Summer is a wonderful, relaxing time to entertain friends and family outdoors. Here are 6 tips to make your summertime entertaining a hit with all involved.

Consider smaller gatherings, but having them more often:

For many hosts and hostesses, it’s those big gatherings that are more stressful and sometimes exponentially more expensive. For example, if the gathering gets so large that you cannot handle the food prep in your kitchen and need to cater it, food might cost $8-$20 per person instead of $3-$8 when you do it yourself. In addition, smaller gatherings with just 2-6 guests give you the opportunity to give them more personalized attention. You’ll enjoy yourself much more, cleanup will be quicker and easier, and the whole affair will take less out of you!

Make your backyard festive!:

Choose colorful flags and windsocks to place around the yard. Attract birds with feeders with seeds for seedeaters and juice for hummingbirds. Have a bag or two of peanuts that guests can throw to the squirrels. For an evening party, string up colored lights and lanterns rather than relying on flood lights. Little touches like these add to the delight of the occasion.

Clean the Grill

A gas grill needs to be properly maintained in order to keep it cooking well for you year after year.  Learning how to clean your grill is a must if you use it on a regular basis!

Control insects:

Some hosts fog the yard several hours in advance of guests arriving. Others use those candles and lanterns to ward off the biting insects. One item we don’t recommend are those nasty bug zappers. Some guests may find them annoying!

Prepare for wind:

Having table linens and napkins blowing around in the wind doesn’t make it very pleasant for guests. Attach buttons to the corners of table clothes and wrap a string around them to tie t table legs or attach to small weights. Use clean, decorative shells, tiles, glass beads or stones to keep napkins in their place until guests are in their place to take hold of them.

Have backup plans for foul weather!:

For summertime, foul weather can either mean rain or it can mean excessively hot and humid weather. This is another reason why smaller gatherings are better. When rain comes down or temps go up, it is easier to move 4-8 guests indoors than finding seats inside for 20 or 30! Be sure that your home is well-prepared for guests. This includes having your central air system is in good working order. If it’s hot or rainy outside and hot indoors, the party is over! Have a columbia hvac contractor check your system a couple of weeks before the party to check it and take care of maintenance or repairs so it doesn’t let you down on days you are entertaining.

Savvy planning will make your summer entertaining enjoyable for everyone, including you! These 5 tips for summertime entertaining will serve you well as you make your plans and carry them out!