Little known fact: I started my career as an event planner for a catering company. It was actually the perfect first job for me, combining my passions for food, design, and bringing people together. (The downsides included crazy hours and very stressed customers, but it was a good experience for 22-year-old me.)
Even though I’ve been out of the event planning industry for a long time, I still love throwing a party. But instead of the champagne towers and elaborate dessert bars of my past life, my ideal type of meeting today is a casual, shoes-off affair, preferably outside in the sun. After all, everything tastes better costs!
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That said, anyone who has ever invited people over for a casual backyard dinner knows: a outdoor party comes with its own set of challenges. Blazing sun, annoying mosquitoes, maintaining food temperature (and keeping flies away) are details that can make or break the festivities. My experience in catering, combined with the countless parties I’ve thrown over the years, has taught me invaluable lessons that I use to make my own gatherings feel (almost) effortless.
Today we collect the most frequently asked questions about how to throw a summer party. I hope you’ll be inspired to find the next open house on your calendar (yes, weeknights work too!), send a few texts to friends and have some snacks to concoct a simple and delicious spread.
Read on to discover some of my proven secrets, menus, inspiration, and planning tips you need to host in style all season long.
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Answers to all your fun summer questions
Q: What’s the best way to invite people to a casual summer party?
A: Three words: stay cool. An invitation sets the tone, so for a simple outdoor party, don’t overthink it! In my opinion, a group text or email is the way to go. And I’ve found that when I really make it easier for myself, I’m naturally inclined to invite friends over more frequently. In addition to arrival time, I like to let people know the approximate time we’ll be eating so we don’t fire up the grill multiple times during an evening (e.g., “Come at 4 p.m. for swimming, burgers at 6 p.m.!”)
It’s also helpful to provide a loose dress code so people know what to expect. Swimsuits? Shorts? Summer dresses? Since summer party dressing expectations can be drastically different, everyone will appreciate a few pointers on what they should wear.
Q: What are some simple menu ideas? I feel like I’m always stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is out having fun.
A: I have a few strategies for keeping the menu simple: which one I choose will depend on the type of party and who is coming. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Snacks for dinner. Summer is the perfect time to whip up a delicious selection of store-bought staples along with a few artisanal treats. Assemble a snack board filled with delicious cheeses, olives, raw vegetables, dips, dried fruits, nuts: your options are truly endless. Green Goddess Dressing is downright addictive and goes perfectly with any type of seasonal vegetable.
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Mid-house party. The goal is to relax and spend time with your guests. So no matter how experienced you are with party planning, it’s great to have a few tricks up your sleeve. To save a lot of time, try a “semi-homemade” approach. Buy the main dish at a favorite place (like a rotisserie chicken at the deli or bagels at your favorite bakery) and complement it with homemade sides and salads which can be prepared in advance and will look like you cooked everything.
Throw it on the grill. Rule #1 when planning a menu: You don’t want to include anything that would require you to prepare food like a short-order cook when guests are around. This is where the grill Really is useful. I like my proteins to be already marinated or seasoned before guests arrive so all that’s left to do is throw them on the grill. Often I grill the vegetarian sides as well so things are really easy for me and cleanup is kept to a minimum!
Q: How can you speed up grill cleaning?
A: Grilling is one of the most low-maintenance ways to cook for a group, with a little know-how. Here are my tips for grill cleaning that will save you a lot of time:
- Oil the grill grates: Before grilling, oil the grates to prevent food from sticking. Use a brush or paper towel dipped in oil.
- Pre-clean the grill: While the grill heats, use a grill brush to scrape off any residue from previous grilling sessions.
- Marinate in bags: Marinate meat and vegetables in resealable plastic bags. This reduces the number of dishes to clean. Then I use tongs to transfer them directly from the bag to the grill, so the only dish actually used is the one you serve it on.
- Hot clean: After cooking, while the grill is still warm (but not hot), use a brush to remove any remaining food particles.
Q: What should I serve to drink so that I don’t have to refill my glasses all night?
A: I feel like a broken record, but the key is to keep it as simple as possible: less time bartending means more time sipping cocktails yourself! For just about any summer occasion, you can get away with 3 glasses and end the day:
A fun cocktail. Sangria, margaritas, punch: Pre-mix a large pitcher, then let guests help themselves. Some favorite pitcher drinks? This Mezcal Paloma and that Strawberry rosé sangria are as summery as possible. Aperol Spritz is a summer cocktail loved by everyone, perfect for an Italian menu. Or try a Blood Orange Margarita for a delicious take on a classic.
A rosé or a white wine. This is a perfect thing for guests to contribute when asking what they can bring to the party.
Flavor-infused water. Fill a large pitcher with water and add fruit or herbs for a festive touch. Bonus points for offering a fun non-alcoholic option like sparkling lemonade or iced tea.
A good rule of thumb is to allow 1 and a half drinks per person per hour. And at an outdoor summer party, always have more water and ice than you think you will need.
Q: What if it’s very hot on my birthday?
A: Again, have way more water on hand than you think you’ll need! And sunscreen is non-negotiable. Do your guests a favor and have sunscreen available so they can reapply as needed (check out our preferred cleaning options). I love the look of outdoor umbrellas and usually scatter 2 or 3 around a party space for some life-saving shade.
Q: What are some good outdoor activities to keep the mood going?
A: Take advantage of the carefree vibe of summer and plan classic party games and activities to make your gathering unforgettable. Some of my favorites:
- Yard games like bocce, croquet, and cornhole are great for encouraging people to relax and have a good time together.
- Music is essential to the ambiance, so don’t leave it to chance. My favorite for going out and dining is Casa Zuma Daybreak Playlist. And you can always increase the pace as the night goes on and see if an impromptu dance party breaks out.
Q: How can I stop chatter and have engaging conversations?
A: You speak my love language: good conversation is the key to any meeting! We make a list of conversation starters to inspire thoughtful and engaging discussions. Keep a few in your back pocket and you’ll enter every interaction with confidence (and curiosity!) and I guarantee the party will never get boring.
Entertaining is a practice, and getting together with loved ones is an opportunity to savor the sweetness of the season. After all, we only have so many summers in our lives, and squeezing every bit of joy out of them is worth it. So light the candles, chill a few bottles of wine, and let the season do what it does best: bring people together.
This article was last updated on June 12, 2026 to include new information.
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