There’s less than two weeks until Christmas, so it’s time to start planning for your Christmas Day meal. You can create a unique and memorable Christmas brunch for your family by opening your folding patio doors and hosting the event outside on the patio! Use the following tips to ensure your Christmas Day brunch turns out perfectly!

Before the big day, you’ll want to make sure the patio is swept and free of leaves, dust, and cobwebs. Give your outdoor dining set a good wipe down so it is nice and clean and ready to serve its purpose. Check that your outdoor heaters are functioning and have plenty of propane to keep them running throughout the occasion. If you haven’t already, put out some holiday decorations so family and guests can enjoy their meal in a cheery, festive environment! Plan for a way to play classic Christmas music outdoors while the meal commences!

Set up a hot cocoa bar in a nook on the patio so everyone can warm up with the tasty beverage while they wait for brunch to be served. Ingredients for the perfect hot cocoa bar include hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, candy canes, and whipped cream. You can also include small bites like pastries and fruit for your friends and family to snack on before the main meal.

Prepare the table with your favorite table cloth, settings, and holiday center pieces. Don’t forget to include plenty of napkins, and salt and pepper to prevent diners from getting up during the meal. You can keep a basket close by with a stack of cozy blankets, just in case it’s a particularly chilly day.

Keep your Bi-Fold Doors or Multi-Slide Doors open and set up a buffet in the kitchen for guests to serve themselves (if you have a Bi-Fold Kitchen Passthrough Window, you may choose to set up the buffet here). Picking the right brunch food is tricky—you can never go wrong with the basic dishes like eggs, oven-cooked bacon, toast, and pancakes. If you feel like going all out with your meal preparation, check out these tasty and unique brunch ideas from Delish.com. Remember that your family will be happy and grateful for any meal you prepare!

When you guys sit down to eat, make an effort to go around in a circle and take turns saying what you are grateful for this Christmas. It will be a good reminder for everyone that Christmas is more than just gifts and treats, it’s about spending time with the ones you love and enjoying their company! When everyone’s bellies are full, make cleanup a team effort so the job is done in record time. Spend the rest of the day watching movies, telling stories, playing games, and snacking on leftover holiday treats as a family. When the sun begins set, close up your folding doors and light a fire in the fireplace; finish off the day by roasting marshmallows on the fire and making s’mores. There’s no better way to spend the holiday than with Christmas brunch on the patio surrounded by your friends and family!