if it's a late afternoon / dinner picnic, and you have some xmas lights stashed away, consider hanging them up in your backyard...a glowing touch to yoru party.

If have a Dollar Tree or other true dollar store near by go buy $5 worth of red, white and blue decorations of some sort. napkins, plastic pitcher and something to put on table, bunting, small flags, anything r/w/b stripped something, a flag motif, 5 latex ballons, etc. it will help add a festive theme to the gathering on the cheap and / or google "cheap memorial day decorations" and look at the images that come up for easy but fun decoration ideas.

Do you have a Pier One near you? They are having a sale now.

Go and get a set of nice melamine plates. They are pretty and great to use outside.

They also have nice plastic wine glasses, so no one has to worry about breaking glass outside in your backyard.

I agree about making some kind of party drink, play good music and have some fun games set up for the kids - corn hole or a sprinkler or water balloons?

Anonymous wrote:OP, you inspired me - I am going to bring out our kitchen table to the backyard next time we have people over! Our outdoor table also only seats 4 (although we often squeeze up a couple more chairs or else people eating standing or in casual shifts or else in lawn chairs nearby). I don't know why I never thought to bring out the kitchen table - brilliant!

Haha thanks! It only works if you, like us, have a super cheap little table. If you have a large, reclaimed barn door wooden table from Room and Board then no, it wouldn't work.

OP, you inspired me - I am going to bring out our kitchen table to the backyard next time we have people over! Our outdoor table also only seats 4 (although we often squeeze up a couple more chairs or else people eating standing or in casual shifts or else in lawn chairs nearby). I don't know why I never thought to bring out the kitchen table - brilliant!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Here's some specific things I feel self conscious about:

Outside table only fits 4 chairs. We will therefore bring out our kitchen table and chairs. A little odd, but hoping I can pull it off as quirky and fun! (At least we can sit outside. Their houses, while bigger, have no outdoor space).

No matching wine glasses! Somehow ours all broke! Should I get a set at Target? Or just use mismatched ones from wineries?

This stuff would not even register with me if I were a guest. Mismatched glasses are fine. I wouldn't expect you to use nice wineglasses outside, anyway. Your kitchen table is fine. Cover it with a big plastic tablecloth.

Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depending on age of kids, sparklers are fun. Water balloons for kids (although messy, fun - & they have those ones that you can blow up dozens at a time when you attach to hose all over the place right now)?

Smores in addition to cake? Adds to fun factor.

Definitely music (figure out a speaker situation). I would not even blink at your kitchen table outside. Use tablecloths that match for both tables (can get at hardware or party store if you don't have any).

Costco has really affordable & good food options including cake.

Dunno your weather forecast this weekend but ours looks iffy. That would be my biggest logistic to figure out (being able to be indoors if we needed to).

They are also illegal.

Cue the resident DCUM harpy/Debbie Downer. That didn't take long.

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Here's some specific things I feel self conscious about:

Outside table only fits 4 chairs. We will therefore bring out our kitchen table and chairs. A little odd, but hoping I can pull it off as quirky and fun! (At least we can sit outside. Their houses, while bigger, have no outdoor space).

No matching wine glasses! Somehow ours all broke! Should I get a set at Target? Or just use mismatched ones from wineries?

This stuff would not even register with me if I were a guest. Mismatched glasses are fine. I wouldn't expect you to use nice wineglasses outside, anyway. Your kitchen table is fine. Cover it with a big plastic tablecloth.

We pickup a bottle of that yard spray for the bugs at Home Depot and spray the yard a few days before a get together. If your yard is small, as if your neighbors mind you spraying them as well. I do it in the AM before work so no one is bothered by needing to keep off the yard for a bit. If that doesn't work for you - just have a bottle of bug spray (with Deet!) handy.

Remember to put a trashcan outside if doing paper (my vote). I also prefer to have the drinks in a cooler outside rather than needing to go into the fridge.

Do one thing that's special - be it flowers, a really good homemade marinade for the chicken, a special drink, or a special appetizer. As long as I do one thing out of the norm - it feels like a party to me. I also try do do as much advanced prep and minimize the effort at the party so I can enjoy myself and be ready to take care of the little things. Grilling is great because it doesn't take you away from the party.

You'll do great!

You will be great OP. Get a cute either single table cloth to make one big take or two smaller ones to create a "bistro style" feel

Order matching wine glasses from CB2 - they are ridiculously cheap.

These aren't necessary but if these expenses make you feel more confident thye are absolutely worth it.

Unless you are planning to serve chicken and cake ONLY, you will be fine. If you are serving only that, then you are definitely a poor host.

Heavy duty paper plates. Background music. Fun stuff for kids to do. Kids sit separate from adults so adults can chat. Give the kids (and whoever else wants) ice cream cones for dessert and they will be in heaven. Booze and soft drinks for the grownups (pitcher of water with cucumber and mint is fancy). Do some food prep the day before (pasta salad, etc.). Have some snacks for when people first arrive, even just chips and salsa or carrots and dip. You yourself should be relaxed and ready to have a good time. Your guests will arrive ready to enjoy themselves.

^ One more thing: have bug spray available! We sometime bring a standing fan out on our deck when we entertain too as it keeps the mosquitos away even better than spray. I don't think our bugs are bad, but other people (including my husband) often do.

We entertain all the time, most often on our back porch, and people really seem to enjoy coming over -- I think not because we are particularly organized, but because we are laid back and fun about it. Our last minute Friday afternoon BBQs are just as fun, if not more so, than ones I plan ahead of time. Here's what I would suggest.

- Don't worry at all about the kitchen table thing! Don't be apologetic. Approach it with an attitude of "isn't it great to hang out outside! So worth dragging the table out!"
- If you want to come off as put-together, a table cloth and thing of flowers go a long way, as does starting out by setting out a pretty pitcher of drink (sangria, lemonade with lemon slices in there, etc) and some simple appetizers set out. From there, it's fine if everything goes downhill because by that point you'll all just be enjoying yourself.
- A cooler of drinks (beer, wine, juice, seltzers) is also a good idea so you don't need to keep shuttling into the house.
- Music! Bring a speaker out
- Get as much done ahead of time as possible, even if that means a simpler meal. You'll be more relaxed, and more able to enjoy your guests. Aim to have nothing left to do an hour before people arrive.
- Don't sweat the small stuff. Paper plates are fine (though I'd go with sturdy rather than cute). Running out of forks is fine. Ordering a pizza because you run out of gas for the grill is fine! (but do check the gas!)

Yes to new wine glasses. You can get a dozen at world market for fairly cheap IKEA too. I would also just have a bunch of beer. I'm usually the only one drinking wine when we have people over.
I wouldn't even worry about the table seating four. People can stand or sit on ledges. You could put some folding chairs out. What are you going to put the food on?