With the sun well and truly shining, there’s no better time to host your dream garden party. After a year of lockdowns, inviting your friends and family over for a celebration is something we’re all looking forward to. However, it still takes time and prep work to host a party to remember. To help you out, here are our ten top tips for hosting a great garden party.
Food prep
What’s a party without party food? Balancing all your friend’s and family’s tastes should be a key part of your prep before the party. Mix things up with some ‘out-there’ recipes, as well as covering sweet, savoury and warm food, so that your guests will be chatting about your culinary skills for months to come.
Prepare for the weather
We all know how unpredictable the weather can be, so staying prepared beforehand will keep your party from being a wash-out. Have some umbrellas on hand and make sure there’s enough shelter for all your guests. Don’t forget to cross your fingers for sunshine beforehand too.
Nail the playlist
The right music can make or break a party, so creating the perfect playlist can sometimes feel a bit daunting. We suggest figuring out the kind of vibe you’re going for before gathering all your favourite songs and having a few on backup for different stages of the night. If you’re feeling the pressure of creating the right set of songs, don’t be afraid to pass it off to someone else.
Comfy spaces
Having a cosy comfy place for your guests to put their feet up is just as important as your dancefloor. Plenty of cushions and some outdoor furniture your guests can sink into is perfect for those end of the night chats around the fire.
Dress to impress
What better excuse to dress up than your own garden party? Floating floral dresses are the perfect fit for those sunny garden barbeques and pairing up with a variety of accessories can give your look that finishing touch. Clearly, a strict dress code is totally necessary, but giving your guests some guidelines about what to wear can be a lot of fun.
Light it up
You’ll be surprised at how much lighting can make a difference to the atmosphere of your party. When the sun starts to set, a warm assortment of fairy lights can help your guests ease into the evening. If you want to keep the party going, some bright, colourful lights over the dancefloor is just what the doctor ordered.
Cocktail bar
A garden party isn’t complete without your very own cocktail bar. Whether you hire a barman out or practice your drink-making skills beforehand, a cocktail bar is the best way to add another twist to the party. A tiki bar set-up could make things even more tropical!
Garden games
It doesn’t matter whether there are kids around or not, garden games can add some extra excitement to your garden party. Jenga is a great choice, especially if you write challenges to the blocks beforehand. If you’re looking for something more traditional, why not give quoits a try?
Keep things colourful
After a grey winter and spring, it’s time to go full-on with your colour scheme. A splash of colour in your garden will only add to the celebrations, as well as being perfect when having children over. We recommend going for colour block designs - easy, fashionable and always simple to coordinate.
Enjoy yourself
When hosting your own garden party it can be all too easy to stress yourself out. At the end of the day, there’s no point in hosting if you’re not enjoying yourself. Make sure you take the time to sit down with a cocktail and chat with your mates without thinking about anything else. Your guests will love you for it!
Prepping for a garden party can be stressful, especially when you’ve invited a lot of people around. However, keep things simple and get the basics right and you’ll have a party to remember for years to come.
