Spring Outdoor Entertaining Tips

A large part of hosting a successful outdoor event is ensuring that all your guests are comfortable. Don’t forget – it’s not summer just yet so temperatures in the late afternoon/evening can still be a little brisk. Achieve a homey outdoor feel by providing blankets or throws for your guests to wrap themselves up in if they start to feel a chill in the air. Add to this comfortable atmosphere by placing pillows on the outdoor seating. This will encourage guests to stay at the table for longer too.

If it is a sunny spring day, you’ll want to keep guests protected from the sun with some kind of outdoor umbrella or sunshade. If you have large trees in your backyard, you can even set up your outdoor dining area underneath it. Once night falls, whip out some Citronella candles to prevent guests getting bitten my pesky mosquitoes. Alternatively, make sure to have some mosquito repellent handy so guests can use it at any time.

Fresh and fruity beverages are an essential part of outdoor entertaining during the springtime. Nothing beats a cold drink in the spring sunshine! We love the idea of a bar cart so guests can serve themselves a beverage whenever they like. Keep a variety of drinks in the bar cart so people can choose their favourites. If you are a fan of cocktails, you’ll love the Stanley Rogers Cocktail Set. Make sure to include stirrers, straws, lemons, limes and ice on hand. Serve these delectable drinks in Luigi Bormioli glasses.

When it comes to outdoor entertaining, it is crucial that you have enough cutlery and crockery to go around. Thankfully, we have a wide range of Corelle plates and bowls that are perfect for this! Designed to be extremely break-resistant, you won’t have to worry about guests chipping or breaking your precious dinnerware. If you are looking for beautiful cutlery to set the table with, look no further than Stanley Rogers. Grab yourselves a set so that you have enough to go around! Keep napkins on hand too, so guests can wipe their hands or faces without having to search inside for a bathroom. Check out our napkin holders that will prevent your napkins from flying away in the wind.

*Image Source: @stanley.rogers via Instagram

Are you stuck on menu suggestions? Lucky for you, we have plenty of ideas for outdoor dining in the springtime. Before the main course, make sure you have some finger food available. Nothing goes down better than cheese and crackers, with a Stanley Rogers Cheese Knife Set being the perfect addition to the platter. You can also incorporate this into a platter, filled with grapes, fruit, nuts, chips and whatever else you fancy. A key addition to the lunch or dinner table is always a salad option. Create colourful combinations that look great on the plate and cater to the health-conscious. Choose whatever floats your boat, whether that be a Caesar salad, feta and roast veg salad or a potato salad. Make sure you have salad bowls, serving utensils and a salad spinner handy. Fire up the BBQ if you have one and offer your guests everything from chicken kebabs to sausages to provide a meat option. When dessert rolls around, keep it simple with cakes, ice cream and fruit salads.

In terms of table décor, we have plenty of suggestions for this too! Firstly, pick a simple colour scheme or theme and stick to it. Choose something bright, like pink and purple or green and yellow. Decorate your table with Umbra Planters or purchase a vase to fill with your favourite plants. If you have a garden, pluck a few flowers and use those as a centrepiece instead! For those that live near the beach, make a DIY centrepiece that incorporates shells.

Top tip: head to Pinterest for inspiration on anything DIY related. You’ll find heaps of great ideas that you can use for your next lunch or dinner party.