During the summer, it feels like a perfect time for celebrations. This time of year the sun is out so it’s a great time to invite people over, whether it’s for birthday parties, Independence Day celebrations in the USA, or even just to grill some burgers and relax in the sun. But if you want to plan a party that’s a little more involved than that, how exactly do you go about it? Here are a few things you should think about and prepare for...

Activities

We all know that one way to make a party a slow and painful death is to try to organise your guests into too many organised games. A few activity ideas are necessary for everyone to have a good time, particularly if not all the guests know each other particularly well - if you’re having your party outside and you have plenty of outdoor space, providing some balls will give people hours of fun as they kick them about. Twenty Questions is also a great idea - remember that the key is that the games shouldn’t be over complicated or have too many rules, and you’ll all have a good time. Nothing screams fun more than a photo booth does - and lucky for you they are easy to hire for your party through companies like Omg Entertainments and My Fun Photo Booth. 

Refreshments

Let’s face it: no one wants to go to a party and not eat anything. If you’re providing alcohol, you also need to ensure that you’re providing snacks to soak it up, whether that’s takeout pizza, burgers that you’ve grilled, or canapes for the more highbrow crowds. Finger foods that people can take and eat without having to sit down with a knife and fork at a table are good idea - carrot and celery sticks, dips, potato chips, cupcakes and so on. If it’s summer, why not provide cocktails like a jug of refreshing gin and elderflower? If you have discerning guests there, research your alcohol and provide good quality craft beer or liquor. Alternatively, you can buy your own kegs and use this beverage gas supplier to make sure your party is the most talked about in town. If you don’t know much about what to choose, look at reviews like this Kikori review and cocktail recipes to make sure you’re doing it right.

Speaking of cocktails, taking the initiative to prepare the tasty mixtures yourself is more fun. However, that will mean having the right equipment to prepare these drinks for your summer party. You will find it easier using cocktail bar tools from professional brands like Dramson. You can also research credible content on pairing your cocktails with food if you want a memorable summer party.

Decorations

Not everyone wants to provide a huge amount of decorations for their parties - if you’re going for more of a casual vibe, you could just get out some white paper tablecloths to drape over tables for a clean, fresh look. Otherwise, brightly coloured balloons and banners are always a good idea. Just make sure that you don’t let your balloons get free as they can be a health hazard for animals and birds.

Preparing For The Weather

Even though it’s summer, the weather is never as reliable as you’d like it to be, so it’s important to make sure that you have some shelter for if the heavens open and rain starts plummeting down, whether that’s making sure there’s plenty of space and seats in your kitchen and living room or putting up umbrellas. If it’s particularly sunny you should also make sure that your guests are wearing plenty of sunscreen - keep a bottle of it outside if you want - and that they’re hydrated. Provide plenty of cold water for everyone, along with shaded places so no one ends up getting heatstroke.