How To Host A Stress-Free BBQ

Ah, the great outdoors gives us much to celebrate – birds, trees and (most importantly) good company. If you’re in need of a party (aren’t we all nowadays?), why not throw a backyard BBQ? It’s the perfect excuse to eat delicious food while getting together with loved ones. 

If the thought of organizing an event kicks your stress meter into overdrive, check out the tips below to make planning a party as easy as cherry pie (with a huge heap of whipped cream, please). 

1. Figure out your guest list. Once you have an idea of what you want to spend, you can figure out how many people you want to invite. A few considerations: how large is your backyard? How many people can you comfortably accommodate? Do you want to focus on close friends and family you see often, or take the opportunity to invite people you haven’t seen in a while?
2. Send out invites. Unleash your inner graphic designer by finding a festive digital invitation (many are free). Make sure to specify an RSVP date that gives you ample time to plan without scrambling at the last minute. 

1. Decide on a menu. Now comes the delicious part – the food! Think about serving three “courses” – appetizers, main dish with sides, and dessert. For the main dish, make sure you understand your guests’ food restrictions (food allergies, vegetarians, etc…). 
2. Make rental arrangements (if necessary). If your party is on the larger end, you might need to rent tables, chairs and canopies (if heat is an issue). You might also want to rent dishes, silverware and cups. 

1. Prep your yard. Get your backyard BBQ-ready by mowing the lawn, trimming trees and clearing out any debris. 
2. Get organized. Set out plates, silverware, cups and decorations the night before (a Tasker can help!). Additionally, you can make a list of everything that needs to get done the day of the BBQ, which ensures you won’t forget anything. 

1. 1. Delegate! Delegate! Delegate! Enlist the help of a friend to help you the day of the event. If you’ve hired people to help you, this is where the list you created yesterday comes in super handy. 
   2. Last-minute prep. Start marinating any meat or vegetables several hours before you fire up the grill – the longer the better! Also, you should generally purchase ice the day of the event (unless you’re one of the lucky ones who has a huge freezer). 
   3. ENJOY!

1. Clean up. Arguably the worst part of any party. If you don’t feel like doing it yourself (because who does?), hire a tasker to do it for you! 
2. Start planning your next party. Just kidding – that’s for next week. 😉