Take It Outdoors! A Guide to Planning a Successful Garden Party

Imagine a beautiful sunny day, tree branches swinging in a light breeze. The birds chirp in the branches, and the flowers bloom around you. It sounds like the perfect day, right?

How could it get any better? How about spending this gorgeous day with your friends and family at a stunning garden party? It’s the perfect way to enjoy nature while enjoying the company of your guests.

Whether you’re planning a birthday party, celebrating a graduation, or just want an excuse to get your loved ones together, a garden party is a perfect event to plan. Here’s how to plan a garden party everyone will enjoy.

Choose a Location

Before you start doing any planning, you should decide on a location to host the party. The location will decide a lot of the other details, so it’s important to have this detail decided. The location will influence the guest count, the decor, and even the theme.

For a garden party, you just want to be surrounded by nature. Often, garden parties are held in a backyard. Hosting a party at home is great for more intimate parties and for controlling venue rental costs.

However, some homes aren’t equipped to handle a large number of people. In this case, you can rent an outdoor venue space. Public parks, botanical gardens, and farms all make great locations you can rent out.

Tablescape and Seating

Whether you’re having a small backyard party or a larger affair, you’ll have to provide your guests somewhere to sit. Ample seating is a crucial part of any party, so you should spend a good amount of time thinking out the seating plan.

Choose tables and chairs that will be comfortable to sit in for an extended period of time. And place them in an area where your guests won’t overheat, like in the shade or under a tree. Find out how many tables you’ll need per guest; read more in this guide.

When it comes to setting the table, you’ll want a beautiful tablescape. Decorate with flowers, greenery, lanterns, and candles to capture the garden aesthetic. You can also add extra seating for guests to socialize before sitting down to eat.

Light up the Garden

Like any good party, your garden party can slip into the evening hours. Once the sun goes down, you’ll want a way to brighten up space. Good lighting transforms an event and sets the mood for the evening, so you don’t leave this to the last minute.

String lights are a popular option for garden parties set in the evening. They offer a lot of flexibility with where you can hang them, and enough of them can light an entire backyard.

String lights create a lovely ambient atmosphere, so they’re great for the intimate feel of a garden party. Lanterns and candles are both common lighting options that fit well with a garden party aesthetic.

If you’re hosting in your own backyard, you may consider having a fire pit at your outdoor party. If the air chills when the sun goes down, a fire pit would be great for your guests to warm up. A fire pit would also be great for post-dinner conversation.

Decide Your Decor

For most outside gatherings, the scenery can speak for itself. But to get the feeling of a garden party, you should dress it up with fresh decor. It goes without saying that a garden party should have lots of flowers, so dress up space with bright blooms.

Flowers offer a lot of variety, so you can tailor your party decor to your style. If you’re going for a rustic feel, go for lots of babies breath, daisies, and sunflowers in mason jars and wood accents.

Or you can feel bohemian inspiration with peonies paired with eucalyptus and pampas grass. Flowers are a great way to get the aesthetic across in your decor. Garlands of leaves also make great garden party decor.

Read Also: 6 Tips on Planning an Outdoor Corporate Event for Beginners

Set Your Menu

A garden party has a relaxed atmosphere that brings everyone together in an intimate setting. They also offer a chance to get creative with the menu. You no longer have to serve fancy finger foods or elaborate plated dinners.

You can try putting a spin on classic recipes or try something new altogether. Whatever food you decide to serve, give your guest something delicious, and they’ll be satisfied.

The Food

The days of traditional fancy food has gone. Instead, your garden party can serve up some updated takes on classics and favorites. Give your guests a twist they won’t expect on the food they already love.

Classic meals include sliders, fresh salads, wraps, and grilled vegetables. And you can never go wrong with a decadent meat and cheese tray. Try putting together new recipes, and your guests won’t be able to stop talking about the delicious meal.

You can serve your meals family-style for an intimate feel or buffet style for efficiency. You can mix styles, doing a buffet appetizers with a family-style meal.

However you decide to serve your food, your guest will leave with happy, full stomachs.

The Drinks

A good party always has some good drinks to go around. For enjoying an event out in nature, fresh and fruity drinks always go over well. Try refreshing fruity cocktails like a cherry mojito or a pineapple margarita.

It’s always a good idea to have non-alcoholic options. These drinks don’t have to be boring, though. Try different flavors of lemonade like blueberry, mango, or watermelon. Infuse water with cucumbers, lemons, or oranges for a fresh burst of flavor.

Drinks flowing will start the party, but their delicious tastes will keep your guests going back for more.

Blossom and Bloom at Your Garden Party

There’s nothing more fun than celebrating with your friends and family. Add in the beauty of nature and stunningly design, and you’ll have the best event of the year.

Planning a great garden party doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little bit of work and attention to detail, you can throw a great party. Your guests are sure to be impressed with your magazine-worthy garden party.

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