This post is sponsored by New Air. All opinions are 100% my own.
Have you ever been to a house party before as an adult?
It is so much fun!
Getting together with your friends and family or neighbors is a great way to get that adult interaction in and at the same time let off a little steam.
THROWING a party can be a little bit of a different experience, however, if you aren’t prepared for it. Especially that very first house party that you throw.
But don’t worry! You can host a great backyard BBQ, birthday party, or just plain old get-together at your home if you remember these four simple tips.
Tip #1 – Know What Kind of Party It Is
First things first. Exactly what kind of gathering are you preparing for?
- Holiday
- Birthday / Graduation
- Backyard BBQ
- Block Party
- Bonfire
- Going Away
- Potluck, etc.
You need to know what type of supplies to have ready and what to ask of your guests so you can make lists and be prepared.
Each theme will have a different aesthetic and needs. I like to do a Pinterest search for whatever type of party I’m throwing to gather ideas.
Party Tip: Parties can get expensive fast. This is why a potluck is my absolute FAVORITE type of party to have. That way, you are not responsible for providing ALL the food and drinks. You provide a handful of items (perhaps the main dish, a main type of drink, and plates/utensils, then everyone else brings a dish or two to share. So easy…..so fun….and way cheaper than doing it all yourself!
Tip #2 – Have Plenty of Food and Drinks Ready to Go
You don’t want to have to run out in the middle of your own party to replenish supplies. Having a little too much available is better than not having enough.
Here’s a list of the types of food and drinks that are great options for almost any kind of party you throw at home.
Food Ideas
- Anything that can be made into a “slider”
- Chips and dip – there must be 100 thousand dips out there
- Crackers and bread
- Cheese
- Fruit and veggies (any and all varieties)
- Wings (hot buffalo and garlic parmesan are always a hit)
- Cocktail sausages in a mini crockpot
- Cured meats & cheese (I’ve never met one person who hated a charcuterie board)
- Nuts – I once went to a party that had the biggest selection of nuts I’ve ever seen. It was amazing to try all the different ones!
- Deviled eggs
- Chicken salad / egg salad / tuna salad with crackers
- Regular salads – chopped salad, broccoli, baby greens, sweet pea with cheddar cheese, Caesar….no matter which direction you go, it’s a solid choice.
Drink Ideas
- Soda
- Tea
- Lemonade
- Coffee
- Wine
- Mixed drinks/ Cocktails
- Water
- Juice
- Beer/ Seltzer
No matter what type of food and drinks you provide, having them at the right temperature is imperative. No one wants a lukewarm beer or coffee.
I recently got my hands on a New Air Nugget Ice Maker, and I cannot describe how much I love it for hosting parties at my house!!
I have the 30 lb Countertop Nugget Ice Maker (product model NIM030SS00), and it has turned into something I use on nearly a daily basis.
It makes plenty of ice in a very short amount of time (around 30 min),and if you don’t use all the ice it simply melts back into the reservoir and is ready to go later on.
This has been a party game-changer for me. No more runs to the store for more bags of ice. No more warm drinks if no one wants to go on a run.
If you host parties of your own, you will understand what a big deal this is and why I’m so smitten with this New Air gadget.
It’s pretty compact, so it doesn’t take up a ton of space on our counter. I find that it’s non-intrusive enough to leave out on the counter at all times.
We even started taking it camping because we don’t like to be without it! Some people think I’m kidding, but I am not. I will get a picture of it next time we take it in the camper! LOL
I worked out a deal with New Air to snag 10% off for any readers who want one as well – redeem that code below!
Grab a New Air Nugget Ice Maker for Yourself HERE.
Use the code LENAG at checkout for a 10% discount!
Tip #3 – Have Plenty of Spots Open for Sitting or Gathering
Having plenty of seating is always an issue. No one typically has enough on hand to manage the amount needed.
One way to remedy this problem is by asking everyone to bring their own with them.
Whenever I throw a backyard party, I like to either round up seats from neighbors to use for the night or ask everyone to bring a camping chair with them.
It’s also easy and super cute to have blankets spread out for picnics for those that don’t mind sitting on the ground to hang out or eat.
Tables are another must have. People need places to set their food and drinks down. If this is the sort of event where people will mainly be standing, have a few tables set out for placing their items.
Tip #4 – Use Disposable Items That Can be Burned or Recycled
The one thing I absolutely love about a bonfire is there is rarely any trash.
If you use paper cups and plates, it can all go straight into the fire. No need to scrape off food. No need to take out bags and bags of waste. No need for much cleaning at all!!
If you’re not making a fire at this party, at least having disposable wares will make any after party cleanup a breeze.
Good luck hosting your next party!
Well, that’s all for my best party hosting tips. As you can see, we keep things laid back around here.
These backyard party tips have gotten me through many years of get togethers and have saved me from headaches and spending extra energy when all I want is to get together with my friends.
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
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