How To Host Outside Without It Feeling Like A Production

A GOOD FOUNDATION

The first thing you'll need is a home base for refreshments -- save yourself the trouble of running back and forth from the kitchen. If you've got the room, and the budget, for a proper dining table, it's worth giving yourself the room to spread out. Though you might think you'd only need one for hosting full seated dinners, I mostly use mine for setting out dips, drinks and spreads. Mainly it acts as a beautiful canvas and an anchor point, a place to direct flow around your outdoor space. I can't speak highly enough of Article's concrete Atra ($1,099) model, which has gravitas that feels effortless at the same time. 

That said, a 6-foot folding table ($161.19) can get you far with the right linens. Misette's Line Drawing Linen Tablecloth ($250) is a jaw dropper, while West Elm's Cabana line ($72) is easy to wash and inherently summery. An even lighter, more flexible option is the Outdoor Table in a Bag ($79) from Crate & Barrel, which is a lot more clutch than it sounds. These tables look great and are easy to combine end to end, the perfect solution if you're picnicking at the park or the beach. That's right: you don't need your own outdoor space to bring friends together under the sun. With the right supplies, any public space is your oyster.

DON'T BE A HERO

Since your goal is to minimize running around on the day, lean into an evergreen summertime favorite: the potluck. Even at the bougiest garden party, the food is never the main event, and when light bites are the name of the game, it's easy to outsource. Have guests bring fruit plates, sandwiches, cold salads, or something sweet. No need to get too prescriptive here; the stakes are pretty low. 

No one will blame you for stopping there, but if you've got bandwidth, you can round out the incoming spread with a homemade main. Carnitas are easy to make ahead in an Instant Pot ($89.99), and become an easy handheld dish when served with tortillas and/or lettuce cups. If you're going veggie, I often opt for a Greek-inspired potato salad, one that leans on good olive oil – shoutout, Graza ($19.95) – instead of mayo that'll get funky in the sun. 

When it comes to drinks, there's no need to whip up anything stiff. Wine and beer will carry you far, and so will something like a Spritz Bar, which feels indulgent but still cleverly prevents you from playing bartender. Simply provide your guests with a few different aperitifs – I'm a big fan of Amaro Angeleno ($39.99) and Faccia Brutto ($37.99) – plus enough sparkling wine to fill up their glasses. They'll know what to do from there, but they'll still feel taken care of. 

And of course, you'll want plenty of N/A options on hand, from seltzers to juices to the wide world of adaptogens. Despite the crowded market, I still believe you can't do better than a can of Ghia ($18.99). They've perfected their own spritz, which keeps all your guests on an even playing field.

AND SERVE

As difficult as prepping for a party can be, the worst part always comes in the aftermath: the dishes. Lucky for you, most glass- and dishware is vulnerable to breaking outside, which leaves you with the perfect alibi: You simply must use disposables. Compostable palm leaf plates ($26.99) are eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing, while Williams Sonoma makes gorgeous multicolored cocktail glasses ($79.95). That said, those glasses add up fast if you're serving a crowd, so there's nothing wrong with buying plastic Chinet cups ($7.37) in bulk. 

If you're worried disposables will bring down the vibe, rest assured the food will still look gorgeous thanks to your serving vessels. A beautiful platter like the Oval ($78) from East Fork or a centerpiece like Hedley & Bennett's Very Big Bowl ($98) can elevate any dish, whether that's something you made ahead or transferred from a store-bought container. My absolute favorite purchase of the last few years is my Viski Heavy Base Punch Bowl ($59.99), which is unbeatable for serving big batches made for a crowd. But if you're keeping things BYOB, all you need is a beautiful place to plunk down your bottles, like Frontgate's Optima Beverage Tub ($202.30)

NOW, FOR SOME AMBIANCE

Mother Nature should provide most of the scene-setting, though weather's out of your control and I'm not one to give landscaping tips. Allow me instead to suggest you invest in outdoor lighting, which can run the gamut from lanterns to tried-and-true string lights ($46.97). I make liberal use of rechargeable LED lamps, like the Makars ($99.99) from Rejuvenation, which come in fantastic colors. The Bolleke Portable Lamps ($149), meanwhile, are great for hanging from trees or umbrellas, and allow you to get soft light at different heights. Whichever way you go, make sure to throw light into different areas of your space. If you've only got one lantern, you'll find all your guests swarming it like moths. 

The other area where you can have free reign is sound design, which mainly boils down to getting one or two killer speakers. Sonos is the leading name for good reason, and their Outdoor Speaker Pair ($999) has changed the game for all my backyard BBQs. However, I've also been really impressed with OSD's pair of outdoor rock speakers ($326.99), which have the added benefit of blending in with different terrain. And as far as playlist goes, you should always follow your own taste… but if you're in need of inspo, give my Al Fresco mix a spin.

Last but certainly not least is the ultimate splurge: a fire pit. Ever since installing one in my patio, it's been prime real estate at every party. While design-wise nothing beats the curvature of a fire bowl -- like this Banff model ($1,299) from Williams-Sonoma Home -- Solo Stove offers fantastic options at a fraction of the price. Their Summit fire pits start at $399.99, and throw remarkably tall flames without any smoke. When you've got the magic of an open fire, even pre-packaged snacks feel elevated. Sometimes the best thing you can do as a host is just set a beautiful scene.