The Essentials When Throwing a Backyard BBQ Party

Anyone who has ever enjoyed a BBQ party knows it’s the best and most laid back event you can go to. Whether it’s a small backyard party to a full-blown cookout, you want the atmosphere to be light, fun, and comfortable for you and everyone else invited. So like any other party, you need to prepare everything you’ll need to hold the best BBQ party in the neighborhood.

Despite the laid back feeling, if you don’t plan well, it can turn out to be anything but relaxing, and instead of marking your calendar for the next one, you’ll vow never to hold another one again! Planning doesn’t need to be so stressful as long as you ensure having the essentials by your side. So, let’s get grilled on what those essentials are.

A Grill

No grill, no BBQ. If you’re a pro at BBQing, you probably already have your favorite type of grill. Grills come in a large variety, but the tools you need for grilling are all, more or less, the same. Make sure you have tongs, a grill fork, spatula, basting brush, grill gloves, and gas and charcoal for traditional types of grills. You should have a table placed near the grill with all these essentials spread out and within easy reach for you. The tongs and spatula should be stainless steel, and make sure you don’t use any items that can melt under intense heat. You could also throw on a chef’s apron to protect your clothes from grill splatter.

Cold Drinks

While the grill is hot, the drinks you serve have to be ice cold. Don’t ruin your BBQ by serving warm drinks that are supposed to be chilled, so don’t give a chance for any cold drinks to get warm. You also certainly don’t want to keep running back and forth from the kitchen, getting drinks or ice from the fridge or sneaking outside during your BBQ to go grab a few ice bags from the store. Your best option would be a portable ice maker. Portable ice makers are lightweight and can quickly produce ice in large quantities. When you do some proper research through portable ice maker reviews, you’ll see that some models can make ice in as little as 6 to 8 minutes. How cool is that? You won’t find a shortage of choices, which means you’ll find the most efficient and suitable one for you that also suits your budget. A portable ice maker is never going to be used just for a one-time event. You can take it with you on camping trips or to the beach, making it a worthwhile purchase.

Snack Table

You never know what might delay the grilling, and you don’t want your guests to get hungry. Impatient and hungry guests will crowd around the grill or even ask to go into your kitchen in search of food. Too stressful! Having a snack table should keep everyone satisfied until the main dishes are ready. Any snacks you choose should be prepared beforehand and just set them out whether you’re delayed in the grilling or not. Encourage your guests to help themselves, and that should be enough.

Bug Repellent

Nothing can put a damper on a BBQ party than unwanted guests in the form of bugs. To be the perfect host, always make sure there is some bug repellent spray available for your guests. You can also do some pre-preparation to lessen bug presence, such as removing any standing water beforehand. You’ll probably have standing water at the bottom of flowerpots, which need to be drained. Redirecting the downspout, emptying the kiddy pool, are other simple measures you can take before your party.

Fans

It would be perfect if the weather is perfect all the time, but sometimes summer weather is high in humidity, and it’s uncomfortable being sweaty and sticky. A couple of fans can go a long way in providing just the right amount of breeze to keep everyone happy. At night, you’d be surprised how just a slight breeze from a fan can keep mosquitoes at bay, so fans can also work as repellents.

Lighting

Your BBQ might start at night, and if you started during the day, it’s eventually going to get dark, so make sure outdoor lights are steady and ready. The lights should create a quiet and relaxing ambiance, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also have a festive look at them. String lights are easy to set up, you can hang them along your fence, or along backyard trees, for instance. Many people like to also use tiki torches because they help combat the mosquito problem while also providing light.  Citronella candles and smoke do repel mosquitoes, but only in the immediate vicinity. Also, make sure your walking paths are lit up.

Entertainment

Having some music already playing before guests start to arrive will set the vibe you want. It’s important not to put blaring music on, so you can use several smaller speakers and have them facing towards the outside of the house, and that way, you’ll get the best sound without annoying guests or neighbors. Kids just know instinctively how to have fun, but you might want to coax adults more. You could set up a small table or two for a card or board games. And you can also have some outdoor games ready, like horseshoes.

Disposable Dishes

This isn’t the time to get out your best china. This is the time for paper for almost everything. You only need some bowls for certain foods like salads and dips, but the rest of the food can be served in compostable and biodegradable items. They won’t harm the environment, and you won’t have the hassle of cleaning up.

A BBQ will always remain a favorite American tradition. Don’t forget that the essential thing is to have fun! When you’re prepared with the essentials, you’ll feel relaxed. And if the host relaxes, so will their guests. So be a good host and start sending out your invites.