This is part of a sponsored campaign with ProFlowers and Shari’s Berries. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
Between my niece and my best friend's daughter graduating this week, Father's Day right around the corner, and the beginning of summer BBQ season, I am in full summertime party planning mode. I have hosted many a gathering over the years and while I am not a professional party planner, I do consider myself the hostess with the mostest - and I am thrilled to share 5 Party Planning Tips for Summer Fun!
5 Party Planning Tips for Summer Fun
1. Use Evite.com to keep track of your guest list!
Chris and I have been using Evite.com to plan our parties since we found out about the service in 2006. Evite.com is SO easy to use, you simply choose a graphic header, describe what type of party you are having, fill out the descriptive fields, then add your contacts! Guests receive an email, can login to Evite.com online or through apps on their smartphones, and you have all of your info in once place!
You can even ask guests to bring an item to the party and conduct polls. So fun! While you're at it, why not recommend a Limo Find service for your guests! Make it super fun!
2. Don't worry about scrubbing your floors...
I know that we all think we have to scrub our house from top to bottom before hosting a party. But guess what? Your house is going to be trashed, no matter how civilized your guests are; and chances are, they are going to be too busy having fun to notice that you didn't mop your floors or clean your windows.
Concentrate on the important things like sweeping/vacuuming and dusting because people with allergies will suffer if you skip this step! Then focus on decluttering your tables and give them a good wiping down. Oh, and clean your bathroom. I promise you, that is one space you can not get away with not cleaning. Once those bathroom lights come on, every spec of dirt shows!
3. Welcome your guests with flowers!
What easier way is there to get ready for guests than to dress up the house with beautiful flowers from ProFlowers? Seriously, you don't even need to leave the house to get the flowers, they are delivered right to your front door! Flowers are fantastic for parties because they make your home bright and cheery and make guests feel happy as soon as they walk through the door. You can even skip the usual party decorations like balloons and streamers when you arrange flowers throughout the house!
This Deluxe All The Frills Bouquet is beautiful, isn't it? It even came in a pretty little mason jar, which I will be sure to use again and again for future floral arrangements!
I love using different floral arrangements around the house to keep things interesting. This Celebrate Her Beauty Bouquet is so cute and charming; the little blue bird really sets it apart from your usual bouquets, don't you think?
One of the nice things about using floral arrangements as your party decorations is that you can always send the guest of honors home with an arrangement!
4. Keep the food SIMPLE.
Unless you are throwing an elegant dinner party, there is no need to go all out cooking extravagant dishes for your party guests. Buy a few finger sandwich platters, fruit and veggies trays...and don't forget desserts! You can order a Shari's Berries delivery and dessert takes care of itself!
Don't these Cocktail Strawberries & Caramel Pretzels look delicious? I could barely even snap a photo before Angeline was digging in!
5. When in doubt, throw a BBQ!
If you really want to get everyone together but are stressed out about the logistics of cleaning the house, fitting everyone inside, and entertaining them - send them all outside and host a backyard BBQ! Buy paper products, hamburgers and hot dogs and pick up macaroni salad, potato salad, coleslaw and beans from the deli and sit everyone down on picnic blankets in the backyard.
Just don't forget the Citronella candles!
Planning a party? Go ahead and take advantage of this great offer from ProFlowers -my readers get 20% of their purchase with the coupon code PARTYBLOOMS!
Enter to WIN 6 Months of Flowers in the Perfect Pair #PartyBlooms Sweepstakes!
Yes, that's right - you could win SIX MONTHS of beautiful flower deliveries from ProFlowers! Entering is super easy! Just take a photo of flowers and Tweet or Instagram your photo using the #PartyBlooms hashtag and tag both @ProFlowers and @Evite. Or you can also enter by hosting a party on Evite.com by 6/30! With your summer kick off parties and BBQs, Evite makes party planning and keeping track of RSVPs so easy - we have been using Evite.com for years!
This sweepstakes is open to US residents and ends at 11:59 PM CST on June 30th. Visit PartyBloomsPerfectPair.com for official details.
Find more great party ideas - and just ways to indulge and celebrate the beginning of summer with your family on Evite.com and ProFlowers.com!
Follow ProFlowers's board All About Celebrating- Party Decorations, Recipes and More on Pinterest.
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
We throw a few cookouts over the course of the summer - oh and then we have a huge joint pizza party for the boys birthdays in August.
Lindsey
Thanks for the coupon - we are big ProFlowers users. We are never disappointed with the deliveries. I always clean the bathroom first... it's something you KNOW people will notice!
Kay Adeola
Both of the flowers are really pretty,we have so many parties coming up for the next 3 months i do not know where to start this year lol.
Autumn
I love Shari's Berries dipped strawberries! They are juicy and sweet - just perfect, really. These are great party planning tips! I'll give evite a try the next time I host a celebration.
Krystyn
Great tips! We like to keep things simple and entertaining for friends/visitors. And, cleaning too much? Totally overrated with kids.
Christie
I definitely turn to Evite for summer party invitations! So easy! I love having fresh flowers on hand...and who wouldn't want Shari's Berries? YUM!
aimee fauci
Oh YES!! I am entering this contest. I hope outside flowers count... Def agree w #2. I pick up clutter, sweep, dust and clean the bathroom but mopping the floor is best done AFTER the party.
Shell
We tend to have lots of bbqs in the summer- they are so easy! I'm learning to wait until the guests leave to clean my floors- they get trashed anyway!
Kecia
I definitely agree on keeping the food simple! I love throwing outdoor parties because they are less hassle, especially for clean up!
Jaime
We throw a birthday party for my husband in late July and try to use evite to invite everyone. It's so easy and keeps track of people for us! I agree in keeping food simple!
ajackeduppeach
I love flowers and entertaining. flowers put a smile on my face instantly!
Clancy Harrison
I love using evite. It is so easy and great for the environment. Thanks for all the wonderful tips too!
Melissa
Great tips! We have a few summer parties coming up - I need to order fresh flowers!
Felicia
These are beautiful! I love flowers to liven up a decor.
Kiwi
I love the flower arrangement idea. And the Shari Berries I have heard of and they look so tasty!! Thanks for the info!
Debbie Denny
I love the design on those flowers. The strawberries look tasty.
valmg
Evite does make organizing a large party a bit simpler. The flowers are gorgeous. don't blame Angeline for wanting to gobble up the chocolate, it looks yummy!
Terry
Those ProFlowers are beautiful and would be a great addition to any party. We are planning a party around the 4th for my Hubs Dads birthday.
Debbie L.
Good tips....your flowers are beautiful! Sheri's Berries are perfect for every party!
Janel (A Mom's Take)
Those are great tips! Evite is so amazing and helpful. I've used it several times.
Jeanine
Love love love the flowers! What a great idea!
mary
those flowers are gorgeous. And the chocolates - YUM - I'm craving chocolate now. I agree with cleaning the bathroom too!
Krystal
I'm trying to plan a few parties myself right now. Love all those fresh flowers!
Ann Bacciaglia
Thank you for such a detailed post. I am always overwhelmed when I need to plan a party. I love your idea of flowers, chocolates, bbq's.......yum!
Piera
These are all great tips! I especially love #2 because I know we all stress that our homes be squeaky clean, but it's not necessary. Parties are so much better when you DO NOT stress lol.
April
This are all great tips! I love fresh flowers and I agree about cleaning the bathrooms. I don't have carpet but I do try to clean my couches before hand because we have a dog and 3 cats.
David Ryan
Those Shari’s Berries look so absolutely yummy. Mmmm.
Virginia
I totally skipped the floors for our last party, and man was I ever glad I did. It ended up raining and mud got tracked all over the floors. I'd have have been sad if I had just scrubbed them.
Amanda
These party tips are great! Summer is the best time of year for a party!
Jenni E. {Sweet Pennies from Heaven}
Summer parties are the BEST and you're right! I'm the one that tries to clean the house from top to bottom and nine times out of ten, no one even COMES into the house! I do love to keep fresh flowers out though. They're so pretty and brighten up any room!
Tonia
I'll have to keep the floors in mind and remember not to worry about them. I'll have more time to get ready!
Liz Mays
I always forget how much I love fresh flowers until I have them again. They add SO much to parties and to daily life!
veronica
Summer is my busy time at work so I honestly don't get a chance to entertain much. Those flowers are amazing!
Ashley M
Those flowers are so cute! I had chocolate covered strawberries at our last birthday party and the guest LOVED it! They didn't even make it to the meal.
Krissy
Such great ideas - I have tried making 'impressive' dinners and they take up too much time! I love the idea of simple foods, and of course a BBQ.
Fresh flowers on the tables is always nice too - they light up a room! I am definitely entering to win 6 months of FREE flowers from ProFlowers!
tee mccluskey
Such good ideas! I want those choc. covered strawberries!
Dina
I love the flowers idea. I wish I could have them indoors all year round. They make the house so festive and it's great for partying up the atmosphere.
Cam | Bibs and Baubles
I love the flowers. These are great ideas since get togethers always seem to happen at our house.
Cassie
Those flowers look beautiful and the berries look yummy. Those would be nice for a small summer get together 🙂
Carly A Bellard
I really need to get in a just because party this summer. I think skipping the sweeping and distracting everyone with flowers and good food is a great idea!
Susanna
These are great party planning tips! It's always best to keep it simple. No one wants a stressed out hostess.
Janeane Davis
These are great party tips. I have several parties I must do this summer so I am looking forward to trying out a few of these tips.
Christina S
Great tips! I love your thoughts on not scrubbing the floors! It's true: It always ends up a mess anyway.
CoffeeCorner
Great tips….......your flowers are amazing! Using ProFlowers and Shari’s Berries all the time!