Easy Summer Entertaining Tips, Just in Time for the 4th!
What does the 4th of July mean to you? To us, it means celebrating this great country that we all love, and remembering the sacrifices that have been made for it, both now and in the past. It means gathering with family and friends, enjoying delicious meals, warm (or really hot) summer weather, and maybe a few fireworks.
It also means trying out some of our favorite summer design tricks to transform outdoor living spaces into outdoor entertainment venues. Keep these tricks in your back pocket for your next summer gathering, whether its a 4th of July barbecue, a cozy outdoor dinner, or a daytime pool party. (Photo: Southern Living)
Keep Your Cool
Galvanized metal buckets make festive and functional drink containers for outdoor entertaining. Wipe them clean, load them with ice, and fill them with your beverage of choice- an easy, chic way to ensure that your guests always have a cold drink on hand. Use large tubs to keep drinks all in one place, or scatter smaller buckets around your deck or patio. You could also use different colored buckets to indicate alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Photo: Pottery Barn
Fun With Labels
Drink or food labels, if done creatively, can make your whole display more fun and festive. You can make simple, pretty drink labels with a little cardstock and hole punch. Choose patterns or colors that complement other colors you are using on your table. For a festive touch, look for ribbons, stickers or other adornments to match your theme (Flags or stars for the 4th of July!)
Photo: Southern Living
Christmas In July
Christmas lights don't have to be stuck in December- they make festive party decorations all year long! For the perfect summery glow, string a few white Christmas lights along deck railings or around a patio. For slight variation, look for strands with larger bulbs, or with small paper lanterns covering the lights.
Photo: bhg.com
Build A Food Station
Food stations have become a huge trend in the wedding industry, but they work just as well for simple backyard gatherings. The concept is simple: assemble the necessary ingredients and let your guests create their own dish. Cookie bars (with festive 4th of July toppings!), s'mores bars, trail mix bars, and ice cream float stations are a few of our favorite ideas for easy summer entertaining. Make sure you use lidded containers to keep all ingredients fresh, and ice buckets to keep ice cream perfectly chilled. (Check out more food station ideas)
Photos: creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com