Garden Party 101
There’s nothing quite like a garden party to get people excited about summer. Barbequing, lemonade and lawn bowling, the options for outdoor parties are many, but with so many factors to consider in the planning, they aren’t always the simplest affairs to pull off.
Unlike indoor parties that are often ready to receive guests after a good thorough cleaning, hosting a garden party means you will have to think about seating, lighting, bugs and the ever changing elements.
So where is the best place to begin when planning your backyard soiree?
Protect against the elements
Sometimes the best things about a garden party, like the sun and fresh air, become the most difficult things to plan around.
Before setting up your tables and chairs, be strategic and look carefully around your yard to find the prime locations to set things up.
Think of the time of your party in relation to the sun. You don’t want your food table to be sitting in direct sunlight, and if there’s a chance that it will be a hot day, you will want to provide your guests with shade, either from a tree or a large umbrella.
If you choose to cover your tables, be sure to keep them securely fastened so that they don’t blow away. The same goes for paper plates, cups (if you opt to use these) and napkins, keep them weighed down so you don’t have a garden full of debris at the end of the day.
If you suspect that bugs are going to be a problem at your garden party, make sure you have citronella candles, rosemary and non-toxic spray on hand to provide your guest with some relief from these pests.
Also, if you are planning on walking in and out of your home as you entertain, remember to keep your door or screen door firmly shut behind you unless you want a house filled with bugs after your friends have gone home.
Occasion or theme
If you are planning a garden party for a specific occasion, you may want to decorate accordingly.
But while decorations always add to the ambiance, less is often more. Keep it simple and clean, like bright balloons for a birthday, fresh flowers for an anniversary, or perhaps the natural garden setting is decoration enough.
Food and drinks
Even if you have enough chairs for everyone to take a seat, odds are that many of your guests will be up and mingling for most of the party.
Plan a menu that will allow for mobility. You don’t want to serve a sit down meal that will require a fork and knife, or something that will be overly sloppy.
Think tasty appetizers, fresh salads and fruit, small burgers, sandwiches, etc.
Have fun with drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Serve lemonade, iced tea, punch or sangria all garnished with fresh fruit and lot of ice.
And if the weather is warm, ice will be a hot commodity. Keep coolers and buckets filled with ice so your guests can keep their canned and bottled beverages icy cold throughout the day and night.
Music and games
While most people will spend most of their time chatting and laughing, it’s always nice to have music playing in the background.
Load your iPod or MP3 player up with some casual relaxed music to begin with, and if the mood calls for it, more upbeat music to encourage dancing as the party progresses.
You can also have some backyard games like lawn bowling and croquet set out for kids and adults alike.
Lighting
If you want your party to move into the evening, you will need to consider outdoor lights.
Depending on the feel or theme that you’re going for, there are a lot of different options for outdoor lighting. Try white twinkle lights, colorful paper lanterns or tiki torches, and if it’s a more casual affair, simply light up a fire in the fire pit and pass out the marshmallows.
Hosting a garden party can be a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. To ensure that your occasion goes off without a hitch, plan ahead, keep it relatively simple and above all, remember to have fun, it’s your garden party after all.
This is a guest post by Lilly Sheperd. She’s a freelance writer, mainly interested in home improvement related articles. When not blogging she likes to play netball with her friends.
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