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Little known fact: I started my career as an event planner for a catering company. It was actually the first job that was perfect for me, bringing my passions for food, design, and gathering people together. (The cons included crazy hours and high-pressure clients, but it was a great experience for 22-year-old me.)
Even though I’ve been out of the event planning biz, I still love to host a party. But instead of the champagne towers and delicious desserts of my past life, today my ideal kind of get-together is a casual, kick-off affair, preferably out of the sun. After all, everything tastes better al fresco!
That said, anyone who’s ever invited people to a backyard dinner party knows: an outdoor party comes with its own set of challenges. Hot sun, heavy mosquitoes, maintaining food temperatures (and keeping flies away) are details that can make or break a festival. My background in cooking, combined with the countless parties I’ve thrown over the years, has taught me valuable lessons that I use to make my own gatherings feel (almost) simple.
So today, we’re rounding up the most frequently asked questions I get about how to host a summer party. I hope you’ll be inspired to find the next open night on your calendar (yes, work during the week, too!), shoot a few texts to some friends, and grab some snacks to make an easy, delicious spread.
Read on to discover a few of my tried-and-true secrets, menus, inspiration, and planning tips you need to keep yourself in style all season long.
All your summer fun questions, answered
Q: What’s the best way to invite people to a casual summer party?
A: Three words: keep cool. The invitation sets the tone, so for a simple outdoor party, don’t think too much! In my opinion, a group text or email is the way to go. And I’ve found that when I make things easier for myself, I’m naturally more inclined to invite friends over. In addition to the arrival time, I like to let people know approximately what time we’ll be eating so we don’t fire up the grill too many times in the middle of the night (ie, “come at 4 for swimming, burgers at 6!”)
It also helps to provide a loose dress code so people know what to expect. Bathing suit? Shorts? Summer clothes? Since summer parties can have very different dress expectations, everyone will appreciate a few pointers about what to wear.
A: I have a few tricks for keeping the menu simple—the one I choose will depend on the type of party and who’s coming. Here are some ideas to get you started:
A light meal for dinner. Summer is the perfect time to prepare a delicious spread of store-bought meals with a few creative touches. Put together a food board full of delicious cheeses, olives, crudités, dips, dried fruits, nuts—really, your options are endless. Green goddess dressing is addictive, and pairs well with any type of seasonal vegetable.
A homemade feast. The goal is to relax and engage with your guests, so no matter how experienced you are as a party thrower, it’s good to have a few hacks up your sleeve. To save more time, try the “homemade” method. Buy a main course from a favorite place (like roast chicken from the deli, or bagels from your favorite bakery) and fill it up with homemade sides and salads that can be made ahead of time and will make it feel like you cooked it all.
Throw it on the grill. Rule #1 when planning a menu: you don’t want to include anything that will make you throw food out as a short-order cook when guests are around. That’s where the grill is indeed it’s coming good. I like to have my proteins already marinated or seasoned before the guests show up so all that’s left to do is throw them on the grill. Usually, I’ll also coat the sides of the veggie to keep things really simple for myself—and stay clean to the hilt!
Q: How can you speed up grilling cleaning?
A: Grilling is one of the most cost-effective ways to cook for a group—with a little knowledge. Here are my top time-saving cleaning tips:
- Oil the Grill Grates: Before grilling, grease the grates to prevent food from sticking. Use a brush or paper towel soaked in oil.
- Pre-Clean the Grill: While the grill is heating, use a grill brush to clean off any residue from previous cooking times.
- Marinate in bags: Marinate meat and vegetables in resealable plastic bags. This reduces the number of dishes you need to clean. Then I use tongs to transfer them straight from the bag to the grill, so the only food that gets used is what you feed it to.
- Clean While Warm: After cooking, while the grill is still hot (but not hot), use a brush to remove any remaining food particles.
Q: What should I offer to drink that won’t leave me refilling glasses all night?
A: I sound like a broken record, but the key is to keep it as simple as possible—less time spent bartending means more time to make cocktails yourself! For almost any summer occasion, you can get 3 drinks and call it a day:
A fun cocktail. Sangria, margaritas, punch—pre-mix a large pitcher, then let guests help themselves. A few favorite pitcher drinks? This Mezcal Paloma and this Strawberry Rosé Sangria are as close to summer as they come. Aperol Spritz is a summer cocktail that everyone loves, perfect for an Italian menu. Or, try the Blood Orange Margarita for a sweet twist on the classic.
Rose or white wine. This is a great thing for guests to contribute if they are wondering what to bring to the party.
Flavored water. Fill a large carafe with water and add fruit or herbs for a festive touch. Bonus points for offering a fun non-alcoholic option like sparkling lemonade or iced tea.
A good rule of thumb is to plan for 1 1/2 drinks per person per hour. And at an outdoor summer party, always have more water and ice than you think you will need.
Q: What if it’s too hot on the day of my party?
A: Also, have more water ready than you think you will need! And sunscreen is non-negotiable. Do your guests a favor and have sunscreen available to reapply as needed (browse our favorite clean options). I love the look of outdoor umbrellas, and often scatter 2 or 3 around the party area for life-saving shade.
Q: What are some good outdoor activities to keep the vibration high?
A: Go all in on the carefree summer vibes and plan some classic party games and activities to make your gathering unforgettable. A few of my favorites:
- Outdoor games like bocce ball, croquet, and cornhole are great for encouraging people to relax and have a good time together.
- Music is important to the vibe, so don’t let this happen. My favorite to hang out with for dinner is the Daybreak playlist from Casa Zuma. And you can always turn up the beat as the night goes on and see if an impromptu dance party breaks out.
Q: How can I cut through the small talk and have engaging conversations?
A: You speak my love language—good conversation is key to any gathering! We put together a list of conversation starters to encourage thoughtful and engaging conversations. Keep a few of these in your back pocket and you’ll go into every interaction with confidence (and curiosity!) and I guarantee, the party will never be boring.
Hosting is a ritual, and gathering with loved ones is an opportunity to experience the joy of the season. We only get so many summers in our life, after all, and squeezing every bit of joy out of it is worth it. So light some candles, chill a few bottles of wine, and let the season do what it does best: bring people together.
This post was last updated on June 12, 2026, to include new information.
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