Recently I have been helping my friend plan a backyard BBQ for her son's rehearsal dinner coming up in August. She wanted something laid back and easy to put together but would provide for a fun atmosphere as this group loves to party! With that in mind I found some great ideas, that don't cost a lot, that will create the perfect backyard BBQ celebration.
As with any party, a coordinating invitation is a must! For a backyard BBQ theme using red, blue and gingham prints give you tons of options when it comes the the invitations. These are from Invitation Consultants but can also be a DIY craft.
When it comes to backyard events lighting is key. For the rehearsal dinner my friend has tons of Christmas lights sitting around so we thought that this would be the perfect way to light up the event space and allow for the guests to party into the evening. As a simple centerpiece idea you can use tin buckets and put potted plants into them. This allows for easy set-up and you can either add the plants to your garden after the event or give them as thank-you gifts to any guests.
These are two ideas that I could not wait to share! I found this silverware idea and cannot wait to use it. Your guests can use the mason jar as their glass and the bandanna as their napkin for the evening. The baskets above are also easy to put together and can serve as the plates for your guests. The parchment paper can be found at most cooking stores and I have seen the baskets at dollar stores. Both of these allow for easy clean up and give your backyard event something unique. I found the mason jar idea from A to Z Celebrations and the basket idea from Hostess with the Mostess
You can't forget the food when it comes to hosting a backyard BBQ. The lucky thing with a casual event like a backyard BBQ is that you can do just about anything. Skewers lend an easy hand to your food spread as they allow for easy grilling, display and in helping your guests pick up their food. To prevent and skewers from catching on fire while on the grill soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to use. You can also use gingham paper to wrap all your bowls, drinks and condiments to add some festive color to your table. The food display on the left is from the Hostess with the Mostess
Bocce Game

To provide some entertainment to a backyard party yard games are a great idea and can be played by all the guests in attendance. Some of my favorite games to play are cornhole and bocce ball. You can set up playing areas for each of these games and let your guest enjoy a little competition.

What are your must haves when it comes to throwing a backyard BBQ party? Let me know in the comments section below!

Want more ideas for a backyard event? You can find all of these plus more on my Pinterest page @PreppyPlanner. Follow my page to keep up with all my event planning ideas!

xoxo
Megan

Vicky
7/12/2012 01:51:27 am

Love it and will use all these ideas.

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7/12/2012 07:01:34 am

Can't wait to see it all come together!

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vicky
7/12/2012 07:22:27 am

With your help it will be awesome.
Yr the best megan

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