How to Host a Summer Soirée

Celebrate the better weather and have your next party al fresco.

Send out the group text to your friends and family – it's time you hosted a backyard barbie. Whether it’s for Christmas, New Year's, a summer birthday, or just to enjoy the glorious sunshine, there’s nothing better than getting everyone together outside.

We love hosting - and love summer soirées even more - so you could say we’re experts when it comes to entertaining outdoors. From menu planning and keeping your dishes safe to tablescapes and outdoor drinkware, we’ve rounded up our top hosting tips. With our handy guide, your next event will go off without a hitch. All that’s left to do is buy some Aerogard and try not to drop the pavlova.

Proper planning

Yep, just like your mum told you, our best piece of advice is to get prepped ahead of time. Take the stress out of hosting by getting your entertaining space - and as much of your food as possible - ready the day before. Aim for fridge-able dishes like cold salads (we love this one) and chilled desserts, to take one thing off your plate for the big day. While you’re at it, make sure to check your gas bottle the day before – there's nothing worse than having to race off to the Swap ‘n Go halfway through your event.

Lots of foods are tasty at room temp, which will help take the pressure off, but it’s best to keep them safe with al fresco accessories like our Aparri Outdoor Food Cover to keep bugs away. We like to keep our drinks cold and our wine chilled with our Blanco Ice Bucket and Bottle Holder - so, an extra bag of ice isn’t a bad idea!

Keep them comfy

Entertaining outdoors comes with a unique set of considerations – and none more so than keeping your guests comfortable. Unlike throwing a dinner party indoors, you’ll need to work a little harder to put your loved ones at ease. Your first priority should always be seating; it’s okay if your chairs aren’t the same (the mismatched look is part of the charm) but do make sure every guest has somewhere to sit. Bring your dining chairs outside to supplement your outdoor setting, add chair pads to bench seats, and scatter extra-large floor cushions around your yard for casual conversation circles. You might find uninvited guests arriving as the sun goes down, so make sure to have plenty of insect repellent on hand. You can help prevent mosquitoes by removing any standing water from your entertaining space in the days before the event. We also like to have throws and blankets ready in case the evening comes with a bit of a chill.

Sip in style

There’s no shame in the plastic game! Drinkware made from non-breakable materials is essential when entertaining outdoors, as glasses have a way of getting broken more easily at BBQs. If you’ve got a pool or there’s a chance your guests will be barefoot, opt for our plastic Messina drinkware - which features everything from wine glasses to jugs in stylish colours. We love to keep drinks simple when entertaining and opt for one custom cocktail with plenty of matching glasses to serve. For example, a G&T suits highball glasses while an Aperol spritz is traditionally served in a large wine glass. Keep everyone hydrated with a large carafe of water on the table - and make sure to refill it regularly. Our Provence Natural & Cream Carafe is wrapped in seagrass for a beautiful, summery look (and the matching glasses are ultra-stylish).