This post contains affiliate links.
If you’re in the midst of planning an event and running out of steam for ideas, look no further. I’m sharing all my fun party ideas with you. These fun party ideas are my favorite go-to moves for planning parties for the whole crew to enjoy.
See Also: Party Decorating For a ‘Get to Know You’ Family Reunion
Fun Party Idea #1: Don’t throw a party all by yourself!
Recruit your partner, your best friend(s), and even guests to contribute. This will not only save money, it’ll save you the stress of having to take care of every detail. Here are some things you can ask them to do:
• Ask a bestie to create a signature cocktail: most of us have that fabulous friend or family member who loves to get creative! Recruit them, then brag about the drink on your invites! Little party details like these striped straws can add a lot of fun and a pop of color.
• Ask a close friend/family member to bake their favorite dessert: my brother is the family baker, and we ask him to make something all the time. We even had guests asking, “Did your brother bake anything?!?” Boom.
•Put someone in charge of music: My husband is always in charge of this task. Be clear on the start time so they can finish setting up the tunes before the guests arrive. Walking into a quiet party is awkward.
• BYOB – Bring Your Own Booze: a simple request for guests to bring beer or wine (if they so desire) is all you need. Though we served a signature cocktail, we thought it prudent to ask just in case someone wanted something different.
Tip #2: Plan a delicious but doable menu!
Choose one or two specialty items (perhaps just appetizers), and then make the rest of the meal simple. For our most recent party, we featured two different appetizers with fresh peaches, veggie crudité, bratwursts, and potato chips.
Extra Tip: Arrange some seating near the BBQ to include the cook in all the fun!
Fun Party Idea #3: Have good music playing…ALWAYS!
Nothing will kill a party faster than silence. We touched on this briefly in the first tip, but make sure you have the tunes on before your guests arrive. Music apps like Spotify or Apple Music have tons of fun playlists with different eras, genres, and moods. If you know the general age range of your guests, pick a memorable decade to summon some nostalgia.
Fun Party Idea #4: Provide activities for your guests!
Fun parties need the right mixture of food, drink, and music, but having an optional activity for your guests keeps the energy level up by mitigating the dreaded small chat. Here are some examples:
• Outdoor movie experience: there’s nothing like watching a movie under the stars! With a projector, you can play a movie outdoors for your guests. You’ll need a surface to project to, but a wall or hung-up bedsheet works just fine.
• Use Visuals: If your guests aren’t interested in a full feature, use the visuals from an old, black-and-white movie, turn down the sound, and blast the music. It’s a great way to infuse a cool, night-club vibe.
•Outdoor Lawn games: Set up some lawn games for those seeking some fresh air – like ping-pong, bocce ball, horseshoes, or corn hole. This will also encourage any wall flowers to interact and show off their skills.
• Photo Booth: Set up a background with fun hats, glasses, and other props to get your guests snapping silly Instagram posts and stories all night! Here are some great DIY photo booth examples.
• Sidewalk/Driveway Chalk Art: surprisingly, this can turn into something fun for kids and adults! Your local craft store has all kinds of colors, or grab a box of sidewalk chalk here.
• Fire pit: who doesn’t love a good fire, right? It’s an instant conversation starter and is very romantic and/or cozy. DIY one, or there are many fire pit tables available on the cheap!
Fun Party Idea #5: Decorate (duh)!
By adding creative party decor touches, your guests will always feel special.
• Entryway: add a simple vignette that includes a welcome sign and balloons or a banner. It’s a great way to say, “Welcome to the party!” Check out this peachy banner’s how-to!
• Lights: holiday lights aren’t just for the holidays. String these outdoor weatherproof lights overhead, and you’ll instantly brighten your backyard with a festive atmosphere.
• Food table: follow the Triangle Table rule, and you’ll always have an interesting yet functional table. Set up food tiers at different heights using vintage buckets and baskets to display your yummy food. Add some fun touches like flowers or thematic props. Of course, we love DIY signage or banners!
• Drink table: there should always be a bar cart or drink table that’s situated near bins for water and soft drinks. Another simple trick is to dress the glasses – ideas include colorful straws, I.D. tags, interesting glasses, etc. Don’t forget your signature cocktail (here’s our recipe for peach punch)!
• Bathroom: most everyone will visit your loo, so why not welcome them there, too? Make sure you’re properly stocked with toilet paper and hand towels. Scented candles, flowers, or a thematic trinket are ways to display more party decor detail.
We’d love to hear your fun party ideas! Feel free to share in the comments below.
All photography by Skaie Knox, HomeJelly
