If you are planning a large party, such as a block party or an anniversary party, then you are going to need ice. And likely, you will need far more ice than your household refrigerator's ice maker is capable of producing in a day or two. Having bagged ice delivered is a great option. Here are some tips to follow as you arrange for bagged ice delivery. 

Have a cooler ready to store it.

If you have a spare freezer, then obviously, this is a convenient place to store the ice. But if you don't have the freezer space, you can store the ice in coolers. Just make sure they are quality coolers that are designed to keep things chilled for days, not hours. Place the coolers in a shady area (If you have space in the garage or basement, that's best!). When the ice delivery company comes, make sure they unload the ice directly into the coolers. Close the lids immediately. 

Schedule ice delivery the morning of the party, if possible.

If you have really great coolers, you can generally have the ice delivered the night before and have most of it survive until the party without melting. However, having the ice delivered in the morning is a more foolproof approach. You'll lose less to melting. Don't have the ice delivered too close to the party start time, though. An hour before the party, for instance, the last thing you want to worry about is meeting the ice delivery person!

Get a variety of ice shapes.

Most ice delivery companies offer at least three different types of ice. There's the really fine, crushed ice, which is perfect for making drinks. There are the larger ice cubes, which work really well for packing around food in coolers and tubs. And then, there are the large blocks of ice, which work well for keeping larger coolers cold, since they melt more slowly. Think about how you plan to use ice at the party, and order the shapes you believe are best suited to your uses. Don't hesitate to order, for example, 5 bags of crushed ice and 10 bags of larger cubes. 

Hopefully, this article has given you greater insight into the intricacies of ordering ice for a party and things to think about when you do so. If you have any other questions, reach out to the ice company you are thinking of ordering from.