When it comes to summer soirees, whether they are Communion, Confirmation, birthday celebrations or simply a casual gathering over food and drinks, they are truly enjoyable. Unpredictable weather might disturb our well-organised plans at the eleventh hour – but ever the optimists, many already have get-togethers scheduled in their calendars, hoping fervently for clear blue skies.
While we have no control over the weather, what we can do is ensure that our abodes are at their prime, and that we’re poised to host an exceptional party. To aid in achieving this, we’ve sought advice from industry experts.
Start by decluttering
According to Barbara Phelan, the head of Beo Interiors, the first step to prepping your home and garden for a summer party is to focus on the most frequented areas. Concentrate your cleaning and decluttering activities on the key parts of your home that party goers will inhabit – this includes the entrance, lounge, kitchen, and bathroom. Engage in a thorough clear-out of your current storage spaces, creating room for necessary items that may currently be homeless.
Conceive the layout that will be used during the affair and organise furnishings to fit the flow of invitees. Provide multiple seating arrangements, while still leaving ample space for standing socialisation and ensure there are plenty of tabletops for food and drink.
If your main communal spaces need a fresh look or a colour alteration, seize the moment to freshen them with a coat of paint. Choose warm and inviting colours like soft whites, light blues, greens, or pastel yellows and oranges to give a refreshing and welcoming feel. Don’t neglect your home’s exterior – it’s crucial to make a great first impression; replacing tired paintwork could make all the difference.
Our design expert also highlighted the significance of not forgetting your outdoor areas and to consider revamping the current décor.
“Utilise the pressure washer to cleanse the grime that may have built up during winter,” she suggests. “Additionally, tidy up your garden furniture and eliminate any spider webs and accumulated dust from storage. Brush away fallen leaves, trim the lawn, prune shrubs, and generally spruce up the garden so it’s ready and appealing for visitors.
“Consider the outside space as an additional room, strive to maximise its potential and ensure it’s inviting by adding an outdoor rug for a pop of colour and clearly defining the seating area. Cultivate a cosy atmosphere with the help of string lights or lanterns, and provide guests with soft furnishings like cushions and throws for added comfort. For chillier nights, think about acquiring a fire pit or an outdoor heater.
“To quickly refresh your home’s aesthetics, pick a vibrant hue for your front door. Supplement the street appeal by implementing window boxes filled with colourful blossoms or station some potted bushes or trees near the entrance. Moreover, repainting or re-staining garden fences can enhance the overall appearance.”
Setting the mood with music.
Kate Deegan, a party planner from perfect-details.com, shares that with just a bit of advanced planning, everyone can host a memorable gathering. “Hosting a party is an excellent excuse to complete those long-overdue tasks but any reason to have a party is always good enough,” she says.
“Music is a pivotal element in setting the mood and nudging people into the festive spirit. Start on a high yet calm note and as the party progresses, heighten the tempo to get people dancing. Compiling your own playlists for different parts of the day is an effective approach. But of course, a live band is unbeatable, however, it depends on your budget.
“Selecting the right entertainment can really elevate the event. For children, a bouncy castle is a sure hit, and laser tag, which is action-packed, is also an option. Adult guests might appreciate a live illustrator or a caricature artist as they can take home a personalised picture, which is rather fun. Alternatively, a magician or illusionist would have them raving for weeks to come.”
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An experienced professional suggests, if you are intent on commencing your gathering on a high note, it might be beneficial to engage experts. “Engaging professionals can provide a fresh perspective to your domestic set-up, determining optimal ways to use the available space,” she says. Professionals’ expertise can aid in deciding whether on-site cooking or catered food works best, the amount of food and drinks required, parking or drop-off facilities, and whether to hire wait staff to serve and manage cleanup.
However, delegation is key if you prefer to organise it yourself. “Appoint someone to welcome guests, offer them drinks and make sure they have enough for the evening,” she advises. “As you cannot attend to all your attendees equally, delegating roles can ensure a smoothly run evening.” This would involve tasks such as coat collection, replenishing toilet supplies, and prompt handling of any accidental breakages. Since you are already investing in the party, you should ensure you enjoy it as well.
“It’s crucial to have a contingency plan always. Be prepared to accommodate guests indoors in a sudden downpour. But rain shouldn’t dampen our spirits for a celebration,” she adds.
In terms of food, a commendable spread is crucial to a successful party. Chef Neven Maguire from MacNean house, Co Cavan offers some ideas for impressive yet simple and affordable recipes. “Choose dishes that would allow you to mingle with your guests rather than overwork you. A flavourful sweet and sour steak sandwich can be a good choice. You can use the juices from the steak to moisten the bread, enhancing its taste,” he suggests.
If you’re looking for a simple yet enticing meal, consider serving salmon paired with vibrant green couscous. This dish not only appears fantastic but it also tastes as delicious cold as it does hot, making it an ideal choice for a summer dinner in the garden. Given their seasonal availability, why not utilize an assortment of soft red fruits like raspberries and strawberries? A suggestion for dessert would be miniature raspberry pavlovas.
Make sure to plan your meals ahead, perhaps preparing your desserts a day before the gathering to save time. Don’t forget to keep in mind the unpredictable Irish weather and have a backup plan ready.
To create a comfortable environment for your guests, consider investing in soft furnishings like cushions and throws. Here are a few suggestions:
– Tropical print tassel cushion cover from Penneys (£9).
– Protect your guests from weather with the Coral parasol (£195) and coral hammock from Oliver Bonas (£145).
– To cater for cooler night temperatures, why not consider a fire pit or outdoor heater such as the La Hacienda Moresque firepit (£294.99) from very.ie?
– Revamp your front door with a lively colour like Wild Raspberry using the Repaint Your Door Kit from Colourtrend (£89).
– For seating, a chic option would be the deckchair from Homesense Ireland (£46.99).
– Meadows & Byrne offers a breeze outdoor lantern that’ll illuminate your space (£110 small/£198 large).
And for an inventive cooking idea, give Neven Maguire’s summer cuisine a try. His Sweet and Sour Steak Sandwich is perfect for serving two. The ingredients include a large onion, rapeseed oil, butter, dark brown sugar, red wine vinegar, sirloin steak, an unpeeled garlic clove cut in half, a small ciabatta loaf, mayonnaise, English mustard, watercress, and sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Please first chop the onion into rounds of 2cm. Then, place a nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Include half of the required oil and the butter into the pan, followed by the onion. Add seasoning and stir until it’s spread evenly. Add sugar and continue sautéing for five minutes to achieve a soft caramelisation.
Subsequently, mix the vinegar into your cooking onions and stir well. Cover your pan with a baking sheet or lid, and lower the heat. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes until it reaches full caramelisation. Add a little water if you find it necessary.
Now, preheat a griddle pan on high heat. Season your steak and use the garlic and remaining oil for a rub. For a medium-cooked steak, let it cook for two to three minutes on each side. If you prefer your meat well done, leave it for a bit longer. Once done, place the steak on a plate to rest.
Divide your ciabatta in half and then half again, opening it up. Toast it on the griddle. Spread the mayonnaise and mustard on the halves and add watercress to it. Afterwards, slice your steak and pile it on top along with the caramelised onions. Finally, top it off to serve.
For Mini Raspberry Pavlovas which makes 18 servings. The ingredients are 4 egg whites at room temperature, 225g of caster sugar, 1tsp of cornflour, 1tsp of lemon juice, white chocolate measuring up to 100g and broken into squares, 300ml of cream, 50g of icing sugar, 500g of fresh raspberries and 2tbs of toasted flaked almonds.
Start by preheating your oven at 140 degrees. Whisk your egg whites in a clean and dry bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually introduce a quarter of the caster sugar and give it a good whisk until it’s stiff. Then, add the remaining sugar slowly, whisking continuously until you achieve a shiny meringue. Now, gently mix in the cornflour and lemon juice with a spatula.
Drop blobs of your meringue mixture on the corners of two baking sheets lined with nonstick paper. Place 18 even-sized dollops of meringue on it, making a dent in the centre of each. Bake for about one to one and a quarter hours, or when you see the meringues firming up. Finally, leave it to cool.
Begin by gently melting the chocolate over a steam bath, then set it aside to cool. In a separate bowl, beat the cream together with the icing sugar until it forms soft peaks. Utilise this to load up the pavlovas. Finally, adorn them with raspberries, almond slivers and a light chocolate drizzle before presenting them.