Trends to Enhance Your Outdoor Entertainment This Summerworth Experiencing
As the warm weather approaches, get ready to dazzle your guests with these scintillating outdoor entertaining ideas handpicked by pro event planners!
- Kevin Lenhart serves as the design director and landscape architect at Yardzen.
- Michelle Durpetti has founded Durpetti Events, an admirable event planning outfit.
- Cameron Forbes helms Forbes Functions, a striking boutique event planning company.
- Cassie LaMere reigns as the founder and creative director of luxury event planning company Cassie LaMere Events.
- Joanna Buchanan reigns as the founder of her eponymous decor line and interior designer.
1. Cast a Spell with Layered Lighting
Create a breathtaking ambiance by embracing lighting magic. Michelle Durpetti, the ingenious mind behind Durpetti Events, suggests incorporating a variety of luminous elements to establish an atmospheric vibe.
"Blend string lights, lanterns, recessed pathway lighting, and striking uplighting for trees or architectural features," Durpetti recommends. "Flexible, smart LED fixtures empower hosts to adjust the lighting to match the party's tone."
Suspend lights overhead and arrange them along tables too. "Pendant lights overhead lend a touch of elegance to dining areas; while flameless candles and tabletop lanterns offer a soft, enchanting glow, Durpetti says. "Projection lighting, which casts dynamic, customizable patterns or color washes, adds a whimsical element. Homeowners can achieve seamless execution with wireless, app-controlled lighting systems."
Cassie LaMere, the visionary behind Cassie LaMere Events, agrees. "Layered lighting pulls attention and encourages mingling," she indicates. "Varied lighting sources such as lamps, low-glow lanterns, twinkle lights tucked into greenery, and downlighting from pergolas cultivate an ethereal evening environment."
2. Upgrade Your Al Fresco Kitchen
Do you boast an outdoor kitchen at your abode? The flavors of 2025 dictate investing in your culinary haven and turning it into a bustling hub for socializing.
"Outdoor kitchens are evolving, and now boast smart technology integration such as app-controlled grills, pizza ovens, and outdoor refrigerators," Durpetti contends.
Beyond conventional cooking equipment, consider installing custom wood-fired ovens for Neapolitan-style pizzas and built-in barbeque smokers. "Mixed-material countertops like natural stone and concrete offer both style and sturdiness," adds Durpetti.
3. Relax and Unwind
Though you're outdoors during your shindig, that doesn't mean you need to rough it. "The principle of prospect and refuge suggests that individuals find pleasure in enclosed yet open spaces offering dramatic vistas," Lenhart explains. "Create cozy sanctuaries, perhaps nestled beneath an overhanging canopy or a pergola with open sides, and let long sightlines lead to a focal point or distant perspective."
Comfort and versatility are crucial for seating. "Furnish your lounges with chairs that are a delight to sit in and easy to reposition," Lenhart insistently declares.
By ensuring comfort, you'll foster an inviting atmosphere that allows guests to unwind and breathe easy.
4. Get Creative with Table Arrangements
Tired of the traditional round table setup for eight? Bid farewell to rigidity and try out novel seating configurations. "Seating looks its best when it becomes an integral part of a single, cohesive spatial layout," Lenhart suggests. "Instead of appearing as isolated objects, the tables can blend with surrounding elements like lighting, plants, or other furniture."
Experiment with seating arrangements in your garden for 2025. "Contour-heavy setups like serpentine, half-circle, and horseshoe arrangements favor organic conversation and movement," explains LaMere. "Unconventional surfaces like long family-style tables nestled among flowers, low-seated Moroccan-style picnics, and pergola-covered lounges add warmth, personality, and nuance."
And remember – dining isn't limited to the patio or deck. "I dream of immersive outdoor entertaining in 2025: positioning dining tables close to vibrant gardens, beneath resplendent trees, and chairs settled within rose beds," says Buchanan. "Such a romantic touch adds texture and softness to furniture and decor."
5. Understand That Evenings Aren't Only for Bashes
Birthday parties, celebrations, and grand affairs might dominate your social calendar, but these days, the emphasis is on finding reasons to spend time together. "events with a wellness focus are on the rise – outdoor sound baths, guided breathwork sessions, and alfresco tarot readings are changing the definition of a social gathering," LaMere predicts. "Instead of centering on food and drink, these events emphasize relaxation, connection, and mindfulness."
And gatherings don't have to adhere to a structure. "A picnic with vibrant Indian textiles spread on the grass and French bread, cheese, and wine can be the perfect impromptu celebration," Buchanan suggests. "With adequate supplies at home, there's no reason not to embark on a last-minute soiree after a triumphant win on the pitch."
6. Say Yes to Interactive Meals
Contemporary party planners emphasize making the culinary and dining experience more immersive for their clients. "Gatherings are becoming more interactive and experience-focused," LaMere shares. "Instead of traditional dinner parties, we see events with a collective, hands-on culinary experience, like cookbook clubs, wherein guests prepare recipes from the same book and share their creations."
Hold a hibachi night, pasta-making dinner, or tableside sushi-rolling extravaganza for your friends to enhance the entertainment factor during mealtime. "These parties transform cooking into an integral part of the social experience," LaMere concludes.
Forbes proposes dividing your yard into distinct areas for diverse aspects of the event. "Progressive dining, where guests transition through different outdoor spaces for drinks, appetizers, and dinner, imbues interactive elements into summer gatherings."
- Trade Typical Decor for Trendy Serveware: Add a dash of fashion to your gathering by mixing and matching serveware pieces, such as colorful plates, eclectic silverware, and artistic glassware. "Curate serveware collections that exude your personal style and cater to the party's theme," Forbes suggests.
- Keep Up with Pop-Culture When Holidays Entertaining: Stay ahead of the curve with fashion-forward holiday decor and entertaining ideas. "Incorporate insights from lifestyle blogs, social media influencers, and food and fashion magazines to create an Instagrammable affair," Buchanan recommends.
- Invite the Neighbors to Your Backyard Gathering: Build lasting relationships by facilitating a congenial atmosphere for neighbors and friends. "Relationships based on community form the core of livable cities," LaMere says. "Invite the neighbors over for a potluck or game night to foster camaraderie and incite memorable experiences."
