We tapped two of our local home and entertainment experts, Amanda Mertins of Patina Polished Living and Rachel Gang of Helen Olivia, for tips on outdoor entertaining. If anyone knows how to add a touch of luxury and memorable to an experience— it’s these women. Here are some ideas for your next gathering:

What's your preferred time to host an outdoor gathering?

Amanda: In the spring and fall, there are more options to entertain outdoors. In the extreme heat and humidity of summer, we might start outside in the shade or after sunset. Winter months are fun around a fire pit, but we usually move indoors once the temperature really drops.

Rachel: It may come as a surprise, but my favorite time to entertain outdoors is in the late fall and winter. I often host Thanksgiving, and each year we create a cozy setup around our fire pit with a basket of throw blankets, warm cocktails, and a s’mores charcuterie board. It’s a perfect way to be outside in the cooler weather. 

What types of food do you suggest serving that are easier to keep fresh/protected from the elements?

Amanda: For starters, we always have drinks on ice — drinks with lots of ice in them and lots of water infused with lemon and fresh mint. I prefer to keep the food indoors and have people serve themselves. They can then choose to eat outdoors or inside.

Rachel: I tend to avoid anything that’s dairy in the heat for obvious reasons, but pretty much everything seems to attract the bugs. I absolutely love the tiny tabletop fans that came out the last couple of years. I also recently stocked up on these outdoor food domes from Sur La Table, and it’s so nice to be able to easily cover platters after guests have served themselves. 

What's a unique touch to incorporate into an outdoor gathering? 

Amanda: Always fresh flowers. At Patina, we consider them an aspect of Polished Living. Also, include garden containers planted with ferns, flowers, etc. We like to set up a bar outside where it’s self-serve (things can get a little messy) and indoors, we like to have a bartender. Larger parties lend themselves to standing, or having several vignettes of 2-4 chairs with a table to set drinks on. Lounge chairs take up a lot of real estate and are better for smaller groups or entertaining by a pool. It’s always nice to have throws available to create softer seating and to keep warm in the cooler months.

Rachel: I love keeping a small basket of outdoor essentials next to my patio door: bug spray, a can of SPF, hand wipes…just the basics. They get used every single time, and are such a nice touch for guests who may have forgotten. 

What kind of seating/chairs work best in grass vs. concrete patio?

Amanda: Picnic blankets and pillows work best in grass along with chairs which have flat or rounded feet. Adirondacks are a good choice along with foldable camping chairs.

Rachel: The wedding pro in me knows that chairs are always going to hinge on how wet the ground is. Unless the grass is dry, we tend to keep all seating to our patio and deck area. 

Share a hostess secret to making outdoor entertaining easier.

Amanda: String lights or LED lights under umbrellas add instant charm and atmosphere. Trash cans are a must. Don’t make your guests search for them, place them next to the bar. You can have one for recycling (bottles and cans) and one for trash. Rechargeable table fans work wonders to keep away bugs. We love acrylic tables and glassware which take the worry out of broken glass with bare feet (especially with children around).

Rachel: I have loaded up on the tap lights from Boxwood and they are an absolute staple for outdoor dining in our home now.

Happy hosting! Have other outdoor entertaining tips? Email them and we’ll share in a future post.

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