While most companies around the country are planning their annual holiday gatherings at local pubs or indoor party rooms, the fortunate southerners can take full advantage of our glorious winter weather by hosting a more relaxed and personal outdoor gathering. After all, a holiday party shouldn’t be a forced ritual but true down time to enjoy each other as friends.
If you’re planning on getting together outside the office to celebrate the season, then here are a few easy tips to keep in mind for your outdoor gathering.
The biggest hurdle will be nailing down a host. Shower him or her with the promises of supplying the food, staying to clean up, and driving whomever needs a ride home. Found someone? Good. Once the venue is confirmed, you’ll want to divvy up the responsibilities. Ask each person to bring a signature dish. Arrange an outdoor dining table and line a festive runner and place cards to display each offering. Feng Shui the outdoor sectional to allow for a more flowing, positive vibe.
Your outdoor dining set up is going to depend on the available space. If you don’t have room for a long, dramatic dining table then cluster a few bar tables together. Whichever layout you go with, consider keeping the table top simple, like a small votive candles in decorative lanterns. You’ll want to leave enough table room to accomodate plates, glasses and expressive hands. No one wants to spill their drink!
Finally, a little ambiance. Outdoor fire pits instantly become the focus point of many outdoor gatherings. Guests always tend to flock around the warm fire, sparking conversations throughout the evening. Outdoor candles added to patio accent furniture can also create a nice glow. Add a classic disco ball to bring your dance floor to life. You’ll have so much fun that you may decide to keep everything out all year!
When the evening is coming to a close and the compliments are rolling in, you’ll realize that entertaining outdoors brought a fun, new feel that everyone appreciated. So, who will be hosting the next one?
For more outdoor entertaining ideas, follow us on Pinterest.com/CarlsPatio to get the latest trends and more.
