How to Host the Best "Backyard Bliss" Girls' Night

 The backyard can become the most comfortable room in the home as the sun begins to set. A few chairs placed at the patio table, some twinkling string lights above, and the soothing sounds of water flowing in the hot tub create a memory-filled night. However, hosting a casual girls’ night in your yard doesn’t have to be complicated. Typically, all you need are a few small, thoughtful ideas.

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Overplanning Your Food Choices

 Many hosts will go overboard planning what to serve at their outdoor gathering. They will spend the entire night moving back and forth between the kitchen and patio, rather than socialising with their friends.

 Outdoor environments are best suited to easy-to-serve food like an oversized wooden platter filled with cheese, crackers, sliced fruit, and olives that can be kept out for hours; along with an oversized pitcher of cold sparkling lemonade or chilled rosé to be poured by guests as needed, allowing everyone to serve themselves while keeping the conversations flowing. Easy menus foster a casual, relaxing environment. Guests will feel no pressure to sit down at a formal meal.

Not Considering Comfortable Lighting

 Most homes have only one brightly lit patio light. While useful, it can give off a harsh and unwelcoming impression. Soft lighting creates a different ambience. Using a strand of warm string lights hung from a fence, a few table lanterns, or solar lights lining the walkway softly illuminates the space. Guests can still clearly see their beverages and snacks; however, the space now has a calming, inviting atmosphere. Even a handful of candles in glass votives can change the overall atmosphere of the evening.

Not Preparing the Hot Tub Before Guests Arrive

 Hot tubs add an element to any party. The hot tub must be ready for use before guests arrive. This means there should be no waiting for the water to heat or for the host to skim the surface of leaves.

 By checking the water temperature early in the day and ensuring the water is clean, the potential problems associated with this issue are eliminated. Many homeowners also contract a hot tub cleaning service before parties, so the water is clean and properly balanced, and it takes little effort. Having a folded stack of towels near the hot tub and a small side table for beverages will make the experience easier for guests.

Not Providing Simple Comfort Details

 Evening comforts and practicalities that contribute to the guest experience can mean as much to your guests as the decorations. Anything that makes your guests feel more comfortable during the evening will help create a welcoming environment

 Having a basket of extra blankets or throw blankets placed in the general seating area of your party is useful in case it gets cooler once the sun goes down. A convenient drink station near seating areas provides your guests with an easy place to set down their beverages. A small, portable speaker in the background, playing soft music during those quieter moments of the evening, can be another way to show your appreciation for your guests.

Close the Evening Gracefully

 In many cases, a successful backyard gathering does not require a specific closing time. As the evening comes to a close, the guests tend to gravitate towards quieter conversations under the lights.

 Providing a final cup of tea, packaging leftovers into individual snack bags or helping guests to their cars by walking them to the gate will allow for a natural closure to the evening. The longer a guest lingers, the more likely the evening was a success.