Kabobs on a grill
Hosting a family BBQ can be a lot of fun, especially if you love to entertain your loved ones. A BBQ party usually takes place out doors, on a back patio or pool area. Some parties even have a theme. If you want to throw the best family BBQ ever, then get ready to work. The real fun takes place the day of the party. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Create a guest list before sending out invitations. This prevents you from forgetting to invite someone. Invite everyone in your immediate and extended family to the BBQ party. You can hand-make your own invitations or purchase them in a store. Shutterfly.com, Snapfish.com, Announcingit.com and Invitationbox.com have some interesting customized invites that are sure to "wow" your guests.
2. Mow the grass and clean the area where you plan on having your BBQ. Rent or borrow tables and chairs to set up. Make sure there is adequate shade available. Plan the layout of the tables and chairs, grill, food and drink stations and play areas. The grill will most likely be closer to the house, along with the food and drink stations. Tables and chairs should set in shade, and play areas need to be located away from everything else.
3. Cover the tables with brightly colored tablecloths. Secure the table clothes in case the wind picks up. Set a centerpiece at each table. Flower bouquets, lanterns, pin wheels in sand buckets or Tiki masks make interesting centerpieces. You could also fill galvanized buckets full of ice and stick some drinks in for guests to enjoy.
4. Hang up paper lanterns around the party area. You can also decorate by sticking tall torches into the ground and lighting them at dusk. Using grass streamers or skirts around the food and drink stations is a great way to decorate for the BBQ. Really amaze your guests by hiring local dancers to perform a Tiki or Hawaiian dance.
5. Grill beef and veggie kabobs, hamburgers, steak, hot dogs and whatever else you enjoy. You can even grill ears of corn and potatoes. Serve light desserts such as key lime pie or lemon mousse. Salads and finger foods such as sausage balls or veggie plates go over well with guests. Stack plates, napkins and utensils at one end of the food station.
6. Make the drink station stand out by using a fountain as a punch dispenser. Hire a bar tender to tend a wet bar or work the wet bar yourself. Decorate the bar with grass streamers and paper lanterns. Create a cocktail drink menu on your computer and display it for guests to choose from.
7. Play music at the BBQ. Invite guests to play games in order to win prizes. Games such as Limbo, Musical Chairs and Horseshoes are great for the backyard. Prizes can include gift baskets, concert tickets, sporting-event tickets, gift cards and T-shirts.
8. Send everyone home with a BBQ party favor. Favors can include pinwheels, balloons, a bucket and shovel, straw hats or BBQ sauce. Guests are sure to remember the fun they had.
Tags: drink stations, food drink, food drink stations, grass streamers, paper lanterns, play areas, tables chairs