Everything You Need to Host an Outdoor Movie Night!

One of our favorite summer activities is watching movies outdoors! Hosting a summer movie night is such a rewarding and fun pastime. There’s something very nostalgic about it and it’s about the closest thing I can get to the classic drive-in I grew up going to. For our movie night we teamed up with our friends at Crate and Barrel, invested in an awesome projector and screen, and kicked off a new tradition creating incredible memories. We’ve now had countless outdoor movie nights, under the stars, all summer long. Kids and adults love this memorable activity!

First step to creating a charming outdoor movie night is buying the right projector. We actually went through and tested 5 projects before we finally settled on the ViewSonic M1 Portable Projector with Harmon Kardon Speakers. It’s really small and the speakers are full-room audio. The picture, size and quality of the projector are incredible (the hubby is very particular about this stuff!). We hook the Firestick into it and can play movies from that, making it really easy. I bought this screen which is great for outdoors. I hang it on the side of the house. A giant blank wall works just fine too!

Next, make sure you set the mood and create the most comfortable outdoor atmosphere! This is where Crate and Barrel comes in… I had fun ordering charming decor items like pillows, poufs, blankets, plates, vases, outdoor side tables, gorgeous large teak lanterns and battery-lit candles. Also, trays and popcorn bowls, plates and napkins. They had everything I needed to create this entire outdoor movie party! Shopping guide below!

It’s not a movie night without candy and popcorn and one thing I love doing is mixing popcorn and candy together. I placed out bowls of delicious candy and popcorn and guests could make their own concoctions. One of my favorite combos is Milk Duds, popcorn and pretzels…so GOOD! I also served fruit and a cheese plate.

How charming are the little individual popcorn bowls?!

For drinks, serve strawberry tequila sodas, Rosé, old-fashioned sodas and of course water. Tip, always serve water when serving alcohol!

Love the vintage charm this outdoor cooler brought to the party. It was perfect for keeping the wine and sodas chilled.

Using poufs with a large tray works as another side table for drinks and appetizers.

For extra decor, I always add flower arrangements to any party I do. You can do this by cutting foliage and flowers in your yard, putting together store-bought flowers or ordering from a local florist.

The large teak lanterns and candles made a huge difference in the overall ambience of the movie night. There is nothing better than flickering candles under the stars. I highly recommend these ones from Crate. I have them set on an automatic timer and they come on when the sun sets every evening. Truly the BEST!! We had so compliments on the lanterns and candles too.