10 Last Minute Memorial Day BBQ Tips (Slideshow)

Before you being barbecuing, you need to make sure you have all of the essentials in stock. Your barbecue will survive without a homemade dessert or table decorations, but it will not even begin without the proper tools. Checking to make sure you have the proper fuel, grilling tools and essential ingredients will ensure a successful start. 

Barbecues do not have to be glorious displays of your culinary prowess. The basics are totally fine. People expect to be eating hot dogs hamburgers and loads of chips. Choose a simple menu that will not require you to be in the kitchen while everyone is outback enjoying the fun!

If you are pressed for time and are insisting on serving "fancier" BBQ good like chicken or ribs, you need a great marinade. If you didn't prep ahead, choose a marinade that can work its magic in under a half hour. 

Friends always ask what they can do, so take advantage of it! Ask them to bring the sides or the appetizers to relieve you a little bit of the stress of party prepping. 

Making your party a beautiful event doesn't take a total makeover. Avoid reinventing the wheel and use your ordinary dishware for extraordinary display. Salads look a lot fancier when they are presenting in your low drinking glasses!  

Dessert doesn't have to be insanely decadent. And frankly, since you're dining in the warm summer sun, they shouldn't! Use your skewers to make delicious fruit dessert skewers for you barbecue. 

Forgot to mix the sangria the night before? Don't stress it. Pretty up that punch bowl by adding mint springs and slides fruit to juices or even water for a beautiful and lightly flavorful drink!

Everyone likes to enjoy a burger or hot dog in their own way. May sure you have condiment variety readily available at your barbecue!

There are plenty of ways you can brighten up your backyard to make your holiday more festive and fun! What is even better is that you can turn party prep into fun for the whole family with simple DIY projects that serve as excellent accent decor. It will keep the kids busy and your hands free to finish up more important tasks! 

While just being with family and friends can be a blast, sometimes you need a good ice-breaking game to really get the party started. Try these simple game ideas that take almost no prep at all!