Blogs | Makeover Tool | Share Slow-Cooker Recipes | Subscribe
Links We Love
  • Woman with headache
    ThirdAge: How to Treat the 5 Most Common Headaches
  • Chicken Enchiladas
    Kitchen Daily: 15 Hearty Vegetarian Meals
  • iPhone
    Stylelist Home: 21 Amazing Home Improvement Apps
|
Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
       
make us your homepage
  • Food & Recipes
    • Browse All
    • Enhanced Recipe Search
    • Recipe Collections & Favorites
    • Cooking Tips & Techniques
    • Shopping & Storing
    • Tools & Products
    • New Uses For Old Things
    • Guide to Ingredients
    • Share Your Slow-Cooker Recipes
  • Home & Organizing
    • Browse All
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
    • Decorating
    • Home Improvement
    • Gardening
    • Green Living
    • New Uses For Old Things
    • Decorating With Color
  • Beauty & Fashion
    • Browse All
    • Clothing
    • Shoes & Accessories
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Hair
    • Makeovers & Tips
    • Clothing Care
    • New! Beauty Makeover Tool
  • Holidays & Entertaining
    • Browse All
    • Holidays
    • Weddings
    • Birthdays
    • Entertaining
    • Gifts
    • 50+ Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts
    • Digital Holiday Cards
  • Health
    • Browse All
    • Nutrition & Diet
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Mind & Mood
    • First Aid & Health Basics
    • Preventative Health
    • Stay Healthy on the Go
  • Work & Life
    • Browse All
    • Money
    • Family
    • Life Strategies
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Etiquette
    • Entertainment
    • Saving and Budgeting Basics
  • Magazine & More
    • Browse All
    • Inside the Magazine
    • Inside the Website
    • Newsletters
    • Real Simple Products
    • Real Simple Rewards
    • Books & Back Issues
    • Simply Stated Blogs
    • Subscribe
    • Give a Gift Subscription
    • Enjoy Real Simple on Your Tablet

Laid-Back Party Planner

  • PRINT
  • SAVE
  • COMMENT
  • SHARE:
  •      
  • Pin It
Outdoor cocktail party suppliesJonny ValiantPage 11 of 34

30 Tips for Easy Outdoor Entertaining

Stock a bar cart with essentials: glasses, plates, ice, a cocktail shaker, and swizzle sticks. Wheel it back to the kitchen if you run low.


Next: Floating peonies and gardenias make a pretty centerpiece. Just pour water into a large serving platter, and trim the stems off each flower.
Skip to Daily Finds slides.
Table setting with food outdoors at sunset
Outdoor dining room with a cream canopy
Woman setting a table
Outdoor dining room with white canopy
Patio
Family eating dinner on a picnic table in the countryside
Summer outdoor dining table with all-plastic setup
Outdoor cocktail party setup
Outdoor party
Outdoor cocktail party supplies
Blooms floating in platter
Woman laughing at barbecue
Party spread
Table setting with food outdoors at sunset
Lemonade and chips on a picnic table
Starfish napkin ring with a margarita
Sunflowers in colorful beach pails
Outdoor cocktail party
Pink lanterns in an evening garden dinner
Striped candle torches
Electric red and pink woven round string lights
Backyard lit with torches and candles
Backyard lit with battery-powered lights
Backyard lit with colorful solar lighting
Backyard lit with colorful electric lighting
Outdoor chandelier
Fire pit on patio
Real Simple June/July 2003
Fire pit on an outside brick patio
Guests at an outdoor party lit by a patio fire pit

Most Popular Galleries

  • Ketchup bottle as batter dispenser

      50 All-Time Favorite New Uses for Old Things

  • Spinach-Artichoke Dip

      22 Crowd-Pleasing Dip Recipes

  • The Perfect Bite Co.'s Applewood Bacon and Cheddar Gourmet Miniature Burgers

      14 Super Bowl Snacks

  • Heart to Heart Bow Tie

      Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him

  • Teal bathroom

      20 Ways to Upgrade Your Bathroom

Hot Topic

What do you think about this article? Share your own solutions and ideas

View Earlier Comments
Advertisement

What's Hot

Halibut With Citrusy Tomatoes and Capers

5 Cool-Weather Dinners

Warm up with these quick, healthy, delicious dinner ideas.

  • How to Host a Swap Party
  • Stylelist Home: 10 Smart Organizing Ideas
Computer deskNew on the Web
Foods That Love Each Other: 12 Combinations That Are A Match Made In Heaven
...
from Kitchen Daily on Huffingtonpost
Protecting those who protected us
New data indicates nearly 300 New York City police officers who responded to th...
from FOXNews.com
Josh Powell Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time, Police Say
  Authorities say Josh Powell planned the deadly house fire that kill...
from ThirdAge
Quick Study: How To De-Clutter Your Wallet
Quick Study [kwik stuhd-ee]: The Huffington Post Canada's tips to make your life...
from Stylelist Home
7 Money Tips For Couples Starting a Family
We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy! ...
from SavvySugar
A Fine Balance Makes the Space (9 photos)
When considering basic design concepts, there is always an overarching theme of...
from Houzz
Real Simple Newsletters To receive any of these free e-mails, check the boxes below and enter the required information.
  • Weekly Tips Newsletter
  • Daily Finds
  • Daily Thought
  • Wedding Newsletter
  • Daily Recipe Newsletter
  • Ask Real Simple
  • Keep It Together Checklist
Holidays & Entertaining:
  • Holidays | 
  • Weddings | 
  • Birthdays | 
  • Entertaining | 
  • Gifts | 
  • Party Planning Checklist | 
  • Creative Cupcake Ideas | 
  • Food and Wine Pairing Guide | 
  • Wedding Gifts and Registry Tips | 
  • Thank-You Gifts | 
  • Themed Children's Parties | 
  • Real Simple Weddings Newsletter | 
  • Simply Stated: Entertaining Blog | 
  • Baby Shower Planning Guide


More from RealSimple.com:
  • Food & Recipes | 
  • Home & Organizing | 
  • Beauty & Fashion | 
  • Health | 
  • Work & Life | 
  • Magazine & More
  • Real Simple Magazine:
  • Subscribe | 
  • Give a Gift Subscription | 
  • Tablet Edition
  • On The Go: 
  • Get Ideas Daily | 
  • Become a Fan on Facebook | 
  • Follow Real Simple on Twitter | 
  • Real Simple Mobile Apps
  • Contact Us | 
  • Customer Service | 
  • Privacy Policy | 
  • Terms of Service | 
  • Print Media Kit | 
  • Digital Media Kit | 
  • Real Simple Rewards | 
  • Site Map
  • Ad Choices
Copyright © 2012 Time Inc. Lifestyle Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Real Simple Home and Lifestyle Network