16 Easy Outdoor Entertaining Ideas
Outdoor entertaining season is here, so it is time to start planning a party. Here are 16 fun product ideas to make your party the talk of the neighborhood.
After heading to my local Pottery Barn and seeing so many pretty ideas for outdoor entertaining, I had to share my favorites!
Plus giving you easy tips to up your outdoor entertaining ambience, so your guest linger long into the night.
Outdoor Entertaining Ideas
There is nothing more fun than having a party on a porch or patio. It’s casual and easy to prepare for as well.
Guests just relax and enjoy themselves when they are outdoors. Plus it’s easy to clean up too!
If you didn’t know, I truly am a “Porch Daydreamer” and have multiple porches at my home. So outdoor entertaining is a staple of mine.
See them here:
Below I’m sharing the easiest ways to decorate for a party, make your guests comfortable, and use the right serving pieces to make your job hosting as easy as possible.
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I’m a big fan of having everything out ready to go for my guests, so they can serve themselves.
Isn’t this melamine (non-breakable) rope platter such a great neutral serving piece with a coastal twist?
Serve cheese, fruit and crackers easily or even burgers and hot dogs straight off the grill.
When I find a 3 bowl serving set, I grab it! This one is so cute with the rope detail that matches the serving platter.
These are good for a variety of things: snacks, condiments, and candy. I use mine on “Tacos with Tracey” nights!
Having drinks chilled and readily available to your guests will save a TON of time for you.
Guests see immediately what is available and grab what they need, without feeling impolite.
This boat cooler is so cute and can be used for both adult and children’s parties.
Easily chill and serve soda, water and beer. Or even pile it will crushed ice and serve fresh shrimp and oysters!
For bottles of wine, put out a fun chiller. This one with the woven texture is unique with lots of dimension.
Or even fill it with fresh flowers from your garden or grocery store.
After cleaning out shards of a broken wine glass from between my pavers, I now only use acrylic drinkware.
This collection will fool everyone that it’s not glass. Non-breakable and beautiful!
An easy way to create more serving space is to cover a card or plastic table with a beautiful table cloth.
This classic blue and white stripe can be paired with so many other colors.
It’s also perfect to have on hand for Memorial, 4th of July, and Labor Day parties as a back drop for a red, white and blue theme.
Everyone loves dip at a party! This serving piece in melamine can be used in so many different ways with its bright fun colors.
Or use it to serve cocktail complements like olives, cherries, lemons, and limes. Think about a make your own Bloody Mary bar.
The kids could have their own make your own ice cream sundae bar!
Plus all of the pieces can be used separate of each other as needed and the main plate is another serving piece!
Keeping in the non-breakable theme having a set of nice melamine dinnerware is a great idea!
Pair plain white dishes with a textured woven placemat and beautiful table cloth for an easy tablescape.
Since we know your guest are going to have so much fun they will stay long into the night and for easy ambience, add candle lanterns!
These lanterns are all-weather wicker for long term use outside.
The woven look is a hot trend my friends and this is an inexpensive way to incorporate this trend into your decor.
For softness and more color, update your indoor/outdoor rug.
This one can be lived with and reused for many years. It’s so easy to redecorate around shades of blue.
Add a few bright pillows for comfort and color in chair backs.
For extra seating or for cocktail glasses, place garden stools.
I’m obsessed with the little blush pink number and WANT it so badly.
Then as the sun sets and the air cools a bit, place a few throws on chair backs for guest to use.
Lightweight cotton is the best option for summer in pretty hues.
Use pretty baskets lined with linen napkins or to transport items from indoors to outside.
These even would be nice to hold those beautiful throws or even towels if swimming is part of the night.
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Have fun planning your next outdoor entertaining adventure. Being prepared is the best way to relax and enjoy your own party!
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Until next time…
Porch Daydreamer
Tracey