When the weather gets warmer, there’s nothing like an al fresco dinner party – an open-air backyard gathering. There are a lot of ways you can do it creatively and on a budget! Keep reading to get ready for your next outdoor party plus bonus individual appetizer recipe for mini caprese bites!

Stunning Outdoor Dinner Party Ideas

Today, I want to share how my dear friend Tiana allowed me to collaborate with her for an amazing outdoor dinner party. Let’s cover some of the important essentials to throw the party of your dreams. You don’t need a special occasion to throw an amazing party for friends.

How Do I Host an Outdoor Dinner Party?

That’s the question of the hour, right? I’m so glad you asked. It’s not as complicated as you think – and planning it can be super-easy. Let’s walk through some things to consider if you’re planning a gathering in your own backyard.

First Thing: Guest List

The first step to planning this party is to determine who is on the list. And I don’t mean exclusivity, but more – will there be children? That will determine the direction for the rest of your party planning.

Generally, things will be easier if this is an adults-only party, so it’s a good idea to let guests know ahead of time if it will be child-friendly.

If your invitees are your closest friends and most favorite people, that will usually take some of the pressure off. However, if this is a mixed crowd that doesn’t necessarily know each other, you’ll want to plan in some ways for people to feel comfortable and have a good time together.

For instance, if it’s a sit-down dinner, you can have place settings with place cards, which is a great way to intentionally mix the crowd or pair up a few people who know each other so they don’t feel as awkward.

Tables and Seating

As I alluded to, there are all different types of backyard parties you can host.

Quickly, before we get to that. You’ll want to take some inventory of your space, what you have, and what you might need. To help with that, you may want to check out these posts: Guide to Your Perfect Summer Backyard and Low Budget Backyard Deck Ideas.

At the outset, after you determine your guest list and assess the space and resources you already have, you’ll want to determine if this is a sit-down affair or more of a mix-and-mingle party.

For a smaller crowd, a sit-down dinner seems more doable than for a larger crowd, but always consider the space you have to work with as well as the type of furniture you have on hand: do you have a dinner table large enough to accommodate your guest? Will guests be spread out in different areas of the backyard?

If it’s a small crowd and you happen to have a she shed that’s large enough, that would also make another wonderful option to convert for outdoor dining for the evening!

For this kind of party, you’ll also want to think about table settings. Do you want it more formal, with porcelain white dishes, drinking glasses, and fabric napkins? (Thrift stores are great options to get some fancy tableware on a budget!)

You can also get very pretty disposable plates, utensils, even plastic wine glasses to keep it more of a simple dinner party with less dirty dishes and clean-up to do after!

Summer usually has an easy breezy feeling, so setting up a long table with food and drinks is absolutely acceptable. You can have a food table and a separate drink table, or having food and drinks strewn on several different tables is also a great way to use outdoor space, allowing guests to spread out.

A wine and appetizer type of party is also super-fun (be sure to check out these individual appetizers that are perfect for a party like this! At the end, I’ll share a recipe of the mini caprese bites I brought to Tiana’s party!)

 

If garden parties are more up your alley, having several smaller tables (seating for 4, for example), strewn around the backyard can also be a wonderful option as well.

Of course, couches and sectionals with outdoor coffee tables and side tables are comfy for a summer get together and the perfect addition to a cozy outdoor space.

 

Plastic Adirondack lawn chairs are another alternative to a sit-down dinner – even a blanket thrown on the lawn or a low table with pillows for a more bohemian backyard dinner party, which is an ideal option for keeping it laid back and relaxing in the summer temperatures!

 

So, even if you don’t have a formal patio or deck, even the grass is a perfect place to entertain your guests as well. You can even bring some indoor furniture outside to give it an extra homey feel.

If you want more of a garden party feel, bistro tables placed all around your yard also work fabulously!

A table setting is absolutely optional, and all of these are great ideas for seating in place of a traditional sit-down dinner.

Backyard Decorations

This is probably my favorite part of the party – the decorating! If your backyard is already summer-ready, chances are that you won’t have to do a lot to get it ready for the party, aside from thinking through furniture and seating.

Rustic tables look amazing on their own, whether it’s an indoor table you bring outside or an outdoor table. You can also choose to use fine linens on a table, a spill-proof linen tablecloth or even a white vinyl one!

Fresh cut flowers in mason jars are a gorgeous idea for floral centerpieces on a dining table. Adding quote or Bible verse cards like these to attach to the centerpieces is a fun way to bring them to the next level.

Table signs are also another fun way to decorate as well, especially in a coordinating theme!

(You can get the printable party set you see in the pictures right here!)

You can fancy it up very inexpensively by using a table runner or a table scarf down the middle of the table as well.

Candle holders in the center of the table or running down the length of the table also make wonderful table decorations and are a great way to add lighting (bonus if they are citronella and keep the mosquitos away in the warm weather!).

String lights (or even white Christmas lights) is another way to add ambiance and create a magical evening for your guests! Battery powered string lanterns as well as mini solar globe lights are a fun idea as well to create an amazing night atmosphere as well as double as great decor!

And while this is a useful accent, wine charms for guests to keep track of their own drinks are a fun way to add a little bling while being very practical, too! (They also will make a nice party favor for your guests!)

A DIY craft project such as these also mini centerpieces I made from Dollar Tree (!) are also something you can place in different locations around the backyard.

Delicious Food and Drinks

OK, maybe this is the best part of the planning. For an outdoor dinner party, there are SO many ways you can go.

You can have wine nights, paired with tapas and appetizers. You can have an ethnic theme (or several ethnic tables, such as a Taste of Italy, A Taste of Mexico, A Taste of America). This post right here has 30 different kinds of food bars and fun summer party menu ideas!

If you’re gathering a couple of friends for a low-key night, maybe all you need is a small snack (here are easy slow cooker appetizers!)  and a dessert table with some refreshing drinks.

One of my favorite food ideas for summer (or any time of the year!) are charcuterie boards. They are a great way to offer small portions with a lot of variety, and it’s not necessary to serve a large meal.

And of course, if you do want it to be an actual dinner party, you can go potluck style and ask guests to bring main dishes to keep the cost a little lower.

However, in the hot summer months, appetites are usually a little smaller, so light foods are totally acceptable!

Another way to keep costs down are to shop at a local farmers market and buy what is in season – it will have that true garden party feeling!

Backyard Entertainment

If there are kids involved, you may need to give this a little more thought. But for grown-ups, outdoor entertaining kind of takes care of itself.

Sipping white wine, gathering around the fire pit during the cooler nights, snacking on appetizers, and some good conversation are really all adults needs.

But, if you have the space, corn hole, can jam, and even oversized checkers are some fun outdoor yard games that will keep your guests entertained and are just so much fun. If you happen to have a pool, there’s no reason you can’t make this a pool party!

Bonus Individual Appetizer Recipe: Mini Caprese Bites

At Tiana’s party, the amount of amazing food her friends brought was off the charts. I added my own appetizer – mini caprese bites – which is such an easy item to bring to share. No cooking required, fast and easy to assemble!

All you need are plastic shot cups, mozzarella pearls, grape or cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and balsamic dressing or glaze!

Layer those items on toothpicks in this order: cheese ball, basil leaf (facing down), grape tomato, cheese ball. Place in plastic shot cup (these were from Dollar Tree – 24 count for $1.25) and drizzle with balsamic dressing! Super easy, and they were an absolute hit!

Printable Garden Party Decorations

If you want to use the same Scripture cards and table signs you see in Tiana’s party, you can grab them right here in my Etsy shop! There are 8 different Scripture cards, 3.5″ x 3.5″ along with 4 8″ x 8″ table signs! I also can create custom sets as well!

Backyard Dinner Party Ideas for Summer Fun

I hope you found some ideas and inspiration pictures that you can use for your next dinner party outdoors. I’m a big fan of creating a fabulous atmosphere for family and friends to feel well taken care of.

An open-air party is a wonderful way to spend quality time together whether it’s a casual and chill or al fresco dining with fancy table linens and a bougie southern California feel!

More Ideas for Outdoor Parties

If you have more dinner parties planned for special events this summer, such as graduation, a birthday party, 4th of July cookout, I have more posts that can be a great resource for you! These will help you create an amazing backyard party during these warmer months and a great time for your guests!

60+ Best Trifle Recipes

35+ Delicious Cookout Side Dishes

35 Easy Summer Cookout Desserts for a Crowd

25 Best Individual Appetizers for a Party (This is one of my most popular posts!)

30 Single Serving Desserts for a Party

80+ Epic Graduation Party Ideas

If you try any of these ideas, I’d love to see them! Please tag me on Instagram @100affections or leave a comment on Pinterest!

Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!

Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Drop a comment below!