Now that the weather is cooling down, its time to mix things up and invite your dearest friends and family over for a cozy night OUT! Dazzle your guests with a luxurious movie theater set up in your backyard full of pillows, blankets, and their favorite movie snacks.
There are a few things to keep in mind when putting together an event that your guests will never forget. Here is a checklist of what to do to host an outdoor movie night:
1. Seating
This is probably the most important factor to consider when setting up a backyard movie theater, especially considering that you want your guests to be comfortable for a long period of time. Ditch the 'around the fire lawn chairs' and get creative with your seating, providing many options for your movie connoisseurs. At our event, here are a couple different types of comforts that we provided:
-Stylish low lying wicker chair
-A plush papasan
-Cozy spread of blankets and pillows for floor lounging
2. Lighting
While lighting might not seem important for watching the movie, it is important when setting the scene. Moonlight will allow you to follow along with the movie feature, but your added lighting will allow guests to navigate around for bathroom breaks, refreshments, and could even aid in keeping bugs away from the party. Some different types of lighting to consider when hosting a backyard movie night are as follows:
-Tiki torches
-Citronella candles
-Overhead string lights
-Floor lanterns
3. Refreshments
What's a party without food and drinks? Movie nights can be a fun way to break out the candies that everyone used to love as kids. Go to your nearest grocery store and search the aisles for old fashioned movie candy boxes that will get everyone in the movie watching spirit! Of course, you can't forget the popcorn - be prepared with bowls and salt to allow your guests to pass around this classic movie snack. Lastly, think ahead to have drinks such as soda pop, water, or even a seasonal beverage such as an apple cider slush or hot chocolate!
4. Equipment
Before getting too ahead of yourself with planning the stylish accents of the event, don't forget about the basics! In this case, that is making sure you have the equipment necessary to put it on. This includes:
-A projector
-Adapters to hook up to your laptop (to stream the movie)
-Speaker system
-White sheet for movie screen
-Clips to secure the movie screen to a fence/stand
-Tarp to drape underneath blankets/pillows to prevent lawn stains, bugs, or moisture from disturbing your lounging guests.
