60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Nautical-Inspired Table

Give your outdoor table a laid-back feel with a nautical-inspired tablecloth, matching red napkins, and simple centerpieces.

Make the Nautical Canvas Tablecloth

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Sundae Party

Celebrate summer with a colorful sundae party; set out toppings in fortune-tellers, those folded-paper staples of childhood.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Message-in-a-Bottle Place Cards

Personalize table settings and add a touch of seafaring mystery to dinner with message-in-a-bottle place cards.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Pretty Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns don't need to have lights in them to signal an instant party feel. String them above the deck as a festive decoration instead.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Fruit Spritzers

Enjoy the essence of summer in a glass with cubes left over from fruit salad and a simple syrup made from sugar and water.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Leaf Coasters

Freshly cut large leaves make natural waterproof anchors for summer drinks. Lush foliage, such as the hosta leaves we used, add color to table settings and act as reminders of tropical vacations. Cut leaves early in the day, and set them in water immediately, keeping them hydrated in a container until it's time to serve drinks. Dry before using.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Fourth of July Pom-Poms and Table Runner

Create napkins, a runner, and seating cards in festive bursts of red, white, and blue.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Mix-and-Match Napkins

Got an assortment of paper napkins left over from parties past? To make a hodgepodge look festive -- and coordinated -- add a white doily band. Fold two napkins together. Cut a strip from a round or square paper doily; for a band that's lacy on both edges, accordion-fold a small doily in the middle. Wrap it around napkin; tape at back. Tuck in a plastic fork.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Pretty Pitcher Arrangement

This bouquet of maroon cosmos and rich indigo larkspur -- cut from the garden and tucked into an ironstone vessel alongside a compote of blueberries -- is at once lively and serene, and is the perfect arrangement for outdoor entertaining.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Drink Parasols

Add a burst of patriotic spirit to summer sips with these festive umbrellas.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Poolside Party

Set up a low table and colorful plastic chairs by the pool so guests can enjoy small bites and cocktails by the water.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Bandanna Tablecloth

Colorful, casual, and altogether charming, this vintage-style tablecloth is ideal for outdoor entertaining.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Butterfly Party Lanterns

Let a flock of colorful paper butterflies loose, and you'll instantly give party decorations a lift.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Origami Napkin Rings

Playful patterned cuffs spiff up paper napkins and make it a breeze for guests to grab their flatware at a barbecue buffet.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Photo Centerpiece

If you're throwing a party for someone's anniversary or birthday, the guest of honor will shine with a set of photo frame lanterns. They consist of three hinged photo frames set around votive candles. The black-and-white photos are printed onto ecru-colored vellum paper, which is translucent enough for the images to be visible by candlelight.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Form and Function

For a prettier and more accessible tabletop at your next barbecue or picnic, decant condiments from their original packaging into small dishes, ramekins, or even mismatched teacups. Arrange them, along with homemade dips, salsas, and sauces, down the table, making sure each diner has everything within reach.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Splendor in the Grass

For a summer dinner, place the picnic table underneath the shade of some trees. A white, full-length tablecloth and striped seat covers will give your table setting a fresh but rustic feel.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Outdoor Movie Party

On long summer days, twilight usually means the outdoor fun is starting to wind down. But at a summer movie party, it signals that the main attraction is about to begin.

How to Throw an Outdoor Movie Party

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Takeaway Bouquets

These lush bouquets have two roles: as centerpieces during a party and as favors for guests to take home after the celebration.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Stamped Paper Fans

Embellish paper fans as favors for your next get-together. They'll create a welcome breeze for guests on hot, sunny days.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Moss Centerpiece

Give your outdoor table a lush centerpiece with a fun, graphic twist.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Flower Votive Displays

Flowers and candlelight are nothing new, but together they create tabletop decorations fit for relaxed summer entertaining.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Backyard Brunch

Throw a Sunday morning meal outdoors that parents and their little ones can enjoy -- thanks to a kid-friendly, make-ahead buffet and some fun (read: distracting) activities.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Courtyard Cocktail Party

Host a casual cocktail party where rustic French and Spanish ideas meet.

Learn More and Get the Recipes for a Courtyard Cocktail Party

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Paving-Stone Table

Create an outdoor tabletop for party guests using the smooth, flat slabs normally used as stepping stones.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Bottle Beauty Hurricane

Bars and buffet tables must be adequately lighted, but they're often located far from electrical outlets. An easy, inexpensive solution is to gather clear apothecary bottles and fill them with lamp oil and wicks. Arrange the bottles under a large hurricane for protection. We set these on a sturdy glass cake stand.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Star-Topped S'More Sticks

These starry s'more sticks add a magical touch to an evening campfire.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Southern Romance

Hydrangeas snipped from the garden can echo blue linens that dress your outdoor table. Try mixing formal and everyday platters and serving bowls, flanked by sterling silver, to create an elegant counterpoint to hearty offerings.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Avoid a Bottleneck at the Bar

Multiple beverage stations help ensure that guests can get a refill without waiting. Galvanized tubs, colorful enamel buckets, and planters work perfectly. Place an assortment of drinks in each bin if they're destined for different locations throughout the yard. Or fill each container with a single type, such as imported beer, white wine, or bottled water. With ribbon, tether an opener to a handle of each bin; drape a dish towel nearby to take care of condensation.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Tiki-Torch Anchors

Decking your yard with tiki torches is an inexpensive, festive way to bring island style home -- and to light up the night without electricity.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

River Rock Paperweights

Pretty paper goods are no match for an unruly summer breeze at an outdoor party. River rocks (available by the bag at garden centers) help keep plates and napkins where they belong, even after they've left the serving table. Pile them in a bucket on the buffet table for guests to grab along with their utensils; you'll avoid having to chase flyaways.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Frozen Vodka

A bottle of icy vodka makes a dramatic bar decoration when it's encased in a frozen layer of colorful flowers and fruit.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Beach Bucket Centerpiece

Turn kids' metal beach buckets into custom centerpieces by painting them in bright colors.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Hanging Paper Flowers

With a few snips and folds, and a little imagination, you can turn humble paper bags into party-perfect decorations.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Vellum Shields

Cocktails at sundown are more memorable when you supplement the waning daylight with Asian-inspired lanterns. These tabletop ones consist of colorful sheets of vellum paper sandwiching tall votive candles in glass holders; chopsticks hold the paper in place.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Nautical-Themed Garland

Salute guests at your next outdoor party with garlands made from ribbon in nautical-themed stripes and solids.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Flowerpot Servers

Match the informality of a summer buffet with rustic serving dishes fashioned from clay flowerpots and saucers.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Striped Picnic Table

Set the table for a whole season of festive cookouts by giving it a new summer coat.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Cheery Paper Fruit Pouches

A few easy folds is all it takes to turn plain paper into cheery cups for servings of fresh fruit salad and more.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Fire-and-Water Centerpiece

Two glass vases and tinted water can be combined to create a unique and festive effect on an outdoor table.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Paper Lanterns

Create a romantic mood with the soft light of paper luminaries.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Romantic Sunset Party

Consider bright and bold hues for the table that play up the summer sunset. Martha's Asian lanterns lend romance even when they're not lit.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Scalloped Sacks

Seasonal fruits make wonderful (and delicious) favors. Each of these sacks holds a handful of juicy red cherries, perfect for an outdoor summer party. Buy glassine bags; trim tops with scalloped scissors. Fill bags with enough cherries, or other small fruit, so they peek out over the top. To help the bags stand up, turn corners under at bottoms. Display favors in wooden crates.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Flash Freeze

Here's a great way to chill beverages in time for an impromptu backyard barbecue. Place wine or other bottles in a bucket; add a layer of ice, followed by a layer of salt (coarse or table); repeat until you almost reach the top. Fill the bucket with cold water to just below the ice line. The water in the ice bucket will be colder than normal, chilling the libations in less than 10 minutes.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Origami Votive Wraps

Light shines through these thin paper sheaths, creating a gorgeous glow.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Homegrown Centerpieces

Create centerpieces using foliage from the yard. Flowering or fruiting branches look elegant atop a table, as do fern fronds and hosta leaves arranged in jars.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Keep Candles Glowing

Enjoy candlelight even on breezy evenings by using hurricane lanterns or jam jars to shield the flames.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Nature-Inspired Centerpiece

In this casual centerpiece, a piece of driftwood stretches along the center of the table, accompanied by clusters of freshly picked flowers and ponderosa pinecones and needles.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Fruity Ice Cubes

Party punch calls for festive ice: giant frozen cubes capturing bright slices of fresh citrus. To make the ice, thinly slice lemons, limes, and oranges, and layer the slices in muffin cups. Fill each cup halfway with water or nonalcoholic punch, and freeze.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Rosemary Coals

Instead of making a marinade with rosemary for grilling, place the herb right on the coals. The smoke enhances food in the same way burning wood chips does. Once the coals are uniformly gray and ashy, loosely cover them with fresh rosemary branches (be careful not to burn your hands). Almost any meat or vegetable will benefit from this savory smoking.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Weighted Tablecloth

These pretty tassels will keep the wind from blowing your tablecloth away during your next backyard dinner.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Create a Special Outdoor Centerpiece

With some creativity and inspiration, you can easily assemble an outdoor arrangement or centerpiece that's lively, provocative, and unexpected.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Perfect Silverware Pockets

Create a festive outdoor table with folded pockets for silverware.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Birch Cake Stand

Assemble cupcakes atop this woodsy cake stand for a nature-inspired touch.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Peony and Wicker

Set an outdoor table with peonies from the garden and use wicker trays instead of conventional place mats.

60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Outdoor Canopy

All by itself, a simple canopy can turn an empty space outside into a special gathering place for party guests.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Light Fantastic

As the long summer days melt into balmy nights, ease the transition -- and extend the pleasure -- by dining outdoors under a private starry dome of twinkling candles.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Outdoor Centerpiece

A handful or two of freshly cut flowers embody the laid-back spirit of outdoor entertaining, especially when the blooms are slipped into a mismatched assortment of clear glass bottles, jars, and carafes.

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60 Outdoor Party Ideas

Laminated Tablecloth

You don't have to banish sloppy eaters to the children's table. With a laminated tablecloth, spills disappear with the wipe of a sponge. The only problem is that most laminated cloths are designed with family meals in mind and are too informal for company. But now you can select your own fabric and have it custom laminated. Mail-order services such as Custom Laminations in Paterson, New Jersey (973-279-9174), will coat the surface of any fabric with a thin layer of vinyl for approximately $80 for up to 12 yards. You can then cut and hem the laminated fabric to make a water-resistant tablecloth -- or sew it into matching covers for outdoor chairs.