Planning a Backyard Party in Southern Arizona: What Locals Know
There’s a lot to love about a backyard party.
There’s no venue to book. No complicated dress code. Kids can run around. Friends can linger. The grill is right there, and somehow, food just tastes better when you’re eating it outside with people you like.
Here in Southern Arizona, though, backyard entertaining comes with its own set of rules. A little planning can be the difference between everyone having a great time and 30 people slowly migrating toward the one tiny patch of shade.
Here are a few things worth thinking about before everyone arrives.
Plan Around the Sun, Not Just the Clock
That perfect shady area in your backyard at 10 in the morning may be sitting in full sun by the time your party starts.
A few days before your event, take a look at your yard around the same time you'll be entertaining. Watch where the shade falls and where the sun will be during the hours your guests are actually there.
Then plan your seating accordingly.
If you're hosting during warmer months, later afternoon and evening gatherings can also be much more comfortable than midday events.
Think About Where People Will Actually Want to Sit
It's easy to look at an empty yard and think, “We have plenty of room.”
You probably do. The better question is whether you have plenty of usable room.
Guests need space to pull chairs out, walk between tables, reach the food and drinks, and move around without navigating an obstacle course of patio furniture, landscaping and party supplies.
Give people a little breathing room whenever your space allows.
Don't Forget Tables That Aren't for Sitting
Dining tables get most of the attention, but some of the hardest-working tables at a backyard party don't have chairs around them at all.
You may want separate space for:
Food and serving dishes
Drinks and water
Desserts or cake
Gifts and cards
Games or activities
Extra supplies
A dedicated drink station is especially helpful for an outdoor gathering in Arizona. Guests can help themselves without creating a traffic jam around the food.
Make Water Easy to Find
This sounds obvious in Southern Arizona, but it's worth saying anyway. Have plenty of water available and put it somewhere guests can easily see and reach it.
For longer gatherings, especially when it's warm outside, don't make people hunt through a cooler to find something nonalcoholic to drink. A simple drink table with water, ice and cups can make a big difference.
Have a Weather Plan
Arizona weather has a sense of humor. A beautiful afternoon can turn windy surprisingly quickly, and monsoon season can add an entirely different level of excitement to outdoor entertaining.
If your party falls during a time of year when weather could become an issue, know ahead of time what you'll do if conditions change. Can people move under a covered patio? Is there room inside? Are lightweight decorations secured?
You don't need to plan for every possible scenario. Just know what Plan B is.
Give Yourself Time Before Everyone Arrives
One of the easiest ways to make hosting less stressful is to avoid leaving setup until the last minute.
Tables need to be positioned. Chairs need to be arranged. Food stations need to be figured out. Coolers need ice. And inevitably, something you thought would take five minutes will take twenty.
Get the big pieces in place first. Then you can worry about the salsa.
Keep It Simple
A great backyard party doesn't require a Pinterest-perfect setup. People remember whether they felt welcome. They remember the food, the conversation, the laughter and who was there. Make sure people have somewhere comfortable to sit, somewhere to put their plate and something cold to drink.
The rest is decoration.
At Desert Sky Party Rental, we help make backyard celebrations a little easier with table and chair rentals throughout Green Valley, Sahuarita and surrounding Southern Arizona communities.
Planning something?
Tell us where you're hosting and approximately how many people you're expecting. We'll help you take care of the tables and chairs so you can get back to planning the fun part.
