How to Host a Backyard Barbecue Wedding Shower

Backyard barbecues are meant to be relaxed, laid back and carefree. From the overall layout to the decor and menu, guests and hosts alike should be able to simply hang out and enjoy each other’s company. When designing a buffet for a backyard barbecue wedding shower, focus on easy access to and around the table as well as creating an aesthetic packed with texture, rustic finishes, shapes and objects reminiscent of classic farmhouse style. Create four main zones: a buffet, a sit-down seating area, a drink area and open yard space for games. Should table space become limited, keep hay bales nearby to allow guests to instantly access more seating.

To ensure your backyard barbecue is all about the food, consider setting the sit-down dining table in the center of your outdoor space. This will position guests equally between the drink station and the buffet table, making it more efficient to get up from the table for second helpings.

Get creative with your backyard barbecue centerpiece by creating a farmers’ market-style paper-bag-and-fruit grouping. First, gather bags in different heights and colors, as well as fruits ranging in different shades and tints of the same hue. Next add weight to the bottom with a 2" to 4"-thick layer of pea gravel topped with foam packing peanuts until the bag is two-thirds full. Lastly, add fruit along the top of each bag, rising approximately 2" above the top. Add another layer of visual interest to each bag with ribbon or burlap, and be sure to group bags together with a balanced range of heights and spacing. Get the detailed instructions.

Bring industrial, down-on-the-farm flair to your backyard barbecue buffet with galvanized metal tub pendant lights. To make these, pick up large, round tubs; 1"-thick sisal rope; pendant wiring kits;and large globe bulbs from the home improvement store. Drill four holes into the top, evenly spaced apart for rope as well as a fifth hole centered for the light-bulb socket. With the tub turned upside down, insert the pendant kit components up inside the center drilled hole of tub, feeding the wire through the hole until the head of the socket sits flush inside. Cut rope to size so that the bottom of the tub sits between 32 and 36 inches above the surface of the table. Attach two strands of rope, one on each side of the tub, through all four drilled holes, wrapping the pendant kit wire tightly to the rope. Add a heavyweight swag hook to ceiling, then attach rope onto hook and plug each tub pendant into an extension cord. See more of the how-to instructions.