Over the course of this summer, Scott and I have hustled to make our front porch a place we love to hang out; a second living room, if you will. The patio was a huge selling point for us, and what started as a drab and poorly constructed space was slowly transformed into a welcoming, bright and cheery lounge. But what’s the perfect space for an afternoon drink if you can’t share it with your friends? We knew we’d want to host a lot more gatherings with our most recent project, and at the same time, our crew has voted our front porch as the official gathering spot as the summer winds down. Hosting a casual dinner – whether it’s for 4 or 10! – shouldn’t be stressful, so we put that to the test and came up with 5 ways to host an effortless picnic with friends.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO USE ITEMS YOU ALREADY HAVE ON HAND
Most recently, we invited over two of our close friends for an intimate dinner and evening fiesta. We kept things minimal by using decorative gold chargers we had stashed away for special occasions, but we pulled them out for a bit of flair. Our outdoor coffee table served for dining as well, and we folded a larger tablecloth on top of that to kick things up a notch. Grocery store flowers tucked into vases and small unscented tea lights dropped into mason jars provided gorgeous ambient lighting throughout the evening. Better yet, we rummaged through our Christmas bins to pull out a string of lights for the patio railing!
Since we were dining al fresco, we allowed the outdoor scenery and prepared dishes bring in most of the color, but our little flea market lantern was a fun touch and conversation piece. We did pick up a citronella candle to keep the bugs at bay, but if you must shop for a few supplies to set the mood, I encourage you to stick to an under $20 budget. Peruse the dollar spot at Target, and don’t forget about the more décor-centric stores such as Pier 1 and World Market! It can be done, especially as the season winds down and the clearance bins become full.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER
For any low-stress gathering, it will lighten your load to delegate a manageable job to each guest. As the hosts, we supplied the main dish, but your friends will always be more than willing to bring along the sides or a dessert to share. If you feel that you’re happiest to take on the majority of the responsibility, ask your company to lend a hand! We were in the mood for margaritas, and our friend is an excellent maker of the limey drink, so he volunteered to make them first thing. (And they were delicious!)
NIX THE BARBECUE FOR FOODS THAT CAN BE PREPARED AHEAD OF TIME
We all love a good barbecue, but that typically leaves one person manning the grill for the entire evening. Step outside the box and plan the menu around fare that’s low stress – think: a pasta or casserole party, or in our case, a taco bar! Scott and I spent 30 minutes in the morning whipping up this slow cooker recipe, and by the time our guests arrived, all we had to do was lay out the toppings. For our sweet tooth, we picked up a few slices of key lime pie from a favorite local bakery.
LET THE GOOD TUNES ROLL
You know those warm, fuzzy feelings you get when you hear your favorite song on the radio? Not only does it take you back, but it’s also a sure way to spark conversation. For those fun-filled summer evenings, I encourage you to take the easy way out and set up a playlist using free streaming internet radio. Simply choose an artist you love, and your smart station will play the tunes all evening long! Our go to low-key favorites are The Supremes and Sam Cooke; the Motown genre never disappoints.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT PAIRS WITH GOOD MUSIC? A LIGHTHEARTED (YET ROUSING!) GAME.
For a larger gathering, Scott and I will leave a deck of cards or a domino set casually laying on a table. You’d be surprised how many people will pick them up and dive in! A current favorite is the iPhone app Heads Up!, and I give you my 100% guarantee that you’ll be rolling with laughter in no time.
Most importantly, don’t let those tiny details get the best of you! Have fun, enjoy. Challenging yourself to get creative with items you have on hand will allow for a summertime picnic that’s so perfectly you, and what’s not to love in that?
Happy picnic-ing!