A complete guide to celebrating Christmas in your backyard

Author: Amanda O’Sullivan on Houzz

Are you hosting a Christmas celebration in your backyard this year? Playing host can be hard work, but very rewarding when you see that your guests are relaxed and enjoying themselves. However, it is important for everyone to enjoy themselves during the festive season, including the host.

No one wants to spend Christmas Day frantically running around after everyone else. The key to holding a successful celebration outdoors, without the stress, is to be highly organised. Entertaining isn’t for the faint-hearted, so follow these tips for a truly entertaining backyard Christmas.

Table setting

Organise your table setting before Christmas day. Whether or not you decide to keep it traditional or try something new, your guests will appreciate the effort that was made to make the table look pretty. This table setting is ideal for outdoors with its floral tablecloth and Christmas tree biscuits. It is a casual but elegant arrangement that sets the scene for sharing a meal.

Games

Outdoor games are a fun and proactive way to get your guests up off their chairs and interacting with one another. It is also a wonderful stimulus for children and teenagers to turn off their video games and go outside.

If you’re dealing with an awkward crowd, games are a fabulous way of breaking down the barriers between your guests. This in turn takes the pressure off the host to stimulate conversation and keep people entertained. If you own a ping pong table, drag it out onto the grass for a friendly game. This is a great way to unite families of all ages. Parents, grandparents and kids can all get involved.

Is there anything more Aussie than a game of backyard cricket? Get out the bat and ball, organise two teams and indulge in a lightly competitive game.

If you don’t have any games on hand, there are some easy DIYs that can be organised quickly. Try using found objects for a game of classic tic tac toe. Or grab a chalkboard to play some rounds of Pictionary.

Dealing with the elements

Let’s face it, the weather is always unpredictable and badly behaved at the worst possible times. With that in mind, have a plan for rain even if it isn’t forecast.

Set up your entertaining area under a covered space or large umbrella. If the weather is glorious, you can always lift the table out onto the lawn at the last minute.

This pretty and practical outdoor setting is the ideal environment for an outdoor Christmas party. Not even rain could upset this picture-perfect patio.

Rain isn’t the only threat to a successful outdoor celebration. A windy day can wreak havoc with your table setting, so tie down your tablecloth to keep it from being blown away. If you don’t have table weights, use safety pins to firmly secure your table cloth.

Place weighted items like rocks on top of flimsy objects such as serviettes or paper plates, to keep them in place until they are being used.

Make sure you have sunscreen on hand for those who like to soak up the sun. The Australian sun is potent most of the day, so keep the sunscreen accessible all day for guests to reapply.

Gather up all the hats in your house and put them in an easily accessible basket outside, so that your guests can grab them as they head out into the sun.

And don’t forget about the kids. They need a little shelter from the elements too. These beautiful teepees are ideal for young children. Both pretty and practical, they will keep the kids out of the sun and entertained at the same time.

Seating

Set up a range of seating areas for guests to enjoy. This helps make the atmosphere more relaxing for those who may like to have some quiet time after lunch.
 
Christmas can be a stressful time, as families are obliged to celebrate together and strong personalities can clash. Having little “rooms” set up outdoors gives everybody the opportunity to socialise in smaller groups or have some time-out.

While some may enjoy the opportunity to socialise in intimate groups, it is important for everyone to come together for the main Christmas meal, so make sure that there is enough space and seating for your entire party.

There is no need for all of your chairs to match. If you are limited on seating, get creative with pallets or milk crates so that all of your group feel included.

This pretty garden setting has an eclectic combination of seating that creates a relaxed and festive mood. The mismatched chairs compliment each other and look like they may represent the different personalities of party guests.

Decorating

You don’t have to go overboard with the decorating outside, but it is nice to sprinkle a few Christmas ornaments around to give a festive feel to the celebration.

This courtyard celebration has been thoughtfully put together with various seating and tables. Plus there is a splash of festive decor in the form of a Christmas wreath and dangling decorations to set the scene for a casual party.

Often a casual setting is preferable as guests will feel at ease when the atmosphere is relaxed.

Lighting

If your main Christmas meal is in the evening, it is nice to have some subtle but practical lighting outside. A main light under a patio will often attract all manner of unwelcome guests in the form of bugs or mosquitos, so try and keep lighting as muted as possible. Clean glass jars with tea light candles are an affordable way to light up your eating area. And if you use citronella tea lights in your jars, you will have an extra deterrent against insects.

Food

Christmas in Australia is usually a warm occasion, so it’s nice to keep cooking to a minimum on the day. A meal of cold meats, tropical fruits, salads and breads is ideal for our warm climate and means that the host doesn’t spend all day in the heat of the kitchen.

If you must cook, nothing beats a backyard barbecue on a hot summer day. It really is the easiest option for cooking without the fuss.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Some of your guests might like to bring a salad or dessert on the day. Most people like to contribute and this will make your job as host a little less stressful.

Drinks

Set up an outdoor drink station where guests can serve themselves. This will take the pressure off the host as guests can grab a drink when they need one and won’t feel like they are harassing the host whenever they are feeling parched.

Try and beat the heat with tubs of ice filled with drinks. Any containers, crate or vessel that can cope with the moisture will work as a temporary esky.

Be Organised!

Last but certainly not least, be organised before the big day. Do not wait until the last minute to put everything together.
Prepare as much as you can for the day prior to the occasion. Of course, there will always be things that need to be done on the day, but if you are organised you won’t feel like you are spending Christmas Day running around after everyone else.

Make sure you make the most of the day and try to relax. Your guests will feel happier and more welcome if you look like you are enjoying the celebration too.