How to Throw an Outdoor Party

Outdoor Party Planning

One of the benefits of living in Northern California is the fact that our mild winters make it possible to throw outdoor parties late into the year when other parts of the country are blanketed with snow. But outdoor party planning requires additional considerations that you might not have if you were throwing a party in your home or another indoor event space, like planning for inclement weather and making sure you have enough tables and chairs for all of your guests. To make sure you have all of the bases covered, here are some tips for throwing an outdoor party.

Get a Head Count

You should always know how many guests you are expecting when throwing a party, but it’s especially important that you have an accurate count when hosting a large outdoor event such as a wedding or birthday party. Knowing how many people are attending your event will make sure you rent enough tables and chairs and that you have a big enough canopy or tent to accommodate all of your guests.

Prepare for Bad Weather

Even if the forecast calls for sunshine, it’s a good idea to rent a tent or canopy in the event bad weather rolls through—and living in the Bay Area you know how quickly the weather can turn. Party tents and canopies can also be useful on sunny days since your guests won’t likely want to spend all day standing or sitting in the sun.

Ask Your Guests to Contribute

If you’re planning an outdoor party on a budget, ask your guests to help out by bringing side dishes, beverages, ice, or paper plates and napkins. If you can find places to save money you should have more left over in your budget to rent all of the equipment and supplies you need to keep your guests comfortable during the event.