Seasonal centerpieces for autumn can include pumpkins and gourds. 

Impress your guests with your DIY napkin-folding abilities, which can be honed through YouTube tutorials, says event planner Erin Steen French. 

Jungle themed snacks at a recent party by Stefan Beese 

Large-scale balloons can make any event more festive 

With the weather finally tolerable, New Orleans yards and courtyards are beckoning for company, especially with upcoming holidays and football season. We spoke with experts in event planning who have decades of experience in event planning for their pro tips on effortless outdoor entertaining.

“It's all about the arrival,” says Stefan Beese, owner of beesign Production & Event Design, Luftballoons by Little Pnuts and Little Pnuts Toy Shoppe & Party Boutique in Lakeview. “The last several years, we’ve seen the usage of large-scale balloons at the driveway that leads people to the backyard and weaves through, like an art installation.” Black and gold chrome balloons or purple and yellow balloons are good options for Louisiana football parties.

Large-scale balloons can make any event more festive 

Giving every event a theme that runs from the décor to the food will delight guests. Beese, who planned a Super Bowl party for the Courtyard Marriott, says a fun way to theme a football party includes using marker spray to draw lines in the lawn similar to a football field. Hosts can purchase artificial turf and attach it to a fence for a guest photo-op or surround an outdoor TV with it. Non-football outdoor party themes can range from tiki to rustic, theming the food and drinks accordingly.


If seating on a lawn, “You want to make sure whatever chairs you have are not sinking into the ground,” says Erin Steen French, owner and principal planner at Compass Point Events in Algiers Point. Chairs with a cantilever base rather than four legs or a bar across the base help with weight distribution on lawns.


For evening events, lighting is essential to create an atmosphere and encourage guests to linger long after the sun goes down. String cafe lighting is a classy way to elevate an event, along with clusters of candles on the tables, French says. Beese says hosts should consider uplighting hedges on the fence line for some dramatic flair.

For table centerpieces, French suggests using seasonal florals and accents.

Seasonal centerpieces for autumn can include pumpkins and gourds. 

“In fall, maybe you want to incorporate some pumpkins and gourds and incorporate some herbs, like rosemary and basil, into the floral arrangement or sprigs and stems of things that are growing in your garden,” she says.


French says plate chargers always add an elegant touch to an outdoor event, along with a classy napkin fold — tutorials can be found on YouTube.

Beese says the dishes on which food is served also play a big part of the evening. Servingware with playful touches on a theme, like a football-shaped serving dish or a plate shaped like an oyster for seafood, are festive touches.

Impress your guests with your DIY napkin-folding abilities, which can be honed through YouTube tutorials, says event planner Erin Steen French. 

A large-batch signature cocktail and large pitcher of infused water is a must for outdoor events.

“You can include the signature cocktail in the theme, like a fall outdoor event with apples or some sort of hard cider,” French says.

Beese notes outdoor events benefit from delicious smells from a grill and spices wafting through the yard to get guests excited about the meal. French always starts with appetizers for guests. Charcuterie and other finger foods, like mini quiches or cheese and crackers are perfect for snacking on before the main course is served.

Jungle themed snacks at a recent party by Stefan Beese 

Low volume music and wireless speakers can reach all corners of a yard. French says music should match the party’s theme; for a barbecue, Cajun or zydeco music may be a good complement. Traditional jazz would complement a more formal sit-down dinner. Make sure the music doesn’t overpower conversation.


Adding splurges to an outdoor event can enhance the experience. French says hosts might consider hiring waitstaff to clear plates.

Beese says his splurge is hiring local musicians to entertain guests.
“We see this at Jazz Fest when they play on porches,” he says.

This article appears in the October issue of Gambit Details. 

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