The winter is well and truly behind us and hot weather is on its way. When the summer comes around and the sun starts shining, there are few better ways to enjoy the heat than an al fresco barbecue.
Inviting round all your friends and family, cooking up some tasty treats on the grill, and letting the drinks flow as afternoon turns into evening. But there’s a great deal that goes into throwing a barbecue. Not only do you have to prepare your garden and buy all the supplies but you also have the added pressure of keeping everyone entertained and dealing with any unplanned weather or catering disasters.
To help you ensure everything goes to plan, here are a few top tips for throwing a fantastic outdoor barbecue.
Prep your garden
You don’t have to have acres of garden space in order to throw the perfect barbecue. It doesn’t matter whether you live in an enormous mansion or a tiny two-bedroom home. As long as an open space that is tidy and welcoming, you have all you need for your event. You of course need to make sure it looks clean and presentable for your guests, so mow the lawn, pull the weeds and clear any clutter before they arrive. Although people may be standing up and mingling, some people will want to sit down for eating and chatting, so you need to have a seating area with plenty of chairs. Arranging outdoor furniture throughout your garden will give people plenty of options and won’t result in your guests being crammed into one small section of the yard
Compile your guest list
Who are you going to invite to your barbecue? The guest list can make or break any social gathering as it sets the tone for the whole event. If you invite too many people, it could spiral out of control and become chaotic. But if only a few people turn up it risks being awkward or anticlimactic. You also need to be careful you don’t invite anyone potentially inflammatory who might get too drunk and cause trouble. If inviting an individual from a different social or work circle who doesn’t know anyone, make sure you spend plenty of time with them and take care to introduce them to other people. When compiling your guest list, work out how many people you can invite based on the size of your garden and budget, start with your closest loved ones, and then work down from there.
Obtain the supplies
There is a lot you will need to buy to supply your barbecue and make sure you don’t run out of food or fuel. It’s better to have too much food than too little, so you can be a little optimistic with your shopping list. And there’s no need to worry about food waste as long as you don’t cook more than you need and you put any leftovers promptly in the fridge or freezer to consume later. Likewise, remaining drinks or charcoal for the grill can be saved for the next barbecue.
If money is a concern, you could cut costs by asking your guests to bring a beverage or a side dish for people to share. Just don’t forget to ask people for their dietary requirements and cater accordingly. You don’t want the vegans or gluten-free contingent to go hungry.
Check your equipment
The last thing you want is to realize your barbecue is broken as your guests start to arrive. Check your equipment a few days before the event so you can enjoy peace of mind that you have everything you need and it is all working correctly. This gives you some leeway to buy another barbecue or have it repaired if necessary.
Prepare some entertainment
A sign of a successful barbecue is that the guests stick around long after the food has been served. And in order to facilitate this, it’s a good idea to have some entertainment prepared to keep people occupied. Some garden games like giant Jenga, limbo, and cornhole are always good bets as they are simple and suitable for people of all ages and abilities. If there are going to be kids running around, you should ensure there are plenty of toys in your garden to keep them amused for the duration.
Put safety first
Any occasion that features both fire and alcohol is full of potential risk, so safety should be at the forefront of your mind. Whoever is in control of the barbecue should refrain from drinking too much, and should ensure that no-one gets too close. Don’t leave the hot grill unattended, not even for a few minutes to go to the bathroom and be especially wary of young children.
Have a backup plan
There are many things that can go wrong when you throw a social event outdoors, and one of the most likely causes of disaster will be unexpected weather. The forecast might have predicted clear skies when you first planned the barbecue, but that doesn’t guarantee you won’t be hit with heavy rains on the big day. You don’t want to have your gathering ruined by miserable guests and soggy burger buns so make sure you have a plan B.
In the worst case scenario, be prepared to invite your attendees inside your home and cook the remaining food in your kitchen. If you have the budget for it, you could instead invest in a marquee to keep the rain off their heads while keeping the action outside.
These are just a few of the major considerations you will need to think about when throwing a barbecue in your own garden. There is a lot of planning that goes into such an event so it shouldn’t be taken lightly. But as long as you ensure that your garden is adequately prepped, you have all the supplies and equipment you need, and you’ve planned for all eventualities, there is no doubt your barbecue will be an event to remember.