6 Must Haves for Springtime Outdoor Entertaining

Spring brings tons of fun holidays (St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco De Mayo, Memorial Day) and with each comes the opportunity to have a themed party or gathering. Take advantage of the great weather outside by inviting over friends, family members or neighbors.

Entertaining can be a stressful process so let’s make it easy to host the best springtime event. Here are 6 essentials for springtime entertaining.

And of course, the best place to keep all those outdoor entertaining supplies (grills, chairs, tools, coolers, etc.) is in a secure Cook Portable Warehouse. With unpredictable springtime showers, it’s important to be prepared with storage options adjacent to your home or deck!

Unique decor/centerpiece

Make the party your own with a unique table set-up including table setting, table runner, centerpiece, glassware, napkins and flowers. Create your own aesthetic or theme and carry it through the entire space. Shake off those muted tones of winter and embrace the bright colors of spring.

Also, think about adding fun touches like name plates or favors for the guests to take home. Check out these simple and adorable ideas for party favors.

The right lighting

If you are having an outdoor party on a deck or patio, it’s important to provide the right amount of light for nighttime events. Use candles, Tiki torches or lanterns to provide light and add ambiance.

Make sure the candles are mosquito repellent so bugs won’t ruin your night! A fire pit is another way to light up the night and keep the bugs away.

Ample seating options

Having enough chairs, benches and other places to sit down is a must when entertaining. Also, have outdoors rugs and pillows available if guests want to lounge or sit on the ground.

A refreshing cocktail (or mocktail)

Food and drinks are of course one of the foundations for every great party. Choose a signature party drink that is easy to make in bulk and compliments the food offerings. For example, offer margaritas for a Cinco De Mayo party or Coke floats at a Memorial Day gathering. Have a non-alcoholic version and offer water, tea or soda too.

Mouthwatering dining options

Of course, spring is a great time to fire up the grill but what should you cook? Tailor the menu to the guests’ liking (remember to offer a vegetarian option) or around the theme of the party. Grilled steak, burgers, vegetable kabobs and roasted potatoes are all great choices.

A fun game or activity

It’s always fun to add an activity or game to the party to break the ice and get people talking. Plan a card game, cornhole or even build an outdoor Tic-Tac-Toe board.

For more springtime organization tips, download the helpful, free resource below from Cook!