For us Brisbanites, the warm weather comes back around quickly in Spring. As we bid farewell to the chillier days and nights, outdoor entertaining comes back. Who doesn't love a good day (or night) spent outside with a BBQ and a few cold drinks? If this does sound like your idea of a great time, then there's always a few 'musts' worth remembering when it comes to outdoor entertainment.

1. Make sure you've got the space

What's your outdoor entertainment area like? Is it a balcony or a party-friendly deck? Is it a verandah or patio? Maybe it's directly attached to your house or has its own standalone spot in your front or backyard. Regardless of what it is, you want to make sure it has enough space. If your balcony is too small, for example, then perhaps it's a better option to create a space in your backyard. This doesn't require you to build something, but having some portable outdoor shade (e.g. shade tent) you can set up is always worth having on hand.

If your overall outdoor space is quite small, then perhaps consider setting up the entertainment area so it runs across the inside and outside. This way, people can choose their preferred spot, regardless of whether that's inside or outside.

2. A BBQ for cooking

When most people visit for a party and hang outside, the assumption is that there's probably going to be a BBQ. And why not? Food cooked on a BBQ is different from food cooked on a stove or oven. There's more of a crunch, the food is more charcoaled. Simply put, there's just a different taste and experience that comes with food prepared on a BBQ. When you're sitting outside, enjoying a cut of steak with potato salad, it's hard not to appreciation the succulent, defined flavours.

Just remember that some people may have specific dietary needs. So make sure to set aside a grill or place to cook other meals such as coeliac-friendly or vegan-friendly foods.

3. Room for drinks

Many outdoor parties are a BYO affair. It makes sense. After all, you shouldn't be spending hundreds upon hundreds of dollars just to offer enough varieties of beverages to satiate everyone. But with BYO also comes a potentially massive need for drink space. Have you got enough Eskies? What's your fridge situation like? How far will guests have to go to grab their preferred drink? If you answered these questions 'No', 'Bad' and 'Pretty far' respectively, then you may need to reconsider things.

Ask friends to bring Eskies with them, make sure you've cleared out your fridge/s a bit to make way for people stocking drinks, and try to keep all of these as close to the party as possible. If your party space is quite large, try to keep it all central.

4. Music

Music's a given. But when you're entertaining outside, be mindful of the volume of your music - especially when it's getting into night time. You want to have fun, but you shouldn't have the type of fun that will only serve to annoy your neighbours.

5. Remember, it may still get cold

While summer will undoubtedly be a warm affair in Brisbane, remember that we're still only just into the first part of Spring. It's hard to deny that temperatures have certainly warmed up since the the coldest moments of winter, but temperatures will still drop at night. Just in case, make sure you're prepared for this. Perhaps you have an outdoor heater or can just let any friends who may be feeling the cold know they can head inside if it gets too much.

The cold nights (and interspersed cool days) are certainly set to disappear soon, but they're not completely gone just yet.