When I think about quintessential summer, one of the first things that comes to mind is hosting a barbecue with friends and family. I have many fond memories of hanging out on the back patio of a relative’s house during the summer, eating hotdogs and playing HORSE or winning a watermelon seed spitting contest.
But, hosting a gathering can be expensive. Here are some tips and ideas for hosting the best ever BBQ without breaking your bank!
BBQ Planning Tips
Plan for weather – It’s going to be hot and depending on where you live, it might either rain or be extremely dry. Either way plan ahead and have lots of ice water available to guests, fans, umbrellas and indoor plans just in case.
Keep it simple – While all of the tips on the Internet and Pinterest look really cool, at the end of the day there’s no need to go overboard with decorations and themes. Those tiki centerpieces might be cute, but as long as you have a clean house, good food and friends, it’ll be a total success.
Plan entertainment – There’s nothing worse than that awkward feeling you get when you first arrive at someone’s house and everyone is just standing around. Try getting out some board games or setting up some lawn games for people to play. Don’t force it on anyone, but have it available just in case.
Kids activities – If you know that you’ve got kids attending, be sure to have something for them to do while the adults catch up. Games, squirt guns and water balloons are all good options.
Food Tips
Don’t go overboard – Good food is, obviously, essential for a BBQ of any sort, but you don’t have to spend a ton of money on meat and things to grill. Sometimes the classics, like hamburgers and hot dogs or brats is more than enough.
Ask guests to bring something – If you’re doing all of the grilling and preparing, there’s nothing wrong with asking your guests to bring their favorite side dishes or desserts. Just make sure you have at least one side dish in case someone forgets!
Keep it fresh – If you have a garden, then take advantage of what you already have! You might be getting tired of the mountains of tomatoes, but your guests certainly won’t be and many of them may not have gardens of their own.
Your turn! Do you have any great tips for planning the best BBQ for family and friends? Share with me in the comments below!!
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