5. PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES AND ANNOYANCES

Party Countdown: Zero Hour

The day of reckoning is upon you! Breathe! Breathe! Better yet, prepare some more. We've got some tips that'll keep you covered for any summer party emergency.

  • Bad Weather. We know that you don't even want to think about rain, but if your planning a big, expensive party, then include a rain date on your invitations. If light showers are in the forecast, you might want to consider renting a tent from your local party rental store. If it's windy out, be prepared with some tablecloth clamps or paperweights. And if it's chilly, consider renting an outdoor heater from a party rental store. If you're having a small party and you wake up to find that it's pouring out, then call your friends as early as possible (even if it means waking them up) and tell them that the party is rescheduled for the same exact time the next weekend (or another time that is in the very near future).

  • Mosquitoes. The little buggers are undoubtedly planning on biting into your guests as they bite into their food, but you can put a damper on their feast (the mosquitoes', not the guests'). Get some insect repellent with 30% DEET (diethyltolumide) and make sure your backyard is free of stagnant water (like the leftover swamp water in that blow-up kiddie pool). You can also fight the mosquito war while decorating: attractive citronella candles ironically help to repel bugs and strategically placed mosquito netting can make a backyard look romantic.

  • Injuries and bee stings. Outdoor parties can be dangerous places (open flames, flying beer bottles, hippies walking around barefoot…) To take care of bee stings or nail-through-the-foot mishaps, be sure to have a well-stocked medicine cabinet or a first aid kit on hand. You'll need peroxide, cotton balls, bandaids, Neosporin, and an ice pack of some sort. If anyone gets hurt, you get to play hero.

  • Boredom. First we must advise you that you must include music at your party. It'll add to the festive mood and - you never know - maybe someone will bust out the "running man." You'll need a portable CD player and an assortment of CDs (or you can just put it on radio and let the music play). You should also organize something fun like a water balloon fight or a softball game. You might even want to work these activities into the itinerary ahead of time and prepare for them by buying colorful rubber balloons or asking your guests to bring softball equipment. Also, group games such as Outburst and Scattergories can always be fun. If all else fails, break out the Twister mat.