It’s summer, and you want to have a BBQ party with your friends. But where do you start? How can you make it easy for yourself to organize a great BBQ event?
Organizing a great BBQ event is all about communication. This article will help you get started by teaching you how to plan out your event from the beginning.
We’ll go through all that is needed to be done how much food should be bought, and even some tips on who to invite.
Prepare The Meal
Before even thinking about planning for your event, you will need to prepare the meal. As mentioned by the folks at Expresco, you can either cook yourself or buy pre-made food and arrange it nicely on a table. If you decide to cook, remember that this is no easy task and always make sure to buy enough ingredients before starting cooking.
Start Planning
Now that you have organized your BBQ by buying or prepping all the food, you can start putting together everything else. You will first need to decide where the event is going to take place and when. Will this be outside in a garden or inside at home?
If it’s outdoors, you may need new outdoor furniture to make sure that there are enough seats for everyone and that it won’t be too hot. Also, that everyone knows not to bring anything that will damage the floor or furniture.
If you are planning on having a party that lasts into the night, then you need to buy an extra package of food that can last through the night. This includes plates and cutlery, so there is no need to worry about that. Or you can use disposable cutlery and food, but make sure to buy enough for everyone!
Invite The Guests
Now that the date and location are set, it’s time to invite your guests! Make sure everyone knows exactly when the event starts and ends. Since not everyone likes to party into the night, you may want to set a time that will have the party end before the sun comes up.
Make sure everyone is aware of what food you’re serving, so there are no surprises! If they do not eat certain foods, make sure to inform them in advance, so they can bring their own food or snacks with them if needed.
Ask Guests to Bring Some Side Dishes
Big barbecues are stressful enough for the hosts without having to worry about making the side dishes and gathering all the goods. Asking your friends and relatives to bring extra side dishes or desserts is very acceptable. It will lessen your workload in terms of preparing everything and offer you some more time to take care of other crucial preparations. People will understand and take the chance to participate and display their special recipes.
To lessen your workload, you might also request that your guests bring snacks, appetizers, or drinks to your BBQ. Your visitors’ openness to pitching in to help you plan a fun summer activity will surprise you. Also, there won’t be many things left for you to do, such as setting up your backyard, checking the grill’s fuel requirements, and getting all the dishes ready.
Make Sure There Is Enough Fuel For The Grill
Depending on what type of grill you are using, you may want to buy the proper fuel before the party starts. You can either go for gas or charcoal. Gas is easier to use since it’s simply a matter of switching it on and off, no need to worry about lighter fluid. The charcoal will have to be lit the traditional way, with some lighter fluid applied to it. Make sure to read the manual beforehand, so you know how much lighter fluid to use.
Charcoal grills need a certain location, so it’s up to you to figure out where this is going to happen. Don’t forget that you will also need some extra space for people watching and socializing! If you are using a gas grill, you will only need to think about how the food is going to be laid out, so everyone gets equal access.
Remember To Keep It Safe
Organizing a great BBQ event may come naturally to you, but there are still things that could go wrong if you’re not careful. Make sure everyone is aware of how to put out the fire if needed. If you are using a gas grill, then the fire will be put out simply by turning off the gas. You do have to worry about charcoal fires though because it can get very hot and even out of control if someone doesn’t know how to stop it.
If you are having a party at your home, make sure everyone knows not to smoke. If you are having it outdoors, make sure everyone is aware of the smoking rules.
Setup Your Location
It’s important to have a relaxing and pleasant environment when enjoying a BBQ. Having the necessary furniture is important since you will need enough chairs and tables for both you and your visitors. A fun and easy way to give children more room is with picnic mats.
Accessories like tablecloths, umbrellas, candles, and flower vases can make a huge difference. Don’t forget the music as you get the grill ready. Put your music player somewhere safe and sturdy that is out of the way but close enough to play some background music.
Finishing touches
It takes more than just inviting guests to your home to enjoy cuisine to be a good host. Consider how you may make your gathering fun. Make sure there are enough chairs for everyone, use a really easy-to-remember WiFi password, or even go one step further and rename your WiFi to the name of the party. Allow people to play card and board games. Also, if you have a lawn, engage in outdoor activities. No games available? Get some provided by your visitors! For easy self-service, you might also build up a buffet section. If you have a guest bedroom, get it ready for guests to stay in. If not, keep some cushions and blankets nearby so that folks may curl up on the couch.
Make Sure Everyone Knows The Rules Also!
Before inviting your guests for this BBQ, make sure to give them a list with the following rules:
- Make sure to remove all their shoes before coming in, or remind them that they may need to bring a change of shoes
- Make sure everyone knows that there is no smoking allowed, even if you are having the party outdoors
After adding these rules and finishing preparations, you can start planning for the good times!
- The food should be prepared ahead of time and placed on a table or countertop to keep it fresh
- Make sure all the seating arrangements are taken care of and there is enough space for everyone to move around
- Keep the music going and make sure everyone knows when it’s time to eat, as well as when the party is over!
Although this may seem like a lot of work, it is actually very simple to plan out. By following these steps, you should be able to organize your first great BBQ event!
Planning out an easy-to-organize BBQ party should only take about 3 hours, depending on how much food you’re serving and if there are any additional activities planned.
Conclusion
You may plan the ideal gathering with the help of our BBQ party ideas. It’s not necessary to spend a fortune or all day in the kitchen to host a BBQ party. Hosting a barbeque is simpler than you might imagine because the majority of the food is prepared on-site and the sides can be prepared in advance. With these awesome BBQ party ideas, you can raise the bar during your summer get-together.