With the heat of the summer behind us and bugs going dormant for the rest of the year, cooler temperatures and crisp air make a great environment for an outdoor party. If you’re looking to throw an outdoor event that your guests will never forget this fall, New Again is here to help. Start with the basics and follow these tips for you to spruce up your backyard patio decor and keep your outdoor entertainment lasting long into the colder months.
Food and Drinks to Delight
Most people put food and drink at the top of the party planning list. A quick Google search for hosting an outdoor party almost always reveals food or menu options first. According to Allseated.com, a European-based event planning company, food means more than just flavors. The colors of the food as well as the location of the food serving stations are all key decisions to make the outdoor event a success.
Some of the iconic foods to serve at an outdoor party are classics like grilled burgers and hot dogs, fresh fruits and vegetables, and light salads. As the weather turns towards the cooler side, though, a large Dutch oven of chili or a low country boil of corn, shrimp and spicy andouille sausage could be great alternatives. If you opt for the grill, consider only offering one option such as hot dogs but providing a copious number of toppings so guests can personalize their meal. This saves you some angst when it comes to shopping and preparation.
On the flip side, one trend involves several small tables of food that match in style or cuisine. For instance, a table could include veggies, crackers, and an assortment of dips while another table contains hot meat items like little smokies or pizza snacks. The idea here is to keep like items together in small pods so guests can focus on what they prefer at the time.
When it comes to drinks, lemonade and iced tea are always popular choices for outdoor gatherings. But in the fall, how about pot and ladle with hot apple cider or water boiling over the fire for hot cocoa? The latter offers an opportunity to create a delicious and eclectic drink station with all sorts of items that could be added to hot cocoa. Think peppermint sticks, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, cookie sticks and more.
Crowd-pleasing Games and Entertainment
After food and drinks are decided, it’s time to plan some entertainment. Fun games and activities include badminton, croquet, bean bag toss, bocce, or horseshoes. You can also set up a scavenger hunt or have a treasure hunt if kids are part of the guest list.
During the fall, pumpkin carving offers a wonderful way to engage the young and the old. Not to mention, it keeps the mess outdoors.
And of course, no outdoor party is complete without some good music! Make sure to create a playlist of all your guests’ favorite tunes.
Ambiance Sure to Please
In the colder weather months, backyard party décor can take on an entirely new meaning when compared with a summertime gathering. The long-lingering sunshine won’t help with lighting, so you must have a plan in place for everyone to be able to see. Queue the fire pit or outdoor propane heater. Not only do these elements keep your guests warm, but they also offer interactive ways to roast a marshmallow and make your own dessert.
If that is too much of an expense, hanging electric lights in zig-zag patterns across your party space is a simpler option. When all else fails, low-cost tiki torches or candles in mason jars will still do the trick. The key is to have backyard party décor that offers some sort of warm fire to create a glow that just livens the soul!
Create Areas for Guests to Gather
The most important element of any outdoor party is the backyard patio decor. No one wants to have an event where guests fight over outdoor seating or table space, so ensuring you have enough for your guests is critical. According to Real Simple magazine, adequate seating ranks fourth out of 13 elements to consider in order to make your event a success.
Seating is often an area of concern for many party-throwers. They don’t want to break the bank with new furniture purchases this late into the year. Not to mention, many retailers don’t even stock outdoor furniture at this time, or if they do, the selection is extremely limited. And quantity is only half the battle. Style, comfort, and durability are also factors to consider.
If you have old patio furniture that’s seen better days, New Again can repair and refinish it so it looks good as new before your outdoor event. We specialize in metal powder coat and paint repair, rust repair, and more. We can even replace mesh fabric on sling patio chairs.
Color does make a difference with backyard patio decor! Choosing a powder coat or fabric that is bright and vibrant will help add pops of color to what can become a monochromatic scenery as the colder weather sets in.
If you’ve selected a date for your outdoor party, contact us to get your furniture repair going right away. We come to you, help you select your coating colors or fabrics, take your seating with us to the repair shop and then deliver it when it’s been revived and is ready for your guests.
If you don’t currently own the seating you need, be on the hunt for older, seen-better-days metal furniture. You may be able to purchase these pieces cheaply and then get them repaired. Garage sales, antique stores or secondhand shops often have a number of these items available. Grabbing them for a fraction of the cost of new items and then updating them with services from New Again make it easy to have the colors you want.
Finally, dress up your backyard patio decor and furniture with blankets, wraps and throw pillows to make your patio chairs warm and cozy.
What are you waiting for? Get started planning your best outdoor event yet! If you follow these tips, you’re sure to throw an amazing outdoor party that everyone will remember!
And if you need help repairing or refinishing your patio furniture, be sure to contact New Again. We’d be happy to help get your furniture ready to entertain!