How to throw the best summer bash

Finally, the weather is getting warm enough for you to start thinking about sun, surf, bathing suits, and barbeques. Warmer temperatures mean it’s time take your entertaining outside. But it will take some planning to have a summer party that your friends and neighbors will talk about for the rest of the year.LocationAs with any gathering, selecting the venue is one of the most important details. How many people will be attending? Is this going to be a huge bash? Or will it be a more intimate event for close friends and family? Many cities have local parks with built in grills, and gazebos to accommodate gatherings for a nominal fee. However, there may be limits to what you are allowed to serve. For example, alcohol, especially in glass containers is often prohibited at these venues. If you want the freedom to do things your way, get together with a couple of friends and throw the party together at someone’s house or in their back yard. Even if none of your friends has a huge yard, you can still have a successful event with some planning.InvitationsTake a few minutes to make a list of friends you want to invite. Keep in mind that if you want 20 people to attend, you should invite about 30. Conflicting events and illness often come up at the last minute, and you want to make sure that you have a full house. Invitations can be mailed, passed out by hand, or sent electronically. Be sure that they match theme of your event to give people an idea of what to expect.FoodThis is not a dinner party, so food doesn’t have to be fancy, but plan to serve some sort of "summery" food. You could rely on simple hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixin’s. Be sure to have baked beans, a fruit tray, and maybe some simple salads that won’t weigh down your guests. One food safety tip: make sure any salads that have a mayonnaise base are kept on ice. Nothing ruins a fabulous party like having your guests go home with food poisoning.DrinksRegardless of what you serve for food, you want your guests to have plenty of drink choices. Will you be serving alcohol? Have a variety of beers on ice. Perhaps mix up a large batch a fun fruity drink. Having this already in a container will allow you to enjoy the party rather than spending the entire day running a blender. Be sure to have plenty of water on hand as well. You can serve water bottles or have a pitcher of water flavored with lemon slices, cucumber slices, or strawberries. DecorationsNo party is complete without great decorations. Regardless of the theme of your party, "beachy" or elegant, you will want to start with enough outdoor dining tables to accommodate everyone. People will enjoy sitting back and visiting. And they will need a place to set their drinks or plates of food while taking their turns playing corn hole or volleyball.Simple summery decorations from the party store or dollar store will jazz up your event. You don’t need a lot. Mason jars filled with flowers or glass beads, strips of burlap down the table, and themed napkins, cups, plates, and placemats are all you need to bring a splash of summer color to your table.Throwing a summer bash does not have to be difficult. With a little bit of planning and creativity, you can have a party that your friends will envy.

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