Family BBQs are a great way to spend time with family and friends, but they can be hard to plan. Here are 6 things you need to remember when planning your next outdoor gathering.
Have Enough Food For Everyone
Plan for enough food by estimating how many people will be attending and then cooking for that number of guests. You don’t want to run out of food or have too much leftover, so it’s best to overestimate a little bit. And if you’re not sure how many people will show up, go ahead and plan for the most amount of people you could have. Also, don’t forget to buy charcoal bulk, so you can grill up some delicious burgers and hot dogs. That way, you won’t end up disappointed or scrambling last minute to make more food.
Another thing to remember is that BBQs usually mean burgers and hot dogs. So make sure you have plenty of those staples on hand, as well as some variety in side dishes. You don’t want everyone to get bored of the same thing. Finally, make sure you have plenty of drinks on hand for your guests. If you’re serving alcohol, be sure to have a designated driver or plan for alternate transportation. And if you’re not serving alcohol, make sure you have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks available too. Water, juice, and soda are all good options. One of the most important things to remember when planning a family BBQ is to keep the food and drinks cold. If you’re serving anything that needs to be refrigerated, make sure it stays in the cooler until it’s time to eat. This will help keep everything safe and at a good temperature for everyone. It’s also a good idea to put ice in coolers instead of just using frozen water bottles – this will last longer and help keep everything cold.
Have A Good Playlist
Some people like to play classic rock and roll, while others enjoy listening to the latest hip-hop songs or contemporary country hits. It can either be organized by genre (such as pop, jazz, alternative rock) with each song listed in order from most popular to least popular for easy access when playing them on an iPod/iPhone. Or, you can create themed playlists such as “summertime BBQ songs” or “indoor party tunes”.
Whatever playlist you choose to go with, make sure there is something for everyone and that the songs are upbeat and get people moving. And don’t forget about the classics – some oldies, but goodies, always go over well at a family BBQ!
Be Sure There’s Plenty Of Seating Available
People don’t want to sit on the grass for hours, so make sure there’s enough seating. If people are going to stand around and chat, it also won’t be as fun. So have chairs ready just in case. You can always use a blanket or pillow if you’d rather lay than sit, but having something other than dirt is nice. Also, small fold-up tables will help with serving food and drinks without making them super uncomfortable while sitting on the ground (which they might not like). Make sure that everyone has somewhere comfortable to take a seat when they get too tired of standing around (or sometimes before). It should go without saying, but no one likes an overcrowded party – keep your guest list and try limiting how many guests can attend to make sure everyone has a great time.
Keep An Eye On Children
If you have a lot of younger children who aren’t able to help out with grilling or carrying drinks, consider bringing them along too. Your backyard is going to be plenty big enough for everybody, and it will give your little ones something fun to do while you’re busy cooking up food. While you may not be able to watch them every second, it is still a good idea for you and other parents at the party to take turns keeping an eye on kids in case anything goes wrong. This also allows everyone else time inside the house with air conditioning while someone gets some fresh air outside watching over the children playing in the yard or pool area.
If there are any pool toys or floats available, make sure your children know how to use them properly and aren’t just jumping on them or using them like swords. Accidents happen quickly when there are lots of people around, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Don’t Forget The Bug Spray
Even though it’s a great idea to get your family and friends together for an evening, you need to make sure that everyone is staying safe. Even if the weather looks perfect outside, there are still going to be bugs around, and nobody wants their guests getting eaten up by mosquitoes while they’re trying to enjoy food and drinks. Additionally, it can be a great idea to take your bug spray with you when you go out to the park or any other outdoor location. You never know when those pesky bugs are going to show up, so being prepared is important!
Clean Up After Yourself
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s always important to clean up after yourself. Not only will it make the party more enjoyable for those who are left to clean up, but it will also help keep things tidy, so you’re not dealing with a mess later on. If you have any extra trash bags or cleaning supplies, put them away in an easily accessible spot, so you can take care of everything quickly and without hassle. Make sure to take out the trash, dispose of any leftover food, and make sure all dishes are washed before leaving.
The most important thing to remember when planning a family BBQ is that everyone has different levels of comfortability with food. Some people might like more spicy foods, some may not be able to eat certain meats, etcetera. You should make something accessible and delicious for everybody! So keep this in mind as you decide what you’re going to make for everyone.
