7 Summer Hostess Mistakes to Avoid This Season

Winter parties present their share of hosting concerns—like weather that delays the caterers, icy walkways, or more coats than your closet can hold—but summer parties are also rife with chances for an unprepared host to make some big mistakes. The warm weather, long days, and cool nights of summer are the perfect time for entertaining. But overcomplicating some elements—like the food and drink menu—and under-planning others (like the seating and the weather) can leave you stressed and scrambling for a fix at your next summer gathering.

Planning a Complicated Menu

Skip the all-day kitchen activities required by the winter holidays and instead design a meal that's as low-fuss as you can make it (the same should be true of cleaning up). "In the long light-filled evenings, I hate being tied to my dishwasher," says Brenna Gilbert of Festive and Co. "I like to plan a menu that's easy to serve, easy to move around if the weather doesn't comply, and doesn't require an enormous amount of plating or silverware. Think charcuterie on skewers, cute punch cups full of single serving cobbler, and fruit salad in little vintage bowls."

Serving Hot Food on a Hot Day

You may not mind standing over a steamy grill all afternoon, but consider whether your guests want to eat hot food as the temperatures rise. "Keep the menu cool with light dishes, infusing as much fresh and chilled food as possible, using local, seasonal ingredients," says Michiel Perry of Black Southern Belle. Complement foods served warm with chilled soups, sweet and refreshing melon salads, and homemade ice pops.

Offering Nothing but Burgers

Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and steak are often the default entrées for a summer party, but your menu should accommodate a variety of tastes. "I always think the most thoughtful barbecues are those that consider that not everyone is primarily a carnivore," says Gilbert. "Offer great vegetable sides, generous fresh salads, fun grilled kebabs—it adds a ton of variety and ultimately is more inclusive."

Forgetting About Food Safety

The heat can wreak havoc on your buffet, leaving you with a layout of warm potato salad and wilted greens. "Watch your food temperatures and how long food stays out in the sun," says Perry. While Gilbert knows the temptation of serving classic mayonnaise-based salads in the summer, "they require more cool than I’m comfortable with," she says. "Switch it out for easy, cool, palette cleansers like avocado and cucumbers or shaved fennel."

Skipping a Hydration Station

Planning an extensive menu of drinks—both alcoholic and not—is critical when temperatures rise. "In the summer heat, it's essential to keep your guests hydrated, especially when serving cocktails," says Perry. "I love to create a hydration station with a selection of infused water in carafes to make it more festive and enticing." Another mistake: running out of ice. "Always buy double the ice you need," says Perry.

Mixing Fussy Cocktails

This is not the season for intricate, single-serve cocktails. Instead, opt for festive punch, sangria, or margarita that you can make ahead in bulk. "You're going to want to have time to enjoy your own event, and having a full bar outside can be frustrating (and a magnet for annoying summer pests!)," says Gilbert. "I love a batched punch or boozy pitcher of margs that I can make ahead of time. And an oversized vintage punch bowl full of favorite orange wines, chilled reds, and easy-drinking rosés that guests can serve themselves takes a ton of pressure off you."

Not Planning for the Weather

You may have a rain date on the calendar, but you also need to plan for extreme heat and sun. This means plenty of shade, access to cooler indoor spaces, and fans. "It can be tempting to move all events outside, but you run the risk of all your guests crowding under one lone tree in search of shelter from the elements," says Gilbert. "I like to err on the side of having multiple spaces, even if it's a fully outside event: Think easy tents or sunshades, casual seating, a little glam tailgate, or an area where guests who might want to pop indoors can do so without feeling left out."