My Aunt Janet's Secret to Amazing Outdoor Dinner Parties

I have an aunt Janet who is the perfect hostess. Every time I visit her home, it smells fresh, clean and lovingly kept. She carries thank you notes everywhere she goes and she's queen of etiquette in any situation. Being that it's barbecue season, I thought I'd get some tips from her on how to prepare for an evening of outdoor entertaining. You won't want to miss this foolproof advice!:


1) Prepare, prepare, prepare.
When it comes to entertaining, it pays to be a former Girl Scout (and I'm not talking cookies here). "I like to think about all of the potential needs my guests could have when visiting my home," she says. "For a barbecue, I like to leave out a basket of sunscreen, bug repellent, sunglasses and antibacterial hand soap. That way, my guests can help themselves and I can enjoy the event, knowing the troubleshooting has been taken care of!"

2) Arrange, arrange, arrange.
Seating is key, but so is storage. My aunt's rule of thumb? "There needs to be one clean surface for every seating arrangement. When planning for a party, keep in mind that guests should have plenty of seating, but also surface area to hold their food and drinks (unless it's a cocktail party, of course)."

3) Gift, gift, gift.
Of course, favors aren't always necessary, but they are sometimes fun. My aunt likes to gift cheeky presents to her guests. "Last year, I gave out Tide sticks to each guest that arrived at my barbecue. You won't believe how many people needed their own by the end of the night!"

4) Cook, cook, cook (or buy, buy, buy).
If you love cooking, do it. If not, don't feel bad about purchasing pre-made food for the party. "One summer, I was particularly swamped and didn't have the time to prepare a meal for a party I was hosting," she says. "Instead, I enlisted my children to run to the grocery and purchase all of the food from the deli. I placed them in lovely containers from my kitchen, and no one knew the difference (or cared, for that matter!)."

5) Light, light, light.
What good party doesn't last throughout the night? Prepare ahead of time by hanging paper lanterns or stringing lights in the backyard. "I had totally forgotten lights one year, and the party ended abruptly when people realized they couldn't see who they were talking to," she laughs. "I tried to move it indoors, but the mood had been killed. I'll never make that mistake again!"

Take it from my aunt -- these foolproof tips will help you host the event of the summer. One last tip -- don't forget to add a healthy dose of spontaneity. "Enjoy yourself and go with the flow. It's your party, after all!"