The summer is a great time to entertain, especially for people who don’t want to clean the house! You can invite people over and spend all your time outside. (You will need to make provision for a bathroom, though. It’s impolite to ask guests to use the gas station down the street.)

You don’t really need a reason for summer entertaining, but opportunities abound:  graduation, Father’s Day, wedding and baby showers, and the Fourth of July.

Here are some basics to keep in mind when planning summer entertainments:

• Make auxiliary plans in case of inclement weather. Set a rain date. Have a tent. Be able to move everything inside.
• Use citronella candles, torches, or other means to protect against bugs.  You can even have bug spray available for your guests. (If it’s daytime, consider having sunscreen available as well.)
• Find a way to give guests access to shade. Heat exhaustion is not a celebration.
• Make sure that you have electricity outside
• Have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks to ensure that guests stay hydrated.
• Keep the menu as simple as possible and try to avoid the use of dairy products and mayonnaise. If you use these ingredients, you MUST keep them cold and move them back indoors in 30 minutes.

Summer entertaining should be simple. Why create a complicated menu when simply grilled meat or fish and vegetables followed by chilled watermelon or ice cream is a meal fit for royalty?