Outdoor Party Decoration Ideas: How to Handle Wind, Sun, and Bugs
Part of our guide: Party Backdrop and Decor Ideas: The Complete Guide
Decorating outdoors is not the same as decorating a room. Wind moves things, the sun heats your food, bugs find the cake, and the dark comes quicker than you plan. Pretty decor is the easy part. This guide gives you 8 steps for the parts that go wrong outdoors, with numbers for a party of 20 guests on a patio or in a backyard. For more style ideas see our backyard party decoration ideas.
Quick facts for 20 guests:
- Lights: three 25 foot strands of string lights for a 12 by 16 foot patio (56 feet around, plus about 30% extra for sag).
- Weights: every tablecloth clipped, every canopy leg weighted, and balloons tied to a weight.
- Shade: one 10 by 10 foot canopy over the food table.
- Decor and weather kit budget: about $82, a planning estimate. It excludes food, drinks, the canopy and its weights, tables, chairs, a GFCI adapter, an extension cord, citronella candles, and tax.
- Setup time: about 2 hours, with 1 helper.
Top Decor Picks for this Setup
Curated essentials on Amazon to help you recreate this setup easily.
Outdoor String Lights 25 ft Shatterproof
Lights over the patio.
Canopy Tent 10x10 ft with Weights
Shade for the food table.
Tablecloth Clips Set of 12
Keeps cloths in the wind.
Small Table Fan Battery
Keeps bugs off the food.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Check the forecast and pick a backup (10 minutes)
- Step 2: Plan the space
- Step 3: Anchor everything for wind
- Step 4: String light math
- Step 5: Power and safety
- Step 6: Keep bugs away from the food
- Step 7: Keep food safe in the heat
- Step 8: Set up in this order (about 2 hours)
- If you have to move indoors
- Decor and weather kit budget for 20 guests
- Mistakes to avoid
- Safety
- Helpful safety sources
- FAQ
- Related articles
Step 1: Check the forecast and pick a backup (10 minutes)
Look at the forecast 3 days, 1 day, and the morning of the party. Note the wind and the temperature, not only the rain. Pick a backup plan before you decorate: a garage, a covered porch, or a rented tent. Tell your guests the day before if you will move.
Step 2: Plan the space
- Food in the shade. Put the food table under a canopy or a tree, away from direct sun.
- Seating in groups. A 60 inch round table seats about 8. For 20 guests, plan 3 round tables, or 2 long tables.
- Paths of about 36 inches. Keep walkways clear of cords and decor.
- Trash near the exit. Plan 1 trash bin and 1 recycling bin for 20 guests.
Step 3: Anchor everything for wind
Wind is the biggest outdoor problem. Light things fly.
- Tablecloths: use clips, 3 on each long side of a 6 foot table, or weights sewn into the hem.
- Canopy: weigh down every leg. A common minimum is 20 pounds per leg, but check your canopy’s manual for its weight and wind limits. If the wind is strong enough to move the canopy or lift the tablecloths, take the canopy down.
- Balloons: tie them to a weight, or to a heavy planter. Avoid tall balloon arches on a windy day.
- Paper decor: use a clear box or a glass jar to hold paper napkins, plates, and signs.
Clips on the tablecloth, jars on the paper, and weights on the canopy.
Step 4: String light math
Measure the area you want to light, then use the perimeter. A 12 by 16 foot patio has a perimeter of 56 feet. Strands sag between hooks, so add about 30%, which is about 73 feet. That means three 25 foot strands. Hang the lights on posts, a fence, or a pergola, about 7 to 9 feet above the ground, so people do not hit their heads. Put clear hooks every 2 to 3 feet, so the strand does not sag.
Step 5: Power and safety
- Use outdoor-rated lights and cords. Check the label for “outdoor” or “wet location.”
- Use a GFCI outlet. A GFCI outlet shuts off power fast if there is a fault. If the outdoor outlet does not have one, use a portable GFCI adapter.
- No outlet? Use solar or battery lights, and charge or replace the batteries the day before.
- Cords off the floor. Run cords along the edge of the patio, and cover them where people walk.
Step 6: Keep bugs away from the food
- Cover food with domes, mesh covers, or clean towels.
- Put a small fan on the food table. Flying insects have trouble in moving air.
- Use citronella candles in a ring around the seating, but keep them away from balloons and paper.
- Put the trash far from the food.
Step 7: Keep food safe in the heat
Do not leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if it is above 90°F. Keep cold food on ice, and put out small amounts at a time. Keep drinks in a tub of ice, about 1 pound of ice per guest. For a cake, see our cake table ideas.
Step 8: Set up in this order (about 2 hours)
| Time before guests | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2 hours | Set up the canopy and weigh it down. Set the tables and chairs. |
| 1.5 hours | Hang the string lights and test them. |
| 1 hour | Put the tablecloths on and clip them. Set up the food table. |
| 30 minutes | Put out the plates, napkins, and jars. Set up the drinks tub. |
| 15 minutes | Blow up and tie the balloons. Light the citronella candles. |
Two strands of lights, a canopy over the food, and a clear path.
If you have to move indoors
Keep the decor light so you can set up in about an hour. Take the string lights, the banner, and the balloon clusters inside, and set the food table first. Skip the canopy, the fan, and the citronella candles. Tell guests the day before, and keep the same start time.
Decor and weather kit budget for 20 guests
This is a planning estimate for U.S. stores. It excludes food, drinks, the canopy and its weights, tables, chairs, a GFCI adapter, an extension cord, citronella candles, and tax, and prices vary by store and region.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Three 25 foot strings of outdoor lights | $36 |
| Tablecloth and 12 clips | $15 |
| A banner | $9 |
| 30 balloons | $10 |
| A small fan | $12 |
| Total | $82 |
To save money, borrow a canopy and tables, and use battery lights. See our cheap party decorations.
Mistakes to avoid
- Ignoring the wind. Clip and weigh everything.
- Food in the sun. Put it in the shade, and keep it cold.
- No backup plan. Decide on a rain plan before you decorate.
- Indoor cords outdoors. Use outdoor-rated cords.
- Lights hung too low. Hang them about 7 to 9 feet up.
- Candles near balloons. Keep them apart.
Safety
- Use a stable ladder with a helper to hang lights.
- Keep real candles away from balloons, paper, and tablecloths.
- Do not leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
Helpful safety sources
- NFPA: safety with candles: Fire safety tips for candles, such as keeping them away from anything that can burn.
- USDA: keeping food out of the danger zone: Why perishable food should not sit out for more than 2 hours.
FAQ
How do you decorate for an outdoor party?
Check the forecast and pick a backup plan, put the food in the shade, anchor everything for wind, hang string lights about 7 to 9 feet up, and use a fan and covers to keep bugs off the food. Set up in order, starting with the canopy and ending with the balloons.
How do you keep decorations from blowing away?
Use clips on tablecloths, weights on every canopy leg, and glass jars to hold paper items. Tie balloons to a weight, and skip tall balloon arches on windy days.
How many string lights do I need for a patio?
Measure the perimeter of the area. A 12 by 16 foot patio has a perimeter of 56 feet. Strands sag between hooks, so add about 30%, which is about 73 feet. That means three 25 foot strands. Hang them about 7 to 9 feet above the ground.
How do you keep bugs away from outdoor party food?
Cover the food with domes or mesh, put a small fan on the table, use citronella candles in a ring around the seating, and keep the trash far from the food.
How much does it cost to decorate for an outdoor party?
Decor and a weather kit for 20 guests cost about $82: three strings of lights $36, a tablecloth and clips $15, a banner $9, balloons $10, and a fan $12. This is a planning estimate and excludes food, drinks, the canopy and its weights, tables, chairs, a GFCI adapter, an extension cord, citronella candles, and tax.
What if it rains on the day of the party?
Check the forecast 3 days and 1 day before, and decide on a backup, such as a garage, a covered porch, or a tent. Tell guests the day before if you move the party.
Related articles
- Backyard Party Decoration Ideas
- Fairy Light Decoration Ideas
- How to Decorate a Room for a Party
- Cake Table Ideas
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Recreate This Look: Complete Supply Checklist
Every prop, decor item, and material identified in our styled photos, linked directly to top-rated supplies on Amazon.
Outdoor-rated cord.
Adds GFCI protection.
For no outlet.
Hang the strand.
Weights for balloons.
Cover food from bugs.
Bug candles in a ring.
Drinks tub with ice.
Safe lanterns on the tables.
Hold paper and napkins.
Trash and recycling.
Seats about 8.
A banner.
Hooks for lights.
30 balloons.
Border the patio.
