Memorial Day is a holiday established to honor the military men and women who have lost their lives, but it also unofficially marks the beginning of summer. This holiday is often celebrated with local parades, memorial and cemetery visitations, and the gathering of friends and family. If you are looking to kick off the summer and host your family and friends for a Memorial Day Party this year, you can easily throw a great party without blowing your budget. Teknor Apex explains how
Decorate on a Dime
Thankfully Memorial Day parties are easy to decorate on a dime using a patriotic theme with a few DIY tricks. Martha Stewart suggests using inexpensive bandanas as table runners or adding white star stickers to your ice buckets. A backyard BBQ is a great opportunity to utilize paper plates, plasticware, and red plastic cups as it only enhances the theme, in addition to making for easy clean-up.
If you don’t have a lot of backyard seating, you can get creative rather than going out to purchase extra tables and chairs. Bring out chairs and ottomans from inside your home to give a fun and eclectic look, or you can show off your handy skills by using recycled items to make new seating. With a little creativity, you can set up and beautifully decorate with a low budget.
Prepping the House
As you plan your party prep, one of the first things to focus on is giving your house a good clean. While it may not be the main area to congregate, people will need to use the restroom at some point, and it's easier to have guests over when your home is tidied. If it’s in your budget, consider hiring a professional to come in and clean your home to save you time. Having a clean home can save you stress as well. Just getting your home decluttered and organized can leave you feeling better.
If you're not really worried about the inside of your home, maybe your lawn needs some TLC to get party-ready. If that's the case, look into a one-time landscaping yard cleanup. Average rates for yard help range from $10-$50 an hour depending on the type of work required.
Food is the Way to Everyone’s Heart
Memorial Day is often best celebrated with a backyard BBQ. You can certainly save money by skipping a caterer. As with any party, one of the most important aspects to plan is the food, and a barbeque is the perfect option for an inexpensive and delicious menu. Burgers and hot dogs are not only beloved American classics, but they are also delicious and easy to buy in bulk at a low cost. You can fire up the grill and lure everyone in with the familiar scent of ground beef sizzling over some charcoal!
A backyard BBQ is a great opportunity to invite your guests to bring a side dish, but you can also provide some easy favorites like grilled corn on the cob or potato salad. Both can be made with cheap veggies, and both are delicious! Just make sure to have a good head count for guests to ensure there is enough food for all.
Plan Some Backyard Activities
In addition to delicious food, the best parties have fun activities for everyone to enjoy. While it’s not necessary to wrangle every guest into participating into one big game, it’s a great idea to have areas or stations set up around your yard to encourage fun and mingling. Place some cornhole boards with bean bags in one area, and maybe set a giant Jenga set up in another spot. If you want to incorporate fun water games, think about hooking up your Teknor Apex hose to a sprinkler or a slip-and-slide for the kids.
Don’t forget to have some great music playing throughout the entire event. According to a study at UC Berkeley, music strengthens social bonds, so be sure to crank up the tunes, encouraging everyone to socialize and have fun.
With a little creativity and the right plan in place, you can throw an unforgettable Memorial Day party without breaking the bank.
