How I Threw a Fab Party in My Backyard.

So my husband was all set to graduate on May 15th from the GWU MBA program. This calls for a celebration, I thought to myself. After my husband agreed to the idea of a party in his honor, I immedialty began to put a plan of action together. My goal: to plan a terrific celebratory event for my hubby and his friends to enjoy.

First thing on the agenda was to identify a venue for this event. I started by contacting the facilities that I've worked with in the past....all booked for May 15th. I then began to contact other facilties such as hotels, lounges, restaurants, country clubs etc. still to no avail ..... all booked for May 15th. After making a bigillion phone calls across the DMV, the light bulb finally went off- throw the party at home in my backyard! I couldn't believe I did not think of that any sooner.

My hubby was thrilled to know that the party was going to be held at our home. For him, it meant we would save money on renting a venue. But the issue then became how to make a boring backyard appear as fun and festive as a venue.

I had to consider the type of atmosphere I wanted for this event. For this party, I wanted the feel of a casual yet stylish barbecue similar to the the look of an outfit consisting of jeans, heels and a fancy blouse- casual but chic.

My husband's favorite color is blue so I used aqua blue and paired it with black for a trendy color scheme which became the focal point for the decor. I decided to decorate the backyard using cocktail tables in black and aqua to bring out the color scheme. I also used balloon bouquets as the centerpieces and lanterns for lighting.

For the food, I decided to call the highly regarded Famous Dave's to bring some of their finest barbecue and sides. Chicken, ribs, potato salad and baked beans were on the menu.

Next, we hired a DJ and set him up in the basement. My basement was then converted into a swanky U Street lounge equipped with a dance floor. I gave him a list of great BBQ tunes and allowed him to play throughout the night.

We invited some of my husband's family, friends, co workers and classmates and let the party begin. Everyone raved about the decor, food and fun. This was probably one of the least expensive events I have ever planned and one that I had the most fun planning. See, it does not require a swanky venue to plan a fab party. Just good food, great friends and a touch of creativity.

Five Ways to Assure Your House Party is a Succes

1. Assure the Food is Plentiful. The best parties I have ever attended were the ones with a lot of good food. If you throw a party at your home, make sure food is available as soon as the guests walk through the door. Serve appetizers prior to the main course. After the main course, place miniature sized deserts in fancy trays around the house so that people can snack as they chat.

2. Serve Signature Cocktails. Cocktails are so en vogue right now. Not only will they make for a good conversation piece for your guests but will also add a splash of color to your event. Try serving up a pink cosmo, lemonade cocktail, or a passion fruit mojito. Click here for some of your favorite cocktails recipes.

3. Play that Funky Music. Everybody loves music. Music can set the tone for your event. If you have few extra bucks for your event you can splurge and hire an inexpensive DJ. If you are working with a leaner budget you can load up your ipod full of good tunes. Make sure you select songs that are fun, fit the occasion and will keep the party going.

4. Make Sure all Pets are Away. People tend to forget that some guests have allergies or just do not like animals. It's a great idea to store the pets away so that they will not stir up allergies or intimidate guests.

5. Be the Perfect Host/Hostess! What makes a good party is a good host. Be attentive to your guests needs. Have everything prepared in advance or hire a caterer so that you are not stuck in the kitchen with little time to mingle. You know your guests so try to introduce people to those that they may have something in common with. I have had many experiences in which I was able to network at a party because the host was able to connect me with someone that shared my interests. Also remember to speak with every guest during the party. Do not allow one person or group to monopolize the bulk of you time. Work the room and let everyone know you are there to assure they have a good time. Have fun and take plenty of pics for the album.