If you’ve been here before, you know I’ve been talking a lot about outdoor entertaining lately! Today I’m taking a break from the recipes and sharing a few of my patio essentials for outdoor entertaining. These are the things you’ll need to make your party a success!

This is a sponsored post for Wayfair.com. I received a gift card in exchange for writing this post. All opinions and ideas are my own. 

My fiancé and I are getting ready to start looking for a place to live once we get married later this year. We love entertaining, and especially enjoy outdoor entertaining. One of our requirements for our future home is a backyard with a patio or deck.

I got a little ahead of myself and started thinking about the items we will need to make that outdoor space perfect for entertaining. I came up with 7 items that are a must for my patio!

#1: Dining Set

The number one essential for outdoor entertaining is a dining set! Before shopping, think about the type of entertaining you will be doing on your patio. If you prefer smaller, more intimate dinners, you may only need a table that sits 4-6 people. If you prefer larger events, you’ll want to get a bigger table or multiple tables.

If you plan to use your patio during the day, an umbrella is a nice addition to your table. It provides a little bit of shade while you eat.

#2 Grill

Of course, any great cookout includes something cooked on a grill. Whether you prefer gas or charcoal, a means to make the burgers, BBQ chicken or ribs is a must!

Before making your purchase, be sure to consider how much space you have, how much food you want to be able to cook at a time, and any additional features you want the grill to have.

#3 Beverage Dispenser

A drink station where guests can grab their own beverages makes outdoor entertaining so much easier. Lemonade and tea are easy to make and affordable. A beverage dispenser like this makes it easy for guests to refill whenever they like.

Depending on the types of drinks you want to serve, you might need a cooler for sodas or beers. An ice bucket is great, too.

#4 Outdoor Dinnerware

While paper plates work great for most outdoor parties and cookouts, sometimes you want something a little nicer. Plates and bowls made from melamine (a type of hard plastic) are perfect! You don’t have to worry about breaking or damaging your everyday dishes. They are also dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup a breeze!

#5 Grilling Tools

You’ll want to have a nice set of grilling tools for cookouts. A simple set like this one will include tongs, a spatula, a fork and a knife. You’ll also want to have cleaning tools like a brush.

For the more avid griller, there are all sorts of other fun grill tools to experiment with, from wireless thermometers to rotisserie kits.

#6 Fire Pit

I love having cookouts during the summer, but during the colder months my favorite type of outdoor get-together always includes a fire! It’s perfect for smaller parties. Not many things are more relaxing than sitting by the fire with some good friends.

A fire pit is an easy way to have a fire without damaging your lawn. They can easily be moved around and can be stored away in the garage or shed during the summer.

#7 Outdoor Games

Every outdoor party needs games to play! Cornhole is a great choice because it doesn’t take much space to store. It’s also a game that a lot of people know how to play, but is easy to learn as well.

You can check out all of my patio inspiration on my Patio Dreams Idea Board over at Wayfair.com.

Do you enjoy outdoor entertaining? What are some of your patio essentials?