Outdoor Hosting Tips

As the final days of Summer begin fading into the cooler weeks of Fall, it’s one of the best times of the year to gather for a memorable celebration outdoors. Whether you’re inviting friends over for a casual tailgate or setting up for a special meal with the whole family, there are plenty of opportunities to make the most of this time of transition.

From favorite flavor combinations to recommended table settings, keep reading for Blackberry’s advice on how to host a successful gathering outside!

Christine Carney, Blackberry Farm Design Director of Design:

• Al fresco entertaining is even more amazing with water nearby. The ocean, a pond or pool, or even small backyard water feature sets the scene and creates a glistening focal point – especially if lights are floating on or above the surface.
• In the evening, string lights swagged from posts around a terrace and solar lanterns hung in trees can lend a twinkling, fairy-like quality to even the most ordinary backyard. I leave them up all year, and mine change color with the seasons.
• Candles and firelight from outdoor pits and fireplaces add warmth in chilly weather and beautiful sparkle and subtle movement to a party outside. There's nothing like the aroma of woodsmoke at an outdoor event, but make sure the candles aren’t scented where food is being served.

Halee Jones, Blackberry Mountain Beverage Manager:

• When hosting, welcoming guests with bubbles is a must and helps establish a fun tone right from the start. In the warmer months, opt for Rose Champagne or rose sparkling wine. It adds a little color and spontaneity to the glass. Add a strawberry to the rim if it's brunch time! 
• If you're adding fresh goat cheese to the charcuterie board or a green salad, impress your guests by pairing it with Sancerre. It's the perfect pairing on hot days! 
• When wine glasses are a safety hazard and solo cups won’t do, good acrylic, stemless drinkware is a perfect choice by the pool. 
• My favorite table setting will always include fresh flowers in one way or another, either in a vase on the table or simply slid in the napkin ring at each setting. 
• If you're cocktailing with your guests, try freezing different forms of fruit juice for your cocktails. For example, frozen cubes of grapefruit juice for palomas or frozen cubes of lime juice and orange juice for margaritas.

Jessica Galyon, Blackberry Assistant Director of Retail:

• Consider the date/time. If there is a sporting event that the crowd cares about, incorporate it in some way. Football on Saturdays is a way of life for my family.
• For Summer/outdoor seasons, we often set a table on our screened in porch. It keeps the bugs away and we can turn on the overhead fans to keep cool.
• For more casual dinners, I have a drawer of cloth napkins and set the table with whatever I pull out. Most of the time they are all different, but I like them all, so I am okay with that.
• Candlesticks with tapers can be really pretty on a table and add color in a fun way, but hurricanes and votives are much more practical to keep the wind from blowing them out.
• I love ending the night with a s’mores board by the fire pit! 

Kelly Schmidt, Blackberry Assistant Director of Beverage:

• My kids always make the place cards for our dinner parties. I give them the list of names and then let them be creative with the look of the cards with stickers and drawings. It’s also a clever way to keep them busy while I’m prepping for the party, and they feel like they are contributing. Guests love them because they feel even more personal. 
• For an outdoor party, I love an unconventional ice bucket for wine and beverages like a big planter or small wheelbarrow.

Katherine Griffin, Blackberry Assistant Director of Events:

• Pay attention to sun posture. Nobody likes to cook in the noon day sun in the Summer without proper shade available. For evenings in particular, account for sunset and plan your outing accordingly. We all love a golden hour, and seamlessly transitioning from golden hour into a perfectly well lit evening really takes it to the next level. Always consider multiple layers of light (multiple sources, but never mix tone). Warmer tones are always more comforting than blue tones.
• My favorite outdoor spaces to entertain are ones that still have all the modern conveniences to make your guests comfortable! Hosting a dinner in a field sounds magical until you realize there’s no infrastructure for running water. I honestly find that people like the idea of being outdoors, but really what they want is a hybrid venue – an indoor/outdoor space can really give you the best of both worlds.
• When you set a table outside, it’s good to remember to not do it too early. Inevitably, you will wind up with leaves, dirt and bugs all over your perfectly curated and Instagram-able tablescape. Have the settings ready to go, but place them as late as possible.
• When I host, I have started having a fun nonalcoholic drink option/mocktail available. It can make people (like myself) who don’t imbibe feel so much more included!
• Kids need to be entertained, and if there’s any hope of having a conversation with another adult, you have to make sure there’s plenty for them to do. For outdoor evening hangouts lately, we love buying packs of color flames for our bonfire. We also always have age-appropriate yard games. Nothing entertains a 5-year-old quite like a bubble machine!