There has been a significant increase in popularity when it comes to outdoor parties due to the aftermath of the pandemic. With that being said, we wanted to put together a step-by-step guide on how to host an outdoor party to make it as easy as possible for you. 

What do you need for an outdoor party?

1. Set a Budget

The first thing you will need to do is set a budget for your party. You can take your budget and divide it into smaller buckets to make it easier to manage and track. This will help you stick to the budget you set and make sure you don’t go overboard, because we all know how easy that is to do.

2. Choose a Theme

Once you set a budget, you will want to choose a theme. This will help bring together the details of your party and pull everything together. The theme can also help influence the venue you choose, what your invitations look like, what food you serve and so forth.

3. Select a Venue

Now that you have set your budget and chosen your theme, you can start looking at venues. You first want to decide what type of outdoor party venue you are looking for. Rooftop venues? Backyard garden? Beach patio? Once you know what you would like to book, you can narrow down your options.

4. Send Out Invites

Next, you will want to send out invites. You want to make sure you send them out far enough in advance, so people have time to plan for your event. We always recommend sending out invites 4-6 weeks in advance so people have enough of a heads up to add it to their calendar, but not too far in advance where they forget about the event.

5. Plan Food and Drinks

You can’t throw a good party without food and drinks services. You will need to decide what to serve at your outdoor party and what type of setup will you have? Buffet? Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails? Fine dining? This is important to figure out to see if you will need outdoor event services such as a wait staff or a craft cocktail bartender. The food and drinks can also play into the theme you chose.

6. Plan Entertainment

Next, you will want to plan out your entertainment. Will this be in the form of photo booths and fortune tellers or live bands and yard games? You can do a wide range of entertainment, or you can hone in on a few options so your guests have fun throughout the event.

7. Create a Masterplan

Finally, you will want to create a masterplan and flow chart of your event. This will help you stay organized and also allow for you to create backup plans in case something doesn’t go accordingly. In the event industry, a masterplan will always be your best friend.

At Piovra Group, we work with various party venues in Los Angeles and Orange County, as well as various event staffing services. We can always dive deeper into what your party will look like and how we can make your vision come to life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q: If I’m not sure what I want to do for entertainment, can you help me plan that?

A: Of course. With the wide range of parties we have thrown in our portfolio, we can help plan any aspect of your party and make sure it goes off without a hitch.

Q: Do you think a master plan is absolutely necessary?

A: While it’s not ABSOLUTELY necessary, we do recommend having one because it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the event space. Plus, you will have peace of mind knowing everything has been well thought out when it comes to your event.

Q: What do you think the best style of serving food and drinks is at an event?

A: That is entirely up to you when it comes to theme and preference. All of these can be great for different reasons, so it really depends on what you’re trying to go for.