Dream Field Farm’s 4 Tips For Planning The Ultimate Summer Party
Summer means engagement parties, baby & bridal showers, birthdays, company picnics and corporate retreats for team building. The list doesn’t stop here- we can find a reason to party for many occasions! A great summer party is one of life’s great treats! Summer parties are free from the formality of the traditional more formal get together and infused with that relaxing spirit of the season.
Summer parties are the perfect excuse to gather the team and have some fun. As one of the most popular summer party venues in Alabama, we’ve got some amazing ideas to make yours a bash to remember!
There are lots of things to take into consideration when you’re planning a summer event, but we’ve put together a checklist of the main things you might want to put in place to ensure the party goes off like a 4th of July Firecracker!
1. It’s All In The Planning
Our absolute top tip would have to be to get organized well in advance. It may seem extreme, but we recommend beginning the planning in January, right after the Christmas party. There are a few reasons why this is a good idea:
Summer is infamously tricky to get vacation calendars to align as they usually jam up with holidays, weddings, sporting events, baseball & swim parties. To avoid a slew of ‘regrets’ in your RSVP inbox, make sure you get in first. Send out invites early.
A date gives your guests something to look forward to and adds a touch of sunny motivation to the traditionally lacklustre spring months that were full of growth meetings and planning.
Get your plans set early on so that you’ll have far more choice in terms of venues and suppliers. Remember that in summer, you’ll be in competition with weddings which are customarily organized a long time in advance. You’ll find that many venues offer special early bird offers, so you can get some terrific deals if you plan ahead.
Another important (and necessary) part of the initial planning is finalizing a budget. Getting this in place will be a guiding light for most of your decisions such as venue, catering and styling. It will also help you or your event planners work effectively to create the perfect party without a shocking financial surprise later on.
2. Finger Licking Good → Summer Food Is Everything
The food and drink options are one of the most important elements of a successful summer party. Guests typically want to make the most of the outdoors, so a sit-down dinner can inhibit the flow of your event.
Summer parties can be more informal and provide more interaction between your guests. We think this is a great opportunity for a high-quality barbecue, asado or hog roast, or to encourage mingling with street food or bowl food. Food should be kept light, in-season and easy. Unless your event is a wedding or a formal, the guests probably will enjoy an easy to grab menu.
Keep everyone quenched with refreshing cold beverages. Blend your own fruit juices or ices, or whip up a pitcher of homemade lemonade or iced tea. Want a prettier pitcher of water? Dress it up with fresh slices of cucumber, oranges or a handful of fresh berries for H20 your guests will raise a glass to.
Pro Tip Conversation Starters: An ice-cream pedal bike or a doughnut wall.
3. Bathrooms & AC Are A Party MUST Down In the South
We’ve all been to one of those parties. You know the ones where the bathrooms are portapotties and the AC is nowhere to be found. Most guests will appreciate a venue like Dream Field Farms with nice bathrooms. Having a cool place for people to rejuvenate from the swampy summer heat will help your guests stay for the duration of the event. If the heat becomes a problem you will see your party end in haste and your guests will feel miserable as they drip and wilt due to extreme heat & humidity.
4. Summer Entertainment For Team Building, Friends & Families
Will You Let A DJ Rock The House Or Will You Rock With A Live Band?
Not every event needs entertainment, but if yours does, you will want to ensure that your venue enables enough open space to accommodate both your guests and the music. Keep in mind that adding a live band or DJ will mean that your guests will probably stay to sway. If the beat is right your guests will want to linger longer. Lucky for you, Dream Field Farms is quite accustomed to hosting bands and a dance floor!
If your event is for team building you might want to make things exciting by putting together a few games to give your guests an opportunity to connect. Planning a party for familymeans you need something for the kids to do as you keep them in reach of their parents. Cornhole, ladder, and yard darts are fun for the kids and will keep them entertained and active while adults mingle and chat.
PRO TIP 1: Make sure you hire a venue that will accommodate inside & outside activities like: Giant Jenga, Pass the Pigs, Croquet and Pétanque.
Keep the jubilation going on past sunset with a silent disco and photo booth (along with plenty of interesting props and costumes!).
PRO-TIP 2: Parties are always over too quickly so we always recommend hiring a professional photographer who can keep track of the fun times ahead!
Anyone trying to have a summer party needs to have a good location for it. An awesome summer party needs to have space and scenery for people to be able to enjoy it. Our lives are so busy. It takes being intentional to spend time with friends. JUST DO IT!!! When it’s all said and done, relax and enjoy your party. No one will remember if something isn’t exactly perfect, they will remember how you made them feel.