10 Tips for Hosting the Perfect Outdoor Party This Winter

One of the great advantages of having an outdoor party is you have more freedom about how many guests you can invite. The other nice thing about holding an event outside is it tends to create a more relaxed atmosphere, and you are going to have far more choice when it comes to decorations and seating.

Holding an outdoor party during the winter can be more of a challenge due to the cooler weather, but the following tips are going to allow you to create the perfect atmosphere.

1. Create a Party Mood by Decorating Your Backyard

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It’s amazing the difference a few decorations can make to the atmosphere of outside space like your backyard. You don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to create a party mood, and even just laying down some beanbags, cushions, or pillows is going to produce a more inviting look – if the weather is cool, you might also want to provide some blankets. Pinterest is an excellent resource if you are looking for ideas for decorating your backyard for a party.

2. Keep Your Guests Warm

If your guests are cold, it is going to have a negative impact on their mood, and they may view your party as something to be endured rather than enjoyed. There are many options for how you can keep your guests warm.

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A fire pit is not only going to provide sufficient heat, but it also provides a focal point for people to gather around – just make sure to keep safety in mind. Chimeneas can be visually appealing as well as practical. Simple patio heaters are usually cheap to buy, and they should provide plenty of heat.

Many parties have dress codes, so if you’re setting one, choose something that will allow your guests to dress warmly in the cold weather. Perhaps you can do a costume party with majestic and warm capes and cloaks or ask your guests to dress in their best winter fashion. Whatever you choose, make sure to prepare blankets and covers in case someone didn’t get the memo

3. Create the Right Surface for Dining

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Dining outdoors can be a bit messy if you don’t have a suitable surface for sitting. A good option would be to create an alfresco timber decking area. This can be a great investment because it means you are going to make it much easier to get the most out of your outdoor space all-year-round – it is also likely to impress your guests.

4. Choose the Right Food and Drinks

Most of us here in Australia are going to associate partying outdoors with having a barbeque. This is a great option, but you might want to try something a bit different during the cooler months. It can be a nice idea to provide some winter warmers like soup, and mulled wine or sake can be an excellent choice at this time of year. Another nice option is to roast some hot dogs using a fire – for dessert, you could roast some marshmallows. Pizzas are also a great choice for a winter outdoor party.

5. Be Sure to Inform Your Guests it is an Outdoor Party

It is important that you tell your guests beforehand that you are having an outdoor party so they can dress appropriately. You can also ask them to bring their own blankets and pillows if you don’t have enough in your home.

6. Create a Space to Dance

If you have done a good job at creating a fun atmosphere, you are likely to find that as the night goes on, people are going to want to dance. One of the benefits of having your party outdoors is it usually means you have a bit more space to play with. It is a good idea to figure the space you are going to use for your dancing beforehand and preferably already have this free – otherwise, you are going to have to spend time setting things up.

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7. Choose Suitable Music

There is an art to choosing the right music for an outdoor party. If you just play the stuff you like, it is unlikely to put everyone in the right mood. A better option would be to use some type of music streaming system or just connect your iPod to the speakers and allow guests to have some say in what you play (provided you have a good selection of tunes on there).

8. Buy or Hire Additional Furniture/Equipment

If you are a bit short on furniture, or you need some additional equipment like a fire pit, you have the option to rent or buy. If you intend to have many outdoor parties in the future, it is probably going to be more cost-effective to buy these items. If this is just a once-off event, you might be better off renting.

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9. Provide Your Guests with Plenty of Cover

One of the risks with having a party outdoors during the winter is the possibility of the weather turning bad. If it starts to rain, it could ruin things unless you are able to provide your guests with some cover. If you have a covered patio, this could be an ideal place to keep dry – a gazebo can also work well. Patio curtains are a wonderful idea because you can use them to keep your guests protected from wind as well as rain.

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10. Create a Plan for Your Outdoor Party

If you don’t put a bit of effort into planning your winter outdoor party, the chances are that things are going to go wrong. Ideally, you should begin your planning process at least a couple of weeks beforehand to ensure things run smoothly.

Author Bio: WA Timber Decking, a Perth based Timber Decking specialist supply decking timber and decking supplies for the handyman, DIYer, and builder. Contact WA Timber Decking to help get your deck party-ready this Winter!