Diane Gottsman | Leading Etiquette Expert | Modern Manners Authority

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Summer Celebrations and Backyard Barbeque Etiquette

24 Jun 2021 By: Diane Gottsman

This summer, there are so many reasons to celebrate. After nearly a year and a half of spending time indoors with only the members of your own household, summer celebrations are something most everyone is looking forward to sharing. However, some guests may still have some reservations about attending gatherings. As you plan a summer get-together that is enjoyable and safe for everyone, keep these Backyard Barbeque Etiquette tips in mind. 

Backyard Barbeque Etiquette

The Entertaining Space

Your summer celebration space sets the tone for your gathering. Fortunately, you don’t have to have the perfect backyard to host a fun barbeque or brunch for friends and family. The most important things to consider are space and seating options. 

Make sure there is enough space for guests to spread out to cater to their personal comfort level. If you have a small backyard, limit your guest list to an appropriate number which allows for six feet of social distance between each guest. You’ll also want to ensure a variety of seating options. Since you’ll be serving food and drinks, make sure there are numerous tables and seating options so no one has to eat your famous barbeque meal off of their lap. 

The Ambiance 

Because it’s been a while since we’ve been able to have summer parties, create a fun, upbeat atmosphere. An easy, budget-friendly way to do this is to incorporate serving trays into the aesthetics of the space. A beautifully put-together charcuterie board is pleasing to the eye and the taste buds. A fruit salad served out of a hollowed pineapple or watermelon screams summer fun. Decorate your tables with potted flowers or plants and consider sending them home with guests as a party favor.

The Cuisine and Refreshments  

While there are many fun, simple summer celebration recipes you can serve your guests (see below), how you serve them is most important when it comes to summer celebration etiquette this year. 

Rather than offering a buffet-style meal where guests help themselves, it’s better to serve your guests so only one person is handling the food. Also, use disposable plates, cups and cutlery that can be tossed or recycled after use to ensure germs don’t spread.

Include a variety of food and drink options at your summer gathering with extra considerations for guests with food allergies. And don’t forget dessert! Nothing says summer like a crisp apple pie or these super fun banana splits on a stick. 

These additional recipes are perfect for a summer barbeque that move beyond the simple hamburgers and hot dogs:

When it comes to refreshments, serving individual drinks rather than fruit punch or lemonade out of a large serving bowl minimizes the risk of spreading germs. Be sure to include a variety of drink options, including water and a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 

The Entertainment

While you’ll likely want to spend time chatting with your guests and sharing life updates, it’s also a good idea to have additional activities available, such as corn hole or bocce ball. If your summer celebration is kid-friendly, consider incorporating even more activities to help keep young ones entertained. 

Backyard Barbeque Etiquette: Safety Still Comes First 

It’s likely your summer celebration will be the first time many of your friends and family have gathered together since the pandemic started. With this comes increased excitement, anticipation and possibly some anxiety. If that’s the case, you’ll find my article about socializing face to face post-pandemic helpful for navigating this unique social situation.

For more information check out The Protocol School of Texas. You may also like Navigating Greetings, Social Invitations and Vaccination Questions. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. 

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Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.