Choosing a theme will make planning easier and will help in deciding which items to purchase. If you have no clue which theme to incorporate into your event, visit your local or on-line party store. There you’ll find endless possibilities of themes to plan your party around! Once you have chosen the theme, you’ll be on a roll. You will find coordinating ensembles of invitations, decorations, paper goods and more! Additionally, choosing a theme will help you decide on your menu items. 

Make your guests comfortable. Be sure you have enough seating and shaded areas for guests to relax in. If you find you are short on chairs, ask friends or neighbors if you can borrow a few extra. If you need to create more shade, don’t hesitate to purchase an inexpensive canopy. By July, you can usually find them on sale in stores. A sturdy, 10’ x 10’, easy to assemble canopy will only cost you $20 or less, and you’ll end up using it time and time again. These items are very inexpensive to rent as well. By renting a canopy, your party will go on rain or shine!

Self-serve will make your job easier. Designate specific coolers or containers to hold the different beverages you will be offering your guests. For example, allow one container for just beer or wine coolers, another for pop, one for diet drinks, and one for bottled water. Be sure to label each container so it is obvious where your guests can find the beverages they’re looking for. Your job as a host will be made easier when guests can help themselves.

Entertainment. If you want to preserve some order inside your home, be sure to have as many outdoor activities planned as possible, especially if children are in attendance. Inflatable moonwalks are the biggest rage and will keep kids jumping for hours, really! They’re safe and fun for all ages, adults love’em too!  Book one with a company who offers delivery,set-up, take-down  and removal. There isn’t a big difference in some companies’ rates for delivery, compared to picking it up yourself at a local rental shop. This way, you won’t have to bother with it the day of your event, or worry about returning it on time the next day either.

Most importantly, here’s a tip that most people don’t think of: Plan and inform your guests of a raindate in advance by including it in your invitation. Why let all that creative party planning go to waste if you don’t have room to accommodate guests indoors?