How to Plan An Amazing Outdoor End of Summer Party

Throw a party that will blow people’s minds

With summer finally coming to an end and fall making its arrival, now is the perfect time to unwind and celebrate the beginning of autumn with a backyard party. Embrace the warm blankets and colourful crunchy leaves, make a guest list and fire up that firepit – here are some tips for planning a fun outdoor party!

The Best Time to Throw an End of Summer Party

Heatwaves are long gone and the temperatures are getting just right for some outdoor activity, so, whenever works for you and your guests is a good time to get the party started. Before you get to planning, check the weather forecast to make sure no showers can surprise you. Fall is rain season, after all, so be sure to prepare your yard according to the season.

Tips For Getting Your Yard Ready For an Outdoor Party

Before you start with anything, clean up the yard first and get rid of anything you wouldn’t want to see at a party yourself. Throw out the trash, wash the seat cushions, and mow the lawn a few days prior. A clean slate is the best place to start decorating – plus you get to see imperfections better and get ideas on how to hide them (potted plants usually do the trick!). Also find discreet places to hide some insect repellents and hang some string lights.

Plan Your Food and Drink Menu

Chances are, there will be a few double-dippers at your party, and if this past year has taught us anything, it’s that we don’t want everyone touching everything. Limit finger food options and go for individual charcuterie boards and desserts. You can also come up with a signature drink for your party’s theme – mulled wine and cider or some ice-cold beers and cocktails that scream “goodbye summer.”

Have Lots of Comfortable Seating

You want the space to be walkable but also have enough seating, too. If you have extra room in your backyard, an air mattress is a fun way to create additional seating space! Throw on some blankets and pillows on it and watch your guests fight over the best spot.

Have Beautiful Patio Furniture

Whether it’s an outdoor sectional or a classic two-seater patio set, having beautiful furniture is the bigger part of a great outdoor party. For extra coziness, throw on some fall-coloured cushions, blankets, and side tables and you’ll create a striking Instagrammable spot your guests will love. You want your backyard to look nice and be comfortable as well, so don’t be afraid to invest in quality outdoor furniture, but do your research first. Find out what suits you best based on your needs, taste and budget and end up with patio furniture you’ll be using for years.

Set Up an Outdoor Dining Area

Where there’s a party, there is food and where there’s food, there should be a dining area. It doesn’t have to be complicated – a table with benches on each side will do the trick, especially if you’re going for that rustic vibe. For the decor, use plaid fabric rim knits as a table cloth, light some candles, throw on some pumpkins and corn, set out a fresh bouquet of sunflowers, and add napkins and cutlery.

Create a Talking Point

Set up a fun drink station or a dessert table. If you’re serving hot drinks, such as mulled wine, here’s a pro tip: prepare your drinks in little mason jars and put them in a crockpot filled with warm water. For cold drinks, fill up a kiddy pool with ice and throw the drinks in there. You can also use mason jars for your desserts and put the jars in a carved pumpkin instead of laying them on the table. These will be great conversation starters! And to keep the conversation going, consider a firepit. It’s a great place to gather around, chat, and stay warm. You can put a few chairs or cushions around it for extra seating space.

Have Enough Shade

If you don’t have time to build a gazebo or a covered porch, a cantilever umbrella might work great for you. Not only are they easy to set up and use, they can also be easily taken down and transferred to your garage for storage in the winter too. They are durable, resilient, and come in various sizes, so you can easily find the perfect match for your patio!

Keep Your Pool Open and Have Lots of Pool Toys

Arrange some loungers by the pool and have a cocktail bar next to it. Bonus points if the temperature is high enough that you can actually go for a swim.

Keep Your Guests Entertained

Create a photo area, keep the music playing on a portable speaker, prepare a fun drinking game by the pool, or roast marshmallows by the fire. Oversized Jenga is fun to play but you can also share some fun summer vacation stories next to the grill.

Parties can be hard to plan. While you can do your best to follow all of our tips, it’s important to remember that most of the time, a great party is one with a host that makes their guests feel comfortable and wanted there. So sit back, relax, and spend some quality time with your friends!