Outdoor Graduation Party Tips

Outdoor Graduation Parties are very common in the summer since it is an easy and fun way to entertain a large group of people. They do have their drawbacks, so it's best to be prepared. Here are a few tips to help your party go off without a hitch.

Keep your guests cool. Make sure there are some seats in the shade and pleanty of beverages. Here are a few more ideas for activities to cool off -

• If you have a pool what better way to cool off than sit poolside with your favorite beverage and take an occasional dip.
• Set up several hard plastic kiddie pools full of cold water, lawn chairs and beach umbrellas (unless you have a large shade tree) for everyone to sit and relax in.
• A fun party favor that will cool everyone down are those spray bottles with the little fans on them.
• Cool your guests off with dessert; set up an ice cream buffet or rent a snow cone machine!
• You can also cool off while having fun, maybe a water balloon fight or a squirt gun war?

Take care of the bugs. Mosquitoes abound and proliferate after dark. Flies love food, you’re serving food, thus you’ll have flies.  So you have several choices: 

• Buy everyone a bug-off bracelet or set out a bucket with bug spray wipes.
• Cover the food. Lids and domed net food covers will do the trick.
• Citronella candles and torches with help a bit, set them around the party
• Give everyone an Off® Clip•On™ and add a nametag (cute, no?)
• Have your local pest control company spray the party area, or DIY with a can of chemicals.

Ignore this warning, and you’ll find everyone in your kitchen.

Have a rain plan. Tents are expensive so have a rain plan other than canvas.  You can rent a tent, but remember if it rains, you need sides (they are usually extra).  Also, if you don’t have a floor (being a rented one or a cement driveway perhaps), oops!   People will never forget the grass stains on their brand new shoes (or the fact that their stilettos prohibited them from moving table to table). Here are a few more options:

• Include a rain date on the invitation if bad weather will prevent your party from occurring.
• Purchase inexpensive gazebos and hope they hold up. They are ususally good enough for most things except a major storm.
• Plan your party at a park with a rain shelter. Usually a little more expensive, but worth it if it rains!

"Against the Wind" isn't only a song by Segar.  It also is a mindset for setting up your party. So when decorating your tent, pavilion or tables, remember tablecloths will blow (you need clips), balloons will wave back and forth in the faces of your guests (thus, no balloons on the tables) and paper napkins, plates and cups will fly to the hither lands if you’re not prepared with weights or baskets (or leave them in the bags).

• Party Ideas from Party411.com
• Graduation Party Ideas
• Easy Graduation Party
• Graduation Invitations

Comments

[Lindsey F]

This was a really helpful article. I am having a very large graduation party for my daughter and we live in Florida. After reading this, I ended up purchasing a huge gazebo from here: http://www.homebuzzed.com/extra-large-gazebos/
It comes with mosquito nets and a hard top which is going to look great in my backyard. Thanks for the idea!

[Holly James]

Thanks for sharing! I am a big believer in outdoor parties, and luckily I have a friend that works with an event rental company in Chicago, IL. I never thought of an ice cream bar to keep people cool, great idea! http://www.joliettent.net/About-Us/

[Holly James]

Thanks for sharing! I am a big believer in outdoor parties, and luckily I have a friend that works with an event rental company in Chicago, IL. I never thought of an ice cream bar to keep people cool, great idea! ">http://www.joliettent.net/About-Us/">

[Whitney Williams]

Thanks for sharing this information! Do you know of any great places that do tablecloth rentals in Kansas City?