheap or you can always make something homemade for guests to take home with them. And for all you parents with kids that have summer birthdays...plan to do it at home this year and turn your backyard into a water park or plan a carnival for under $100.00.
So get your plans in place now and put together a great party this summer. Enjoy the opportunity to entertain casually in your own backyard and be able to do it on a budget that you can afford.
I just love to plan summer parties - so this post is wonderful. Being outdoors in the warm months - with close friends and family - is one of my favorite activities!
I love your idea of hosting a golf event with awards and dinner afterward. My husband and I are big golf players, so this is a creative idea that I will certainly use.
Summer is also the ideal time for kids to be active! I think it is always fun to have kids' activities included in an outdoor party - in case someone needs to bring them along.
Thank you for your ideas. Just love the post!
Sincerely,
Juanita Ecker
Posted by: Juanita Ecker | July 06, 2011 at 08:20 AM