Springtime Entertaining Tips

Spring, hands down, is my FAVORITE season.  With this season, the weather starts to get a little warmer and the days become longer.  Spring/summer is the easiest season for entertaining too.  Parties are expected to be causal, seasonal foods are plentiful and  reasonably priced, and mother nature has taken care of all of your decorating needs.  With Memorial Day right around the corner, we have come up with some easy summer entertaining tips that are guaranteed to make your next fete a success!

1.       Lighten Up Your Menu

When planning your next outdoor soiree try to use as many fresh, seasonal ingredients in your menu as possible. As the weather gets warmer appetites for heavy recipes start to shrink. Go for salads, fresh fruits and grilled food in place of stews and casseroles. You will find it’s much quicker and cooler to prepare these items in the warmer weather and your guests will welcome the seasonal change.

2.       Make Sure You Have Plenty of Ice

Never underestimate how much ice will be used during a warm weather event. Even if the party is inside, guests are still feeling the heat of the spring/summer days and will want lots of ice in their drinks to help cool them down.

3.      Don’t Underestimate How Many Beverages You Will Need

You can best believe that there are never enough drinks available in the spring/summer!  From soda to bear to mixed drinks, there never seems to be enough.  Whether your guests are simply mingling outside and chatting, or playing a vigorous game of volleyball, you can rest assure they will work up a thirst now that the weather is warmer.  When determining your beverages for your next warm weather gathering, make sure to include plenty of bottled water in your beverage arsenal. Sometimes nothing does the trick like a nice icy glass of water.  Event Diva Tip: Place a bucket of fruit filled ice cubes on the side to add a little extra pizzazz. Your guest will LOVE them!

4.       Keep Your Décor Colorful and Casual

There's no need to lug your expensive place settings and décor outside for your next BBQ. Take the advantage of the casual atmosphere the warm weather brings to use inexpensive melamine and other plastic materials at your next outdoor bash. If you don't own any, it pays over the long haul to invest in a sturdy set of summer dinnerware. Colorful dishes help to create a festive mood, it's better for the environment (think green) and it's cheaper than buying disposables (trust me it will pay for itself in the end).

5.      Provide Shelter

If you're hosting your outdoors party during the daytime make sure to provide your guests with options for escaping from the sun. Whether you rent a tent, place groups of chairs under a shady tree, or set up tables with umbrellas, your guests will appreciate a place to escape from the heat. Event Diva Tip: When planning events outdoors, always have a plan B in the event Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate with your vision of sunny skies and delivers some unwelcome rain. 

Happy Planning!