Spring Party Primer: 20 Ideas for Fabulous Fetes

When it comes to planning a springtime fete, fickle weather can make things tricky. If you would like to have the party at least partially outdoors, there are basically three ways to go: host an outdoor party but have an indoor backup plan; have both indoors and outdoors open during the party; or hold the party entirely outdoors but have a sheltered area just in case. No matter which scenario you decide on, these 20 ideas are sure to kick-start your party planning.

1. Have a backup plan. When the weather is likely to be good, you may want to plan an outdoor fete. Just be sure to have a backup plan in case a sudden thunderstorm rolls through. At the very least, this could mean making sure to tidy up your living and dining rooms before the party, and hustling some of the chairs indoors at the first sign of rain.

2. Hang paper lanterns. Colorful paper lanterns can be found for a song online or in a local Chinatown. The least expensive ones do not have lights inside, but if you are hosting a daytime party, they are perfect for adding color and ambience. For evening fetes, spring for lanterns with battery-operated lights inside.


3. Throw a fancy lawn party. Dress up your regular backyard furniture with new cushions, or simply drape a few yards of colorful fabric over the existing cushions to refresh the look. Cover any old table (even a giant overturned planter will do) with a floor-length tablecloth for instant elegance. Bring out the nice dishes instead of relying on paper plates and plastic utensils.


4. Make centerpieces … with lettuce! For a fun centerpiece that’s also budget friendly, fill any round containers you have with pillar candles and big handfuls of fresh lettuce. Be sure to keep the leaves away from the tops of the candles, or use battery-operated candles to avoid the problem entirely. The centerpieces will hold up best if your party is on a cool spring day and your table is not in full sun.


5. Set out a Moroccan feast. Sometimes getting creative with the menu or investing in one spectacular new piece of tableware, like a tagine or hand-painted platter, is all you need to elevate the mood at your party. Try having a Moroccan feast with platters of tiny oranges, rosewater and saffron-perfumed chicken (Ottolenghi has a superb recipe), fresh vegetables and flatbread.


6. Have multiple light sources. Just like indoors, lighting can make or break an outdoor room. For the most flattering glow at an evening soiree, try to include at least three light sources. For instance, hang string lights overhead, light up the fire pit and place a few small landscape lights in the bushes around the edge of the patio.


7. Try a theme party. Why not? Theme parties are fun for kids, and adults can get surprisingly excited about them, too. Try a Paris party with crepes, French pop music and a giant cardboard Eiffel Tower for photo ops.


8. Make the kiddie table a place kids want to be. Whether the party you are throwing is kid centered or not, if kids will be present, it’s better for everyone if they are kept happily occupied. A few simple, creative touches can make all the difference. Try one of these:
Cover the tables with kraft paper and set out markers and stickers to decorate the “tablecloths.”Set out buckets of sidewalk chalk for drawing on the patio floor.
For younger kids, try a sensory experience like a water table, Play-Doh table or sandbox.
Put out bubble machines and turn on fun music for an instant dance party.
Let older kids document the party with instant cameras and post their photos on a big corkboard.


9. Embrace indoor-outdoor flow. Wash the windows, pull back the curtains and open the doors — it’s party time! The benefits of hosting an indoor-outdoor party are immense. More space means more areas for partygoers to cluster and converse, and when people are moving around, a party always seems livelier and more fun. And if the weather takes a turn for the worse, the guests can easily come in.

10. Move the furniture. If guests will be wandering in and out of your home, it’s probably a wise move to rethink your furniture arrangements. Push back some of the chairs and the sofa in the living room to give guests more space to congregate, push the dining table against the wall and use it as a buffet (or bar), and place spare chairs in each room.



11. Put a rolling table to work. Want to be able to wheel your meal from the outdoor kitchen to the cover of your sheltered patio if it starts to rain? A sturdy restaurant-style metal table on casters could be just the ticket.


12. Take advantage of a pass-through window. Have a window on your porch or deck that leads into the kitchen? Count your lucky stars — you just found the perfect spot to create a party pass-through, ideal for handing out plates of appetizers or playing bartender.

Brilliant Idea: The Kitchen Pass-Through Window



13. Make your party spaces multifunctional. People are likely to carry food and drinks everywhere during a party, so try to have plenty of little tables and stools on hand for setting things on, both indoors and out. Hard benches are ideal for parties, because they can be used as seats and tables, and fit more people than individual chairs. Try not to make any indoor or outdoor space too full of furniture, though — some folks will want to stand up and chat, so leave some space for that, too.



14. Whip up some DIY furniture. Backyards, porches and patios are the perfect places to experiment with upcycled furniture. Turn a few pallets into a table and benches, or cover one with a futon mattress and lots of pillows to make an outdoor sofa. Tree stumps make great stools and side tables, and curbside finds can be easily disguised with strategically draped textiles.

See how to make a deck chair from discarded pallets


15. Use found containers to hold drinks. Old enameled buckets, galvanized bins, troughs, wire baskets, clean flowerpots and more can be creative stand-ins for the typical cooler or ice bucket. Just be sure to check that your container is watertight before adding ice, and add a plastic lining if it’s not. To reduce traffic around the bar, set up mini drinks stations around the party, both inside and out.


16. Use every scrap of outdoor space. It’s spring, and people want to be outside! Even if you have the tiniest balcony, do what you can to make it look its best, and fling those doors open for your party. Cover an ugly patio floor with a cheerful outdoor rug or fake grass, set out a café table or lounge chair, and make the space extra appealing with fresh flowers and bright cushions.


17. Throw a porch party. Spring is the perfect time to revive the front porch and reconnect with neighbors. Hang paper lanterns, roll out a colorful outdoor rug and cover a table with a sarong to create a bar. Invite neighbors and friends to show up open-house-style, over several hours, so the space is never too crowded.


18. Embrace hammocks and swings. Adults love them just as much as kids! Try stringing up a hammock on the porch or hang an old-school tire swing or rope swing. Just be sure to get some pro help when installing your swing or hammock to ensure safety.


19. Bring indoor comforts outside. Having real dishes and serving pieces, vases of fresh flowers and nice indoor cushions on the porch or patio makes a space feel extra special. Look around your house before the party and see what you can borrow from indoors.

See more of this gazebo


20. Make use of an outdoor hideaway. If you have a teahouse, gazebo or other structure in your backyard, by all means put it to use during your party. It can house the food and drinks, protecting the refreshments from bugs and weather, and if it starts to rain, your guests can duck inside, too.

Tell us: Are you planning a spring party? What is your favorite party planning tip?

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