With the warm season on our doorstep, there is no better time to prepare for outdoor gatherings and the upcoming festive celebrations. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas lunch, a New Year’s Eve party or having a few friends over for a braai, these tips will help you create a welcoming, memorable experience for your guests.

First thing first, summer means enjoying the sunlight that we have missed all winter long. Make sure your outside space is ready to entertain with comfortable seating, shady areas and some string lights to set the mood. Delicious snacks and drinks are also a must.

Speaking of drinks, having a refreshing drinks station is also a great idea. A good mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks means that there is something for everyone to enjoy. Coming into the festive season, ideas like punches or summery sangrias for the adults will definitely be the star of the show.

Warm weather calls for light and refreshing food. Salads, cold pastas, cheese and fruit platters are great, especially for this. When it comes to dinner time, grilled meats and fish are also a great addition. Festive meals with the family always call for a traditional favourite like a beautiful slice of gammon.

Now, we need to plan for evening entertainment. Make the night special with board games, a karaoke machine, or sharing a playlist for everyone to add their favourite songs to. What good is a get-together without music?

Even better yet, for festive evenings, carol singing or on New Year’s a walk to the beach could be a great way to start the new year. You might even see a few fireworks.

If you are hosting a larger gathering, keep in mind any safety protocols, especially if their are young children or pets that will be joining. You never know when something will happen, so it is always best to have a first-aid kit on hand somewhere in the house. Keep any breakables out of reach and create safe paths around the pool to prevent slipping.

A massive turn-off when it comes to hosting parties is the cleanup that it requires afterwards. Consider asking a few friends to help with the majority of the cleanup before everyone leaves, if they haven’t already offered which is the case most of the time. Alternatively, you can look at getting Keep in mind that less can be more!

Lastly, remember to enjoy yourself. Small mishaps happen and they aren’t going to ruin this special night. Embrace the beauty of spending time with your friends and family. At the end of the day, that is what it is all about!