Simple Outdoor Party Planning

As the chilling cold of winter gives way to the warmer months, your inclination
is going to be to fling open the doors of your home, and start hosting
gatherings and parties outdoors. This is a good instinct, because whether you’re
celebrating from a porch, lawn, or backyard, there is no better backdrop for a
party than the beauty of the natural world outdoors.

The first thing that your going to have to decide is whether you want to have a
standard, sit down, table based party, or a more informal buffet style event. A
sit down event will feature the table itself, with food served to each seated
position, and every guest arranged in place around the setting. Buffets are much
more informal, with a central table holding food and beverages, while guests
wander the grounds, finding seating and entertainment randomly throughout the
area.

One of the great advantages of an outdoor party is that plant life can be
incorporated into almost every aspect. Depending on the space itself you can
have trails of vines lining a fence, or beds of flowers creating pathways
through a lawn or garden. Fresh cut flowers arranged in attractive vases can
make a beautiful floral centerpiece for tabletops, and budding potted plants can
be used to infuse the space with a vibrant, natural energy.

Other natural elements which can be used to populate and decorate the space
include bowls of fresh fruit, vegetables, and or mixed nuts and trail mix. These
can be vibrantly colorful, adding splashes of hue to your tables while also
giving hungry guests snacks to enjoy in between more filling courses.

Most people’s outdoor areas are populated by weather resistant items such as
plastic or pressure treated wooden chairs and tables. In some cases you will
want to supplement these pieces with folding chairs to ensure that all of your
guests have a place to sit. A card table covered with a paper tablecloth can
easily be used as a buffet table, and dining room chairs can be brought
temporarily outside to boost the furniture at your disposal.

You can also use old rugs and carpets to create clean seated areas across your
lawn. Place one underneath a leafy verdant tree to create a comfortable shaded
area for guests to relax. Area rugs arranged around low tables can create
intimate, informal dining areas throughout the space.

As you set up plans for the party, make sure that you have ample shade for any
food or beverage service areas. Even if they are taken directly from the fridge,
milk based products will quickly spoil under the direct heat of the sun, while
fruits and vegetables will dry out and go bad if not properly protected. Using a
cooler filled with ice can help, but a little bit of shade can help keep that
ice from melting significantly longer.

An outdoor party also gives you a variety of lighting options. During the day
the sun can provide ample light, but as it sets, candles can be used to create a
flickering illuminated display. Citronella candles will not only provide light
but also help to keep insects at bay. Tiki torches can be used to create
pathways or virtual rooms throughout your backyard area.

An outdoor party allows you to infuse an affair with the vibrant beauty of the
natural world. In such an event the beams of warmth from the sun, the kiss of
the breeze and the smell of flowers all act as decorative accents for the
celebration. Your decorative endeavors should seek to enhance these effects,
immersing your guests into the natural beauty of your outdoor spaces.

This article is provided courtesy of PebbleZ’s line of decorative vases which are
crafted from real pieces of natural, mountain born, multi colored marble. The
article itself was written by artist and designer Joey Pebble.