When the weather is perfect outside, that last thing you want to do is stay indoors. So, when you decide to have a gathering with friends and family, are you going to pile everyone in your house, staying cooped up? No – you will want to bask in the outdoor freshness.
Think about it — outdoor gatherings have a ton of perks: natural scenery, lots of space to mingle, you don’t have to worry about cleaning your house before or after the party. However, there are downfalls, as well: the weather is completely unpredictable, there may be pesky pests around and a lack of indoor comforts.
Fortunately with fabric structures, there is a way to enjoy the pros and avoid the cons of outdoor parties and have a blast at your next outdoor gathering.
Universal Fabric Structures
Just because you are outside, doesn’t mean you have to give up your indoor comforts. In fact, there is a way to have the indoors brought outdoors for you! Renting tent structures can be the way to go. Why?
- You have a place for your guests to take cover from the sun and its hot rays.
- If mother nature wants to rain on your parade, tell her to go ahead. If you rented a canopy, then you have cover and protection.
- Wind won’t be a problem, either. If its windy – or windy and rainy – you can simply drop down the sidewalls to your canopy. Voila! You are dry and so is the rest of your party.
- You will not need to worry about claustrophobic guests, either, as the sidewalls of these canopies have windows!
- Believe it or not, fabric structures can be customized – you can make them as big or small as you need, you may be able to have flooring (allowing you to avoid having your guests walk on grass or dirt), and you can even splurge for climate control.
Protect attendees from pests
When you take your party outdoors, you are entering the natural habitat of so many insects and creatures. That doesn’t mean you must invite them to the party. Here are a few ways to control the pest population so you and your guests can continue to get your groove on:
- Use citronella. These come in the form of candles and lighter fluid. Place candles in all areas where your guests will be mingling. You may also use Tiki Torches filled with citronella to give a great outdoor look while also serving a purpose.
- Make use of your canopy sidewalls. Putting them down will allow a barrier between your guests and the pests.
- Ahead of time, spray the canopy and its walls with repellent to try to keep the insects at bay.
- Offer insect repellant spray and wipes for your guests. Many will be very appreciative for this little convenience.
- Dry up any standing water that may draw mosquitoes.
- Add fans throughout the fabric structures gathering area to deter smaller insects from invading your space.
Safety first!
To have an outdoor gathering, you are likely going to need to get some sort of electricity for lighting or music and entertainment purposes. You will, however, want to make sure that you take precaution and watch out for extension cords.
Putting a note or taping them down may not be enough to avoid someone tripping or causing injury. It is best to be overcautious: Put up a sign, tape the cords down, and cover them with a rug.
Also — you will likely be using a fire pit and/or grill. Fire can be deadly – especially when you have a large group of people partying and having a good time. Make sure you have a nearby water source and a fire extinguisher. Also, make sure the person manning each of these items is experienced and able to handle the task.
Prepare the space
Just because you are taking your gathering outdoors does not mean you can avoid your home’s cleanliness altogether. Your guests may not be hanging out in there, but it doesn’t mean they will not be, at the very least, walking through. When your guests arrive, they may come through your front door. Many may come into your kitchen to help with food preparation or to grab something from your refrigerator. Lastly, you can bank on each of your guests having to use your restroom – at least once. So, when preparing your outdoors for your party, you may want to tidy up these indoor areas, as well.
You may want to make your backyard presentable, too. It would be good for you to mow your lawn (as no one wants to put boots on to trek through your overgrown yard) and clean up any garbage or miscellaneous items.
Do what you need to do to make the space presentable and welcoming – your guests will thank you.
Provide comfort for your guests
Last, but certainly not least, go above and beyond to make your guests feel comfortable in such fabric structures. You are moving the party outside, so do something a little extra to make sure you aren’t taking anything away from your guests by keeping them out of your house! Here are a few things you can do that will win you the title of “Host of the Year.”
- Provide blankets. If your party is going to carry over into the evening and night hours, have blankets available for your guests to bundle up should it get cooler.
- If it is hot outside, provide personal fans. Your sweating guests will be thankful that you did.
- Buy flip flops for your guests. You can find cheap flip flops at discount stores. Many people dress up to go to parties but may not enjoy wearing dress shoes in the grass and dirt.
- Sunglasses can be a welcome – and healthy – thing to provide for your guests. Buy them in bulk and pass them out.
Having an outdoor gathering can be a fun and relaxing time for your friends and family. Just be prepared with fabric structures and be safety conscious and it will be the talk of the town!