4th of July Party Essentials

Having a solid collection of summer party essentials makes backyard entertaining easy, whether it's a 4th of July party or any summer gathering. Through the years, I've intentionally worked to build a stockpile of really useful items for entertaining. It would've been helpful, early on in our marriage, if I'd seen a trustworthy list, compiled by experienced party planners, to use as a sort of "wish list-shopping list" from which to build a good collection. We'll be pulling out some versatile pieces from our collection for a 4th of July party this week. We frequently host summer parties and backyard cookouts, so here's a list of our favorite summer party essentials:

Serving Pieces -

ironstone platters and bowls, pitchers, galvanized tub for icing drinks, beverage dispensers, a variety of serving spoons

Cooking Tools -

grill, smoker, hot dog/s'more roasting sticks, cast iron skillets

Decor Items -

bunting, collection of American flags (old, new, all different sizes), nautical flags, strings of Edison lights, candle holders and votives

Backyard Games -

croquet, giant Jenga, jumbo Yahtzee, horseshoes, badminton, balls, frisbees, bocce

Misc. -

Adirondack and other chairs, wooden barrels for trash, serving tables, folding tables, tablecloths, citronella candles, tiki torches

And don't forget the sparklers!