The 14 All-Time Best Backyard Party Ideas (2024)

Take a roll of brown kraft paper and run it the length of your table: Not only does it have a rustic-chic appeal, it's alsocheapand can go straight into the recycling bin when you're done. If you've got time (or want to keep the kids out of your hair with a craft project), "paint on it," suggests style expert Robert Verdi. "Do something simple like polka dots or go all out and trace the place settings. You can even write out guests' names or initials in lieu of place cards. But don't worry about being perfect — it's supposed to look handmade."

Steal from the garden.Huge floral arrangements can look luxe, but you'll get the same bang for zero bucks by using greens clipped from your backyard. "I hosted a small dinner party and didn't have a lot of time or money to spend," says Becca Gorski, an event planner and the blogger behind Cake Events & Design. "So I cut a few branches from each of the different trees in our yard and laid them down the middle of my table as a centerpiece."

Add a pop of pattern to your table by spreading a strip of wrapping paper down the center like a runner. "It's super-easy and you won't care if your guests spill on it," points out New York City-based wedding planner Sarah Pease.

Plant some great decor.Buy a flat of annuals from your hardware store, use fabric or thick ribbon to cover up the plastic edge of the container, and plop it right down on the table. What we love about this trick is that nothing goes to waste: After the party, you can plant them in your garden.

Batch his co*cktails in advance, soyoucan enjoy the party.

Watermelon refresher.Prep time: 5 minutes. In a blender, combine 6 cups peeled seedless watermelon (about 4½ lb, or 1 small melon), ? cup lime juice, ¼ cup mint leaves, and 1 Tbsp sugar; puree until mixture is smooth and only flecks of mint remain. Add ? cup white rum, stir to combine, and cover and refrigerate until cold. Serve with ice. (The watermelon mixture — before you add the rum — can be made up to 6 hours ahead. Refrigerate until serving.)Makes 6 co*cktails.

Summer's sangria.Prep time: 10 minutes, plus at least 2 hours chilling time. Combine 1 (750-ml) bottle sauvignon blanc or another dry white wine, ¼ cup St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and 1 Tbsp sugar; stir to dissolve sugar. Add 1 ripe plum (cut into thin wedges), 1 peach (scrubbed to remove fuzz and cut into thin wedges), ½ lb strawberries (hulled and halved), 6 oz raspberries, 2 (3-inch) strips lemon zest, and 2 Tbsp lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Serve over ice.Makes 6 co*cktails.

Tipsy tee.Prep time: 10 minutes. Combine 3 cups lemonade, 1 cup bourbon, 1 small lemon (thinly sliced), and 1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger (peeled and thinly sliced, about ½ cup). Stir well to blend flavors. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Add to a dispenser and top with 2 (12-oz) bottles chilled ginger ale.Makes 6 co*cktails.

Rock the buffet table.Grab some flat stones from your yard (or get the nice ones at a garden supply store), give them a quick cleaning, and write a menu item on each with a white paint pen. You can also use them as place cards or napkin weights on a breezy day.

"Snazz up store-bought lemonade by adding frozen blueberries or strawberries to each glass," says event planner Dabney Lee. "They're prettier than ice cubes and add great flavor without watering down your drink."

Flag your straws.Take a small piece of washi tape, double it over a straw, and you've got a colorful accent in less than a minute. "They're adorable and help guests keep track of their drinks," says blogger Helena Schaeder Söderberg of Craft and Creativity.

Serve gourmet chips without hiring a fancy caterer: Just warm plain packaged Kettle Chips or Cape Cod Potato Chips in the oven to release their oils, then toss with your favorite seasonings. Food Network star Michael Chiarello likes smoked paprika and chipotle powder.

Brown-bag it.Serve snacks in paper lunch bags. Snip off the tops and (if you want to get fancy) wrap them with colorful butcher's twine, then fill with chips or fresh fruit. "They're easy to grab and walk around with," says New York City-based event planner and blogger Amy Atlas. "Plus, it's one less dish you have to do."